Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Sep 18, 2022
- 22 min read

Sunday Worship on September 18, 2022

The Holy Eucharist

The 15th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 20C)

September 18, 2022

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

Sunday, September 18, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #390: Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;

O my soul, praise Him, for he is thy health and salvation:

Join the great throng,

Psaltery, organ, and song,

Sounding in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord; over all things he gloriously reigneth:

Borne as on eagle-wings, safely his saints he sustaineth.

Hast thou not seen

How all thou needest hath been

Granted in what he ordaineth?

3 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee;

Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee;

Ponder anew

What the Almighty can do,

Who with his love doth befriend thee.

4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!

All that hath breath join with Abraham's seed to adore him!

Let the "Amen"

Sum all our praises again

Now as we worship before him.

Words: Joachim Neander, tr. Hymnal 1940, alt., Public Domain. Music: Lobe den Herren, melody from Erneurten Gesangbuch (1665), harm. The Chorale Book for England (1863), Public Domain; desc. Craig Sellar Lang © 1953 Novello and Company Limited. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #OC20-12. 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, 234]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Amos (8:4-7)

Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,

saying, "When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain;

and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale?

We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances,

buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat."

The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 113

[BCP, p. 756]

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

1 Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord; * praise the Name of the Lord.

2 Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, * from this time forth for evermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down * let the Name of the Lord be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high * but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?

6 He takes up the weak out of the dust * and lifts up the poor from the ashes.

7 He sets them with the princes, * with the princes of his people.

8 He makes the woman of a childless house * to be a joyful mother of children.

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to Timothy (2:1-7)

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all -- this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

LEV #145: Have Thine Own Way, Lord! (Verses 1-3)

1 Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter,

I am the clay!

Mold me and make me

After thy will,

While I am waiting,

Yielded and still.

2 Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Search me and try me,

Master, today!

Purer than snow, Lord,

Wash me just now,

As in thy presence

Humbly I bow.

3 Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Wounded and weary,

Help me, I pray!

Power all power

Surely is thine!

Touch me and heal me,

Savior divine!

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 (16:1-13)

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?' He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

LEV #145: Have Thine Own Way, Lord! (Verse 4)

4 Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Hold o’er my being

Absolute sway!

Fill with thy Spirit

’Til all shall see

Christ only, always,

Living in me!

The Sermon

"God Loves Everyone" by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

God loves everyone. Every single person you have ever met is beloved by God, the Creator of the Universe, the Giver and Sustainer of Life. This is a foundational belief for Christians. God loves everyone. That belief guides our church’s mission, how we pray and worship, our ministry and service offerings, our personal and ethical choices, and even our political engagement. I hope that if you’re hearing this and have had any contact with St. Matthew’s at all, you already know that we believe this. God loves everyone and there’s nothing we can do to change that. We can only mold ourselves to that fundamental truth.

There are a lot of places in the Bible where we learn that God loves everyone. But today’s reading from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy is an interesting one. In the middle of his instructions on prayer, Paul drops this bar: “God our Savior … desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3-4). Paul tells us to pray for everyone because God loves everyone. God loves everyone and therefore God desires everyone to be saved.

My preaching professors used to teach that the most important thing we can learn from the Bible is who God is, what God cares about, what God wants for the world. We want to know the character of God as revealed in Scripture. We want to know God’s intentions for creation. If we understand God’s vision for a whole, healthy, healed, and saved world, we understand more about what kind of people we ought to be. We learn how to live and how to treat one another as children of God, as ambassadors for Christ on earth.

In this letter, the Apostle Paul is crystal clear about God’s desires for the world. He believes that God loves everyone, not just his people (Jews) from his part of the world (the ancient Middle East). But famously, Paul didn’t always think that way. When we first meet him in the Book of Acts (and as he confessed in last week’s reading), Paul was a violent man who persecuted Christians. He accused Christians of being heretical, false Jews and so he tried to shut them down. He thought they were dangerously new, he was afraid of that change, and Paul was willing to hurt people to defend his tradition. But then Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, spoke to him, and gave him a new purpose. Jesus called him to be an “a herald and an apostle … [and] a teacher of the Gentiles.”

Paul’s transformation is incredible. Remember that the phrase “Gentiles” simply means any person or people group that isn’t religiously Jewish or doesn’t have Jewish ancestry. So instead of focusing on people like him, Paul’s mission was to focus on people who were different. Paul went from being someone who aggressively enforced boundaries (religious and cultural) to being someone who expanded boundaries. He used to go around telling people they didn’t belong, that they were out. Then, because of Jesus, he traveled the world telling people that they did belong, that they were in. He became a bridge to welcome people into the Jesus Movement, accepting their different cultures and backgrounds. Instead of being locked into a small, narrow-minded worldview, Paul learned to see all people as God’s beloved children. Instead of focusing on people who looked like him, talked like him, and believed like him, Paul began to minister to everybody. He welcomed people from every nation, race, and ethnicity into the church. He recognized that everybody is included in God’s human family; everyone is embraced by the great love of God.

So how do we experience that kind of transformation? Even if we already agree in our heads that God loves everyone, how do we become the kind of people who believe it with our hearts and our hands? How do we live that truth?

