Sunday Worship on September 17, 2023
The Holy Eucharist
16th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 19A)
September 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector
Deacon: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis, Deacon
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Hymn #1: Father, We Praise Thee, Now the Night is Over
1 Father, we praise you, now the night is over, active and watchful, standing now before you; singing, we offer prayer and meditation: thus we adore you.
2 Monarch of all things, fit us for your mansions; banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending; bring us to heaven, where your saints united joy without ending.
3 All-holy Father, Son, and equal Spirit, Trinity blessed, send us your salvation; yours is the glory, gleaming and resounding through all creation.
[Words: Latin, 10th cent.; tr. Percy Dearmer, Copyright © Oxford University Press. Music: Christe sanctorum, melody from Antiphoner, 1681; Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #92582. 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.
The 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 S280: 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, 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 (14:19-31)
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 114
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Hallelujah! When Israel came out of Egypt, * the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became God's sanctuary * and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea beheld it and fled; * Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? * O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams? * you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, * at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water * and flint-stone into a flowing spring.
A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (14:1-12)
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
LEV #228: Go Down, Moses (Verses 1-3)
1 When Israel was in Egypt’s land,
let my people go;
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
let my people go.
REFRAIN:
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.
2 The Lord told Moses what to do,
let my people go;
To lead the children of Israel through,
let my people go. [Refrain]
3 They journeyed on at his command,
let my people go;
And come at length to Canaan’s land,
let my people go. [Refrain]
[Words: Traditional, Public Domain. Music: Negro Spiritual; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer, Copyright © 1984, 1992 Horace Clarence Boyer. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #88541. 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 Matthew (18:21-35)
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
LEV #228: Go Down, Moses (Verse 4)
4 Oh, let us all from bondage flee,
let my people go;
And let us all in Christ be free,
let my people go.
REFRAIN:
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.
[Words: Traditional, Public Domain. Music: Negro Spiritual; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer, Copyright © 1984, 1992 Horace Clarence Boyer. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #88541. All rights reserved.]
The Sermon
“The Difference Baptism Makes” by the Rev. Guillermo Arboleda, Rector
Today’s sermon is the last in this series about the Book of Exodus. The story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea sums up the last three themes as well as introducing its own: (1) Fearing God above all others, (2) Trusting that God is always with us, and (3) Receiving the grace of Holy Communion through Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb. Today’s theme is “The Difference Baptism Makes.”
The spiritual we just sang was the perfect lead-in to this message as we recap where we are in the story. We pick up today in Exodus 14, shortly after the last time Moses says, “Let my people go!” Remember that Moses announced the final plague, the death of all the firstborn sons of Egypt, and the Israelites fled in the middle of the night. They ate their passover meal of roasted lamb and unleavened bread to nourish them for this journey. This pointed ahead to the sacrament of Holy Communion (remember last week’s lesson).
Meanwhile, Pharaoh and all the leaders of Egypt were grieving the loss of their children. The king had finally given up and let the people go. But then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. They got their armies ready and chased after the Israelites on warhorses and in chariots (Exodus 14:5-9). Because horses are faster than a big crowd of people, the armies caught up to the Israelites pretty quickly. We learn in chapter 13 that the Israelites were taking the long way out of Egypt, because “God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness bordering the Red Sea” (Exod 13:18, NRSV). The Israelite people saw the army coming and panicked (Exod 14:10-12)! They were caught between a rock and a hard place. In front of them was a large sea and they had no boats to cross it. Behind them was an angry army with deadly weapons ready to slaughter them. The choice was death by drowning or death by violence. The people were afraid of Pharaoh and afraid of the sea more than they feared God (remember three weeks ago).
But God made a way where there was no way. Moses told them, “Don’t be afraid. Stand your ground, and watch the Lord rescue you today. … The Lord will fight for you. You just keep still” (Exod 14:13-14, CEB). See, when the Israelites left Egypt, God had appeared with them. Exodus 13:21-22 says, “The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” This means that (like we talked about two weeks ago) God stayed with them. God would not leave them. God’s presence was there to protect them and provide for them, just as God is with us.
