The Holy Eucharist
The 21th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 26C)
October 30, 2022 at 9:30 AM
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Blessing and Dedication of a Gospels Book
Ms. Marva Johnson gave a new Gospels Book to St. Matthew's for the Greater Glory of God in memory of her son Warren Loadholt.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O heavenly Father, whose blessed Son taught the disciples in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself: Accept this Gospels Book which we dedicate here today, and grant that we may so diligently search your holy Word that we may find in it the wisdom that leads to salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn #411: O Bless the Lord, My Soul
1 O bless the Lord, my soul!
His grace to thee proclaim!
And all that is within me join
to bless his holy Name!
2 O bless the Lord, my soul!
His mercies bear in mind!
Forget not all his benefits!
The Lord to thee is kind.
3 He will not always chide;
he will with patience wait;
his wrath is ever slow to rise
and ready to abate.
4 He pardons all thy sins,
prolongs thy feeble breath;
he healeth thine infirmities
and ransoms thee from death.
5 He clothes thee with his love,
upholds thee with his truth;
and like the eagle he renews
the vigor of thy youth.
6 Then bless his holy Name,
whose grace hath made thee whole,
whose loving-kindness crowns thy days:
O bless the Lord, my soul!
[Words: James Montgomery; para. of Psalm 102:1-5. Music: St. Thomas (Williams), melody Aaron Williams; harm. Lowell Mason. Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84256. All rights reserved.]
The Opening Acclamation
[BCP, p. 355]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever! Amen!
A Collect for Purity
[BCP, p. 355]
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn S-280: Glory to God
[See also BCP, p. 356]
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Robert Powell © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28331. All rights reserved.]
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 235]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Isaiah 1:10-18
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation-- I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make any prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make ourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 32:1-8
[BCP, p. 624-625]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, * and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, * and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, * because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; * my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, * and did not conceal my guilt.
6 I said," I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." * Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; * when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8 You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; * you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.
To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn #574: Before Thy Throne, O God (Verses 1-3)
1 Before thy throne, O God, we kneel:
give us a conscience quick to feel,
a ready mind to understand
the meaning of thy chastening hand;
whate'er the pain and shame may be,
bring us, O Father, nearer thee.
2 Search out our hearts and make us true;
help us to give to all their due.
From love of pleasure, lust of gold,
from sins which make the heart grow cold,
wean us and train us with thy rod;
teach us to know our faults, O God.
3 For sins of heedless word and deed,
for pride ambitious to succeed,
for crafty trade and subtle snare
to catch the simple unaware,
for lives bereft of purpose high,
forgive, forgive, O Lord, we cry.
[Words: William Boyd Carpenter, alt. Music: St. Peterburg, Dimitri S. Bortnainsky, Public Domain. All rights reserved.]
The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Luke 19:1-10
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Hymn #574: Before Thy Throne, O God (Verses 4)
4 Let the fierce fires which burn and try,
our inmost spirits purify:
consume the ill; purge out the shame;
O God, be with us in the flame;
a newborn people may we rise,
more pure, more true, more nobly wise.
[Words: William Boyd Carpenter, alt. Music: St. Peterburg, Dimitri S. Bortnainsky, Public Domain. All rights reserved.]
The Sermon
"Jesus the Gentle Prophet" by The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector
Luke 19 introduces us to the familiar story of Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” who climbed up a tree to see Jesus. But despite the happy song you may have learned as a child in Sunday School, the rest of the details Luke shares about Zacchaeus paint a complicated and sinister portrait of this man. Zacchaeus is a notorious example of someone whose lifestyle and livelihood were built on unjust systems.
Luke tells us that Zacchaeus lived in Jericho (a majority-Jewish city, due east of Jerusalem) and “was a chief tax collector and was rich” (19:1-2). In the last month, we have talked a lot about tax collectors in our Sunday Bible readings. Last week, there was the proud Pharisee and the humble tax collector praying in the temple. A few weeks ago, on St. Matthew’s Day (Anniversary Sunday), we reflected on Matthew’s role as a tax collector before he became an apostle and follower of Jesus. In each of these stories, it’s important to remember what a tax collector is and why that job was so problematic for First Century Jewish people. Forgive me if you already know most of this, but allow me to recap it again.
