Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Sep 11, 2022
- 19 min read

Sunday Worship on September 11, 2022

The Holy Eucharist

The 14th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 19C)

September 11, 2022

Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/

Sunday, September 11, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #393: Praise Our Great and Gracious Lord

1 Praise our great and gracious Lord,

call upon his holy Name;

raising hymns in glad accord,

all his mighty acts proclaim:

how he leads his chosen

unto Canaan's promised land,

how the word we have heard

firm and changeless still shall stand.

2 God has given the cloud by day,

given the moving fire by night;

guides his Israel on their way

from the darkness into light.

God it is who grants us

sure retreat and refuge nigh;

light of dawn leads us on:

'tis the Dayspring from on high.

Words: Harriet Auber, alt., Public Domain. Music: Maoz Zur, Hebrew melody, adapt. Eric Werner © 1960 Conference of American Rabbis. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #309266. 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.

The Collect of the Day

[BCP, p. 357, 233]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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 Exodus (32:7-14)

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 51:1-11

[BCP, p. 656]

Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; * in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness * and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, * and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned * and done what is evil in your sight.

5 And so you are justified when you speak * and upright in your judgment.

6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, * a sinner from my mother's womb.

7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, * and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; * wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the body you have broken may rejoice.

10 Hide your face from my sins * and blot out all my iniquities.

11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to Timothy (1:12-17)

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn #470: There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Verses 1-2)

1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

like the wideness of the sea;

there’s a kindness in his justice,

which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,

and more graces for the good;

there is mercy with the Savior;

there is healing in his blood.

2 There is no place where earth's sorrows

are more felt than up in heaven;

there is no place where earth's failings

have such kindly judgment given.

There is plentiful redemption

in the blood that has been shed;

there is joy for all the members

in the sorrows of the Head.

The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Luke (15:1-10)

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn #470: There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Verse 3)

3 For the love of God is broader

than the measure of the mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful,

we should take him at his word;

and our life would be thanksgiving

for the goodness of the Lord.

The Sermon

by the Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis, Deacon

Hymn #708: Savior, Like a Shepherd

1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us;

much we need thy tender care;

in thy pleasant pastures feed us;

for our use thy folds prepare.

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

2 Early let us seek thy favor,

early let us learn thy will;

do thou, Lord, our only Savior,

with thy love our bosoms fill.

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast loved us: love us still.

Words: Hymns for the Young (1830), att. Dorothy A. Thrupp, alt., Public Domain. Music: Sicilian Mariners, Sicilian melody, from The European Magazine and London Review (1792), Public Domain. 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. 92]

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: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, 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: Fr. Charles Hoskins (9/14) and Lavinea Kennedy (9/14); those celebrating anniversaries: Marquez & Teresa (Blue) Clemons (9/14); 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

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September is Church Anniversary Month!: Every year we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church on the Sunday nearest to September 21, the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. This year, we will expand the celebration to include a series of events throughout September:

Sunday, September 11: Lemonade on the Lawn - Outdoor repast after worship on the lawn on the corner of MLK Jr. Blvd and W Anderson St. Invite friends and neighbors to join us!
Sunday, September 18: Gospel Brunch at Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant - After worship, at 12:00 noon, church members are invited to eat brunch and listen to live Gospel music at Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant, 107 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401. Individuals and families are encouraged to make reservations by calling 912-236-2226 or visiting https://goodtimesjazzbar.com . Note: Attendees will be responsible for their own meals at this optional indoor event.
Tuesday - Thursday, September 20-22: Evening Prayer with Guest Preachers: On these days, Evening Prayer will be held in-person at St. Matthew's with homilies by the Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis (our new Deacon), the Right Rev. Frank Logue (Bishop of Georgia), and the Rev. DeWayne Cope (Rector of St. Athanasius' Episcopal Church in Brunswick, GA). These services will still be live-streamed to Facebook for virtual participants.
Sunday, September 25: St. Matthew's Day, 167th Church Anniversary, & Church Picnic: Celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew and our Parish's 167th Anniversary during Sunday worship at 9:30 AM! Church members are encouraged to make an Anniversary donation at or around $167.00. Afterward, we will hold a church picnic on the grounds for people to eat and fellowship with one another.