Paul says to begin with prayer: “First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim 2:1-2). We learn to love everyone by praying for everyone. We ask God to bless people so that our hearts are softened toward them. It’s hard to keep ignoring, disliking, or hating someone if we continually ask for God to be gracious to them. Sometimes you pray for someone and God sends you to answer that prayer for them.

That’s why every time we gather together for worship, we include the “Prayers of the People” portion of our service. The Book of Common Prayer instructs us to include prayers for all different kinds of people during every service of Holy Communion. The actual words we say change and vary by season or occasion, but there are some things we are supposed to include every time. The Prayer Book says we should offer intercessions for “the Universal Church, the Nation and all in authority, the welfare of the world, the concerns of the local community, those who suffer and those in any trouble, [and] the departed” (BCP, p. 359). You might notice that even though the names of the President, the Governor, the Mayor, and other politicians change, we keep praying for them to be just and peaceful leaders. The Bishop and Clergy change, but we keep praying that they are faithful to God’s call. Our local parish prayer list changes, but we keep lifting them up to God. There are different wars and conflicts happening around the world (some on the news and some that we don’t hear about), but we keep praying for peace. Regardless of our political opinions or our personal feelings about some person or people group, we keep praying for them. Because God loves everyone.

The implication here is that we cannot have Holy Communion without praying for all those people, for everyone around the world. Communion isn’t just about me connecting with Jesus (though it is that). It’s also about me and you and everyone in the room connecting to each other. And it’s about all of us connecting spiritually to everyone else around the world. In the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist, God meets us where we are and asks us to change, to love the people of the earth just as God loves them. So we pray for everyone. We pray for love to reign supreme in a world filled with hate. And we pray for love to reign supreme in our hearts, so that we can be part of the change God desires for the world. Amen.

Hymn #538: God of Mercy, God of Grace

1 God of mercy, God of grace,

show the brightness of thy face.

Shine upon us, Savior, shine,

fill thy Church with light divine,

and thy saving health extend

unto earth's remotest end.

2 Let thy people praise thee, Lord;

be by all that live adored.

Let the nations shout and sing

glory to their Savior King;

let all be, below, above,

one in joy, and light, and love.

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: Edward Vaughn (9/22); those celebrating 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

Click here to sign up for our e-Newsletter

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 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.

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.

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.

Faithful Voter Seminar & Listening Session on 10/2: On Sunday, October 2, 2022, at 11:00 AM (after worship), Georgia Faith in Public Life (FPL) will sponsor a Listening Session at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church to encourage our community to Get Out The Vote as part of its Faithful Voter Pledge Campaign. Minister Shavonne Williams, FPL's Georgia Organizing Ambassador from Hephzibah, GA, will offer a presentation about recent changes to voting access in Georgia and lead a discussion about the issues that we care the most about. Faith in Public Life is a nonpartisan interreligious nonprofit organization committed to the democratic pursuit of justice, equality, and the common good.

There is also a lot of literature available in the parish hall about voter registration, voting deadlines, and statewide candidates on the ballot courtesy of FPL and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. Please take some home and share them with your friends and family!

Read about Faith in Public Life's Democracy Campaign: https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/issues/democracy/
Pledge to be a Faithful Voter: https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/georgia-faithful-voter/

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

AAHH #303: In the Name of Jesus

In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus,

we have the victory.

In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus,

Satan, you have to flee.

Oh, what can ever stand before us

when we call on that great name?

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,

we have the victory.

CHORUS:

Victory, oh, victory,

we have the victory.

Victory, oh, victory,

we have the victory.

Words: Congregational Praise Song, Public Domain. Music: Congregational Praise Song; arr. Walter Owens, Jr. © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95087. 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.

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-125:

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 God has been so good to me. (REFRAIN)

2 Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us all praise God's name. I called the Lord, who answered me; from all my troubles I was set free. (REFRAIN)

3 Worship the Lord, all you people. You’ll want for nothing if you ask. Taste and see that the Lord is good; in God we need put all our trust. (REFRAIN)

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: 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

BIRTHDAYS: Edward Vaughn (9/22)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A

RECENT DEATHS: N/A

May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

Note: 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), African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH), Wonder Love and Praise (WLP), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.

Image Credits: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/god-loves-everyone-equally-people-around-the-world-gifts-your-giftshoppe.html

Sunday Worship on September 18, 2022

The Holy Eucharist

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

Sunday, September 18, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #390: Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

The Opening Acclamation

A Collect for Purity

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

The Collect of the Day

A Reading from the Book of Amos (8:4-7)

Psalm 113

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to Timothy (2:1-7)

LEV #145: Have Thine Own Way, Lord! (Verses 1-3)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Luke (16:1-13)

LEV #145: Have Thine Own Way, Lord! (Verse 4)

The Sermon

Hymn #538: God of Mercy, God of Grace

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

Confession of Sin

The Peace

Parish Announcements

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The Offertory

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AAHH #303: In the Name of Jesus

AAHH #651: Doxology

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthems

LEV #154: Taste and See

The Post-Communion Prayer

The Blessing of the People

The Dismissal

The Parish Prayer List

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