Tax collectors worked for the Roman Empire. The Romans had conquered and colonized Judea centuries earlier, so the Jewish people in that region were not free to govern themselves. (Think about the US’s relationship to Puerto Rico or Guam, which are stuck in political limbo; they are not full members—states in the union—but also not independent nations.) Judeans had limited rights to practice their religion, but a lot of their social and economic rights were stripped from them by the imperial overlords. Tax collectors and Roman soldiers were daily reminders of their subjugation. Soldiers who policed the colonies might have come from anywhere in the Empire, though usually from places closer to Rome and Italy, where there was greater imperial loyalty and patriotism.
But, generally speaking, tax collectors were locals who agreed to work for the Empire to make a buck. They collaborated with the oppressive regime to take people’s hard earned grain, produce, livestock, and/or money. Roman taxes were due whether or not you had enough food to eat and feed your family. Some people suffered and starved because of how many taxes they had to pay. And remember that Roman taxes were all about enriching the Emperor and growing the military so they could conquer new places. When poor Judean people paid these mandatory taxes to Rome, they were literally paying for their own oppressors (and the oppression of others). As if that weren’t bad enough, tax collectors got to skim off the stop, defrauding their neighbors out of even more money. They might actually owe $50 but the tax collector could demand $75, and nobody could stop them. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus’ job was often literally to take from the poor and keep them in poverty.
What is a prophet and preacher like Jesus supposed to do when faced with an openly sinful man like Zacchaeus? The Prophet Isaiah gives us a hint in our Old Testament reading. Through Isaiah, God speaks very clearly: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17). God has a standard of justice that includes looking out for everybody, not pushing others down to get ahead, not hurting others to grow your own power and wealth. God wants us to love everybody, which means especially caring for oppressed people. When the Bible tells us to “do good” and “seek justice,” it means considering how our actions affect people who are poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged. It means dismantling the systems in our society that are rigged to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. It means that chief tax collectors cannot keep doing what they are doing.
But here’s the amazing thing about Jesus as a Prophet. Jesus upheld God’s standards for justice without disrespecting or dehumanizing Zacchaeus. Jesus never contradicts Isaiah or any other prophets who taught that God is just. He was able to convince Zacchaeus to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay the people he stole from with interest (Luke 19:8). But he did not do that by shouting at him or embarrassing him publicly. Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life through kindness and hospitality, through sharing a meal in his home, talking and listening to him.
We don’t hear the whole conversation, but Jesus must have said that the things Zacchaeus was doing were wrong. He didn’t back down from the truth that Zacchaeus made his money through immoral, oppressive behavior. But Jesus convinced him to repent, reform, change his ways, and make reparations. Zaccaheus’ conversion couldn’t just happen “in his heart” because his sins weren’t just in his heart. His conversion had to take shape in the material world, in the community where he had hurt many people. Jesus spent time honoring Zacchaeus as a “son of Abraham,” as a beloved child of God, while also teaching him that he needed to stop hurting the rest of God’s children. Jesus sought him out and saved him because he had been lost. And through faith and his tangible actions, God found him, his sins were forgiven, and salvation came into his house (Luke 19:9-10).
So Jesus teaches us that God has not changed. God’s desire for human society is and always has been justice and fairness. God does not accept human greed, exploitation, or oppression. At the same time, Jesus teaches us to treat sinful people with dignity because God made them and loves them too (and because we ourselves all sin, and God loves us still). This story is an example of Jesus loving his enemies. He is showing us what can happen when you “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, [and] pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27). Jesus was able to persuade Zacchaeus to change, to bring healing and reconciliation to the community, and to restore just a bit of justice. Maybe Zacchaeus even left his job at the tax office and set his life on a straighter course than before.
Through the story of Zacchaeus, God might be calling us to look at our own lives, and the ways we make money, to ensure that we are not hurting others to help ourselves. God might be calling us to confront people who are known oppressors in our communities, but to do so without vilifying, demonizing, or dehumanizing them. God might be calling us to be gentler with ourselves and those around us because no one is perfect. The Prophetic Message (the Good News) is that every sinner is still a beloved child of God, and that, by God’s grace, all of us can change. Amen.