CORR Black Panther Discussion 9/11: Conversations on Relationships and Race (CORR) will begin meeting again on Sunday, September 11 from 4-5:30PM in the Parish Hall at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. We will be discussing the cultural and societal impact of the film, Black Panther (2018). All are welcome to be part of this group made up of sister churches in Savannah (Isle of Hope UMC, St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, and St. Matthew's) that meets monthly throughout the academic year.

If you are interested in participating in the group, please fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/PW9x7SJaX15RXJgv8.

Please also watch or re-watch Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler, before the meeting. The film is available on Disney Plus (subscription required) and is available for streaming rental on many other platforms. You can read some helpful background on the film here: https://auburnseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Black-Panther-Study-Guide-FINAL.pdf.

Gospel of Luke Bible Study on Wednesdays: Every Wednesday, Deacon Davis will host a weekly Zoom Bible Study at 5:30 PM after Evening Prayer. The group will use the same Zoom link as Evening Prayer (see e-Newsletter). This fall, the Bible Study will focus on the Gospel of Luke.

On Wednesday, September 14, we will continue reading at Luke 1:26. No preparation is required, but we encourage you to read chapter 1-2 beforehand and come with observations, insights, and questions. Please bring your own Bible with you for the Zoom meeting.

Women's Ministries Retreat 9/16-17: Make plans to attend "Now is an Acceptable Time," the Celebration of Women's Ministries and the Daughters of the King Annual Meeting at Honey Creek! This will be the first diocesan-wide ECW (Episcopal Church Women) meeting since 2019 and will be a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. The keynote speaker on Saturday morning will be the Rev. June Johnson from All Saints' on Tybee Island.

There will be lots of time for catching up, lots of time to walk the labyrinth, Bible study, reflection, and sharing sessions. All are welcome to bring knitting, needlepoint, etc for peaceful aids while listening and sharing.

The price of attending includes all meals and lodging from 3:00pm on Friday through 1:00pm on Saturday. Prices vary based on room type and range from $85.00 to $136.00 per person. New officers will be installed during the Eucharist at noon on Saturday.

Register by calling Honey Creek at (912) 265-9218 or register online at http://ecw.georgiaepiscopal.org/?page_id=707. If you would like to go, but the registration fee is a problem, please talk with Fr. Guillermo.

Outrun ALD 5K Walk for Duplechiens on 9/17: The Duplechien family is sponsoring a 5K Walk to raise funds for research to find the cure for ALD, the rare, incurable brain disease that Aaron Jr. was diagnosed with last year. The walk will take place around the Duplechien's house in Pooler, beginning at 9:00 AM on September 17. (Please see the e-Newsletter or contact the church office for the address.)

Aaron Jr. is a huge Pokémon fan, so Pokémon is the theme for the event. Please conisder wearing t-shirts, making posters or signs, or bringing other Pokémon-themed memorabilia.

Whether or not you are able to participate in the 5K, you may donate to the research using the link below. Donations are NOT required to participate in the walk. https://runsignup.com/Race/109004/Donate/ollI9UpJ2ZFL8VK3 .

Church Cleaning Day II on 9/24: After a very successful cleaning day last month, we need your help putting the finishing touches on our church before the 167th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 25. Please join us for a short cleaning session on Saturday, September 24, at 9:00 AM to spruce up the sanctuary before our big day.

Updated 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. In summary, the changes include the following:

Removal of 100-person attendance cap
Removal of 6-foot spacing and pew spacing
Remove Attendance Sheets upon entry
Remove Temperature Checks upon entry
Remove Restroom Limit of 1 at a time
Allowing Communion to be served at the rail
Allowing Communion to be served in one or both kinds
Clarifying Indoor vs. Outdoor Eating

To read the new guidelines in full, click here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/new-covid-19-safety-guidelines-august-2022.

Save the Date - 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. 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.

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

The Offertory

[BCP, p. 377]

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.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High." [Psalm 50:14]

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God." [Ephesians 5:2]

Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now