When the Egyptian army approached, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the Israelites to behind the people, to block the Egyptians and prevent them from attacking. While God’s cloud was protecting them, God used Moses to part the Red Sea, so that the people could walk across on dry ground. Walls of water miraculously stood up on either side of them so that they were safe as they passed. When the Egyptian army tried to pursue them, the water went back to normal and the attackers drowned.
What does this have to do with baptism? Since the New Testament days, Christians have seen the story of the Exodus as a preview of what God would do for us through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 says, “Our ancestors [the Israelites] were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Crossing through the waters of the Red Sea is like how we pass through the waters of baptism. They mirror each other in at least two ways.
First, both in the Exodus and in Baptism, God saves us. Going down into the water of baptism, we join Jesus in his death. Rising out of the waters, we join him in his resurrection. Likewise, Exodus 14:30 says, “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians.” The people of Israel were reborn on the eastern shore of the Red Sea; they escaped their enslavement and became free people of God. Through the grace of God, in the waters of baptism, God frees us from slavery to sin and death and gives us a chance at new life.
Remember how the Israelites were stuck between the army and the sea? They had no earthly chance of making it out alive. But God saved them and made them new. That’s how we are without God. Without God’s love and grace, we (the human race) are hopeless and bound to self-destruction. Left to our own devices, we will tear each other apart. But God calls us to something higher and greater, to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.
In the Exodus, “Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31). We learn to fear God when God does great works to save us. When we celebrate a baptism, God is doing a great work! God is transforming our lives and giving us second and third and millionth chances to do better. That is how God continues to work. That’s why we continue to trust that God is with us and continue to honor God above all else.
Second, both the Exodus and Baptism are new beginnings. The Exodus is the origin story for the people of Israel. It’s their beginning. They wander in the wilderness, settle in a new land, form a kingdom, lose a kingdom, and eventually a Messiah is born to a young Jewish woman in Bethlehem. On and on it goes. God continued to work in the lives of Israelites and Jews for generations and generations until this very day. Likewise, baptism is the beginning of a Christian life. It’s not the end goal. It’s where our journey of discipleship begins. God saves us for a purpose. God calls us to continue to follow Jesus for the rest of our days. God calls us to stick together and encourage each other as we walk with Jesus day by day. God calls us to worship together with the Holy Eucharist.
Almost every time we enter this church, we have an opportunity to physically remember our baptisms. The baptismal font (where we perform baptisms) is the first thing you see when you walk through the red doors. When the cover is off, you are invited to dip your fingers into the blessed holy water and receive a blessing. Traditionally, we take that holy water and make a sign of the cross remembering that we were baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When we celebrate baptisms and confirmations, sometimes we will sprinkle holy water onto the congregation as another physical reminder of all the promises God makes to us in baptism and the promises we made when we were baptized.
Baptism is one of God’s saving works (sacraments). Baptism is a new beginning because of grace and love. God called us for a purpose. We are united together for a purpose. We are God’s baptized people on earth and we have a mission to love and serve God by loving and serving one another. If you haven’t been baptized yet (or you aren’t sure if you were), you are invited. God is ready to save you and ready to give you a new beginning. If you have been baptized and you are worried that you haven’t done a good job of following through on your baptismal calling, you’re not alone. You’re welcome back. There is enough grace for all of us.
Let us pray…
Bibliography
Bassford, M. W. “The Red Sea and Baptism.” His Excellent Word. Blog. Published 23 January 2018. Accessed 16 September 2023. https://hisexcellentword.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-red-sea-and-baptism.html.