LEVAS #159: Lift Him Up
1 How to reach the masses, those of ev’ry birth,
For an answer Jesus gave the key;
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
REFRAIN:
Lift Him up (Lift the precious savior up,)
Lift Him up (Lift the precious savior up,_
Still He speaks from eternity:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
2 Oh! the world is hungry for the living bread,
Lift the Savior up for them to see;
Trust Him and do not doubt the words that He said,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.” [Refrain]
3 Don’t exalt the preacher, don’t exalt the pew,
Preach the gospel simple, full and free;
Prove Him and you will find that promise is true,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.” [Refrain]
4 Lift Him up by living as a Christian ought,
Let the world in you the Savior see;
Then all will gladly follow Him who once taught,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.” [Refrain]
[Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr. Music: B. B. Beall. Printed with permission under ONE LICENSE #95094. All rights reserved.]
The Nicene Creed
[BCP, p. 358]
All standing as they are able, the People pray:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
[Adapted from Form VI, BCP, p. 392]
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
[Silence]
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For Joseph, our president; Brian, our governor; Van, our mayor; Chester, the chair of our County Commission; and all other civic officials; For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For all the churches in Savannah, that we may be one as you are one with the Son, and the Holy Spirit; For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Frank, our Bishop; Guillermo our Priest; Ella our Deacon; and for all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially for our Day Care’s staff, students, and families, and for those on our Parish Prayer List: Tiffany Arkright, Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Tiffany Smith Bryant, Cheryl Carey, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Tom Iredale, Allen Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Jr., Beverly Williams Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Jeanette Outing, Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, Charles Tennerson, Willie Mae Tennerson, and Jewel Wheeler; and those we remember now…
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors, those celebrating birthdays: Misha Taylor (11/2); those celebrating wedding anniversaries and any other thanksgivings we offer now...
The People may add their own thanksgivings.
We will exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially for those we remember now...
The People may add their own petitions.
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
The Celebrant concludes with a suitable Collect...
Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 360]
The Deacon says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Deacon and People
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
2023 Pledge Campaign 10/16 - 11/13: On October 16, we will launch our 2023 Pledge Campaign, inviting members of our church to plan for giving of their time, talent, and treasure in the coming year. Completing a pledge helps our church leadership plan for the parish budget and set ministry priorities for 2023 and beyond.
This week we mailed the 2023 Pledge Letter, paper copies of the 2023 Pledge Form, and 2022 3rd Quarter Giving Statements (January 1 - September 30) to every member’s address we have on file. Click here to read the 2023 Pledge Letter. Click here to read the 2023 Giving Brochure.
You may submit paper copies of the 2023 Pledge form in the ballot box in Toomer-Walker Hall or you can complete your pledge online.
Halloween Goodie Bags Today: Children can receive a Halloween goodie bag at the end of our worship service. Remember that despite all the scary things associated with the holiday nowadays, Halloween began as a Christian holiday to celebrate the saints throughout church history. St. Matthew’s will celebrate All Saints’ Day (November 1) on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
Silver Tea on 11/5: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will once again sponsor the Silver Tea Fundraiser on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 4:00 PM. Money raised will go toward Episcopal Children and Youth Services (EYCS) college scholarships. The ECW seeks sixteen hostesses, each of whom is responsible to invite three friends and provide cups, saucers, salad and/or dessert for four. Contact Evalena Hoskins, ECW President, to register as a hostess.
Daughters of the King Inquirers' Meeting on 11/6: The Order of the Daughters of the King® is an order for women who are communicants of The Episcopal Church and other similar churches. Our membership currently includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic churches.
In accordance with our Anglican Tradition, Daughters:
Recognize episcopal (bishop's) oversight.
Believe that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation.
Acknowledge the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, the real presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, and worship according to The Book of Common Prayer
Reaffirming the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism. She receives support in this commitment from a worldwide community of like-minded women.
Under the leadership of Deacon Davis and Ms. Paulette Sibert, St. Matthew's would like to reactivate its Daughters of the King chapter. The first meeting for interested women and girls (with a parent or guardian) will be held at St. Matthew's on November 6 at 12:00 noon. This will be an informational meeting.
Emmaus House Empty Bowl Fundraiser on 11/6: Emmaus House is one of St. Matthew's partner ministries, serving unhoused people in downtown Savannah with meals, showers, and laundry services every weekday morning. Please consider making a donation to Emmaus House for their annual Empty Bowl fundraiser. You may also attend in-person on November 6 between 12:00-2:00 to receive a hand-crafted bowl for the price of your ticket ($20 per ticket). Emmaus House is located at 18 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401. Donations and ticket purchases may be completed online at: http://unitedministriessavannah.org/emptybowl
Diocesan Convention Evening Prayer on 11/10 and Convocational Choir : St. Matthew's Church is hosting the Opening Evening Prayer service for this year's Diocese of Georgia Convention on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 5:30 PM! We are inviting singers and choir members from around the Savannah Convocation to join with St. Matthew's Choir in leading the musical worship at this service.
If anyone is interested in participating, our Music Director, Mrs. Dandy, will hold the second special Convocational Choir Rehearsals at St. Matthew's Church on Sunday, November 6, at 4:00 PM. There is no need to RSVP, but singers must attend at least one of these rehearsals (ideally both) in order to sing with the choir on November 10. Thank you for helping us to make a joyful noise to God together for the Convention!
Convention Eucharist & Dinner on 11/11: As part of the Diocese of Georgia's Annual Convention, there will be a service of Holy Eucharist on November 11 at 5:00 PM at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island (3 Westridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411). This worship service is open to the public and free to attend with no registration required.
After worship, there will be a party featuring dinner, drinks, a DJ, and indoor and outdoor fellowship. In order to eat at the party, you must register online ahead of time for an accurate headcount and pay the "Convention Eucharist Supper" registration fee of $25. (Note that Convention Delegates are already registered for the dinner.) Register online here:
Strategic Planning Information Session on 11/13: Stay after church on Sunday, November 13 for an information session about Strategic Planning. The Vestry has just agreed to hire a church consultant to guide us through a Strategic Planning Process in 2023. The Rector and Vestry are now recruiting a Strategic Planning Team of 4-6 dedicated people who will learn from the consultant, do research on our church and city, plan the public listening sessions, and liaison with the Vestry.
Beforehand, this meeting is an opportunity to learn about the importance of strategic planning in general and hear from the Rector and Vestry about why we are committing to this process. Because this is such an important new initiative for us, we will livestream the session to Facebook so that our online-only congregants can participate as well.
CORR's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Movie Theater Outing on 11/13: As part of CORR, our ongoing partnership with St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, and Asbury United Methodist, we are going to the movies! To follow up on our discussions about race, colonialism, and Black sovereignty, we will go to NCG Cinema (3001 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31404) to watch Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler, on Sunday, November 13, at 2:30 PM. Afterward, we will go to dinner at Tubby's Tank House (2909 River Dr, Thunderbolt, GA 31404) to discuss the film.
Gospel of Luke Bible Study on Wednesdays: Deacon Davis and Fr. Arboleda currently host a weekly Zoom Bible Study at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays after Evening Prayer. The group uses the same Zoom link as Evening Prayer (see e-Newsletter). This fall, the Bible Study will focus on the Gospel of Luke.
The Bible Study group is considering changing the time and format of the meeting. We are conducting a survey to find out if there is a day and time that works better for more people to meet for Bible Study and whether people prefer to continue meeting on Zoom or start to gather in person. Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/TQhWPsBZVrLDzrXB7
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines: On August 24, the Vestry adopted new, simplified COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Masks will still be required for all who attend in-person worship services and events. To read the new guidelines in full, click here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/new-covid-19-safety-guidelines-august-2022.
T/W/Th Evening Prayer: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer over Zoom. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM. Please join the Zoom call by 4:55 PM. Otherwise, watch the prayer service as you have been on Facebook Live.
For security purposes, below is the Meeting ID only; please check your St. Matthew's e-Newsletter for the password (or email FrGAA@StMattSav.org to request it).
Topic: Zoom Evening Prayer
Time: 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Join Zoom Meeting: See e-Newsletter
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
Pledge Campaign Testimonial
Charles McMillan, Vestry
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 376]
Giving to St. Matthew's: We know that many people are feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The church is feeling it too. We still need your support to pay our staff, pay our bills, and provide for these online live streams. There are several ways to give, but the simplest are these:
Mail us a check or money order at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415; OR
Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s and/or automate future gifts at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR
Text “stmattsav” to 73256 to make a secure online donation through your phone.