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, Form VI
[Adapted from 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 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: Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Enrique Davis, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Charles Gordon, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, Jewel Wheeler; and those we remember now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors to this parish, all those celebrating birthdays, especially Edward Vaughn (9/22); for those celebrating anniversaries; and those thanksgivings we offer now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]
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 Cynthia Parris (mother of our former rector, the Rev. Cheryl Parris), and those we remember now... [Silence. 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 the following or some other suitable Collect:
Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin
The Deacon says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept. All pray together, kneeling, as they are able,
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
Sign up for our e-Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/StMattSavNews
168th Anniversary Collection for Babies & Mothers at St. Mary’s: In keeping with our parish vision, we will celebrate our parish’s 168th Anniversary with worship, fellowship, and service to our neighbors! We are collecting supplies for St. Mary’s Community Center (St. Joseph/Candler Hospitals) to support new mothers in Cuyler-Brownsville. There is a box for receiving donations in Toomer-Walker Hall. St. Mary’s requests donations of:
Baby formula (any brand)
Diapers
Wipes
Baby soap
Baby cereal
Strained food for older babies
Nonperishable foods (canned goods, rice, grits, peanut butter, etc.)
Now Hiring: Parish Administrator: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is searching for a new part-time Parish Administrator to begin work in October 2023. Read the full job description here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/job-opening-parish-administrator-pt. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and résumé to Fr. Guillermo Arboleda at FrGAA@StMattSav.org.
168th Anniversary Dinner Cruise on Sept. 22: Celebrate St. Matthew's anniversary aboard the Savannah Riverboat Cruise on Friday, September 22, 2023. This evening dinner cruise will be set to sail at 6:00 pm from River Street in Downtown Savannah. Attire is casual. Contact Paulette Sanders or Evadne Roberts to purchase tickets. The cost per ticket is $120; some of these funds will contribute toward the 170th Anniversary celebration in 2025. You may begin paying for your ticket(s) now or simply sign up and pay later. Be sure to invite family and friends to enjoy this glorious evening!
Mixed Greens Bake Sale on Sept. 23: The mission of Mixed Greens Savannah, Inc., is to make the Savannah area community more welcoming and inclusive for people with disabilities and people of all abilities through interactive community health and social justice events and activities. This Bake Sale fundraiser will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in St. Matthew's front lawn. All proceeds and donations from this event will go toward supporting community events, giveaways, and programs that will help the Savannah area. We can also take donations by Cash App $Jmzwe1246. For more information, visit the Mixed Greens Savannah website at https://mixedgreenssavannah.godaddysites.com/.
168th Parish Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 24: St. Matthew's will celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and its 168th Parish Anniversary on Sunday, September 24 at 9:30 a.m. Please join us in person for this grand celebration and invite friends and family to this Homecoming Sunday!
St. Anna Alexander Eucharist in Pennick on Sept. 24: Racial Justice Georgia (RJGA), the diocesan racial justice and healing ministry, invites you to attend this year’s St. Anna Alexander pilgrimage on the weekend of September 22-24. The lone Black deaconess in the Episcopal Church, and the most recent person from the diocese recognized as a saint, St. Anna selflessly pursued a ministry of teaching, preaching, and community work for decades in the early 20th century, despite the confinements of Jim Crow. Centered in the Brunswick area, the pilgrimage immerses you in her world and concludes with a special service at Good Shepherd, Pennick, the church she established and faithfully served.
This year we’re excited to have St. Timothy’s choristers from the Diocese of Atlanta performing music they have created for the pilgrimage. The closing Eucharist service will be on Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 PM at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 780 Pennick Rd, Brunswick, GA 31525. Fr. A and others will carpool from St. Matthew’s at 1:15 PM.
Diocesan Youth Events
New Beginnings on Oct. 20-22: New Beginnings, an event for youth in grades 7-9, will take place October 20-22. This event, which helps middle schoolers and young high schoolers center themselves in who they are as God’s beloved children, even in the middle of all the calls on their time, energy, and attention.
Happening 108 on Nov. 17-19: Happening is a Christian experience presented by teenagers, for teenagers in grades 10-12 with the help of clergy and lay adult leadership. The Happening Weekend begins Friday evening, November 17 and continues through Sunday afternoon, November 19.
T/W/Th Evening Prayer on Zoom Only: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer with us over Zoom at 5:00 PM. If you want to be in the Zoom call, please join by 4:55 PM using the link in the e-Newsletter.
NOTE: Due to a change in Facebook's software, we are currently unable to livestream our Zoom calls to the Facebook page. If this changes, we will resume these regular videos, but for now, we are unable to produce them.