NOTE: Donations made online (#2 or #3) through Realm incur a processing fee of about 2.5%. Please consider adding an additional 2.5% to your online gift to cover these costs.
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" [Acts 20:35]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
Pledge online at: https://tinyurl.com/StMattSav2023
LEV #193: I Will Trust In The Lord
1 I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord ’til I die;
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord ’til I die.
2 Sister will you trust in the Lord,
Sister will you trust in the Lord,
Sister will you trust in the Lord ’til you die;
Sister will you trust in the Lord,
Sister will you trust in the Lord,
Sister will you trust in the Lord ’til you die.
3 Brother will you trust in the Lord,
Brother will you trust in the Lord,
Brother will you trust in the Lord ’til you die;
Brother will you trust in the Lord,
Brother will you trust in the Lord,
Brother will you trust in the Lord ’til you die.
4 I’m gonna treat my neighbor right,
I’m gonna treat my neighbor right,
I’m gonna treat my neighbor right ’til I die;
I’m gonna treat my neighbor right,
I’m gonna treat my neighbor right,
I’m gonna treat my neighbor right 'til I die.
5 I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand,
I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand,
I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand ’til I die;
I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand,
I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand,
I’m gonna hold my savior’s hand ’til I die.
[Words: Traditional. Music: Negro Spiritual; arr. Carl Haywood from They Haywood Collection of Negro Spirituals, © 1992 Church Publishing, Inc. Printed with permission under ONE LICENSE #87497. All rights reserved.]
AAHH #651: Doxology
[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
[Words: Thomas Ken, Public Domain. Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84260. All rights reserved.]
Eucharistic Prayer B
[BCP, p. 367]
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. …
The Celebrant sings or says a Proper Preface
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Hymn S-130:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
[Word: Public Domain. Music: From A Community Mass, Richard Proulx © 1971, 1977 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #00216. All rights reserved.]
The people stand or kneel.
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
LEV #260:
We remember his death. We proclaim his resurrection. We await his coming in glory.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Hezekiah Brinson © 1990 Hezekiah Brinson, Jr. All rights reserved.]
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Blessed Matthew, Blessed Stephen, Blessed Augustine, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
[BCP, p. 364]
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Fraction Anthems
[BCP, p. 364, 407]
Hymn S-152:
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!
Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Ambrosian chant; adapt. Mason Martens © 1971 Mason Martens.]
LEV #269:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Lena McLin, Eucharist of the Soul © 1972 General Words and Music Co. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #57436. All rights reserved.]
Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
LEV #154: Taste and See
REFRAIN:
Taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord.
Oh, taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times.
Praise shall always be on my lips;
my soul shall glory in the Lord;
for He has been so good to me. (Refrain)
2 Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us all praise His name.
I called the Lord, and He answered me;
from all my troubles He set me free. (Refrain)
3 Worship the Lord, all you people.
You’ll want for nothing if you ask.
Taste and see that God is good;
in Him we need put all our trust. (Refrain)
[Words: Psalm 34. Music: James E. Moore, Jr. © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc., Chicago, Il. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #00155. All Rights Reserved.]
The Post-Communion Prayer
[Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
Faithful God,
in the wonder of your wisdom and love
you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,
and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.
We thank you for feeding us with this bread.
May it strengthen us
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may embody your desire
and be renewed for your service
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:
Faithful God,
in the wonder of your wisdom and love
you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,
and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.
Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread [and wine],
we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence,
the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
may we embody your desire
and be renewed for your service
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing of the People
[Adapted from Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 71]
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
PRAYER LIST: Tiffany Arkright, Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Tiffany Smith Bryant, Cheryl Carey, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Tom Iredale, Allen Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Jr., Beverly Williams Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Jeanette Outing, Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, Charles Tennerson, Willie Mae Tennerson, and Jewel Wheeler
BIRTHDAYS: Misha Taylor (11/2)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: NA
RECENT DEATHS: N/A
May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Permissions and Credits: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), Enriching Our Worship 1 (EOW1), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
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