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 376]
Giving to St. Matthew's:
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.
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself to us, an offering and sacrifice to God. [Ephesians 5:2]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
AAHH #404: Hold to God's Unchanging Hand
1 Time is filled with swift transition.
Naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
REFRAIN:
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
2 Trust in Him who will not leave you.
Whatsoever years may bring.
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling. [Refrain]
3 Covet not this world’s vain riches
That so rapidly decay.
Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures.
They will never pass away. [Refrain]
4 When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in Glory
Your enraptured soul will view. [Refrain]
[Words: Jennie Wilson. Music: F. L. Eiland; arr. Stephen Key, Copyright © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95065. All rights reserved.]
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Circling through earth so all may grow
Vanquishing fear so all may give
Widening grace so all may live
Amen.
[Words: Eric H. F. Law, Copyright © 2015 Eric H. F. Law. Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission from Kaleidoscope Institute. All rights reserved.]
Eucharistic Prayer B
[BCP, p. 367]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
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 prays 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:
LEV #255:
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
[Music: Grayson Warren Brown, A Mass for Soulful People, Copyright © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources, Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #83420. 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,
We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;
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 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 Breaking of the Bread
Silence may be kept.
The Fraction Anthems
[BCP, p. 364]
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!
Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!
This Far By Faith #36:
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy and grant us peace,
we pray, O Lamb of God.
[Words: Traditional. Music: Grayson Warren Brown; arr. Larry Adams, Copyright © 1979 Grayson Warren Brown. All rights reserved.]
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
The Distribution of Holy Communion
All baptized Christians of any denomination are invited to come forward to participate fully in Communion. Baptized children may receive at the discretion of their parents.
You may receive Communion kneeling or standing. Please extend your hands forward to receive the Body of Christ (bread). If you would like to receive the Blood of Christ (wine), the minister will take the bread from your hand and dip (intinct) it in the wine for you, then place it in your mouth. If you would only like to receive the bread, you may consume it and return to your seat. If you need gluten-free bread for Communion, please raise your hand when you are at the altar rail.
If you would not like to receive Communion for any reason, please cross your arms over your chest, and the Priest will say a blessing over you.
If you are worshipping online, you may pray to receive spiritual communion using the following prayer:
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
LEV #176: If I Have Wounded Any Soul Today
1 If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!
2 If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I offend some other through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!
3 If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in the fold,
When thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!
4 Forgive the sins I have confessed to thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me, and my keeper be.
Dear Lord, forgive! Amen.
[Words: C. M. Battersby, Public Domain. Music: Charles Gabriel, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #LMGM2768. All rights reserved.]
Hymn #674: Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive
1. 'Forgive our sins as we forgive,'
But you alone can grant us grace
2. How can your pardon reach and bless
That broods on wrongs and will not let
3. In blazing light your cross reveals
What trivial debts are owed to us
4. Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
Then, bound to all in bonds of love
Our lives will spread your peace
[Words: Rosamond E. Herklots, Copyright © 1975 Oxford University Press. Music: Detroit, from Supplement to Kentucky Harmony, 1820, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #17454. All rights reserved.]
The Post-Communion Prayer
[BCP, p. 366; Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. 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
AAHH #634: God Be With You Till We Meet Again
1 God be with you till we meet again;
By God's counsels guide, uphold you,
With God's sheep securely fold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
REFRAIN:
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
2 God be with you till we meet again;
’Neath God's wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you:
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
3 God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put God's arms unfailing round you:
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
4 God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threat'ning wave before you:
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
[Words: Jeremiah E. Rankin, Public Domain. Music: William G. Tomer, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95042. All rights reserved.]
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
PRAYER LIST: Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Enrique Davis, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Charles Gordon, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler
BIRTHDAYS: Edward Vaughn (9/22)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A
RECENT DEATHS: Cynthia Parris [mother of our former rector, the Rev. Cheryl Parris] (9/10/2023)
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. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
Image Credits: https://julikenn.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/baptism-7-two-great-o-t-types/