Aug 23, 2020 – The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

Prelude: “Built on the Rock” – Lindeman/Rasley

 

Opening Hymn: Hymn #427 – When Morning Gilds the Sky

Lyrics:
1. When morning gilds the skies, my heart, awaking, cries, may Jesus Christ be praised! When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call, may Jesus Christ be praised!

2. When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs: may Jesus Christ be praised! God’s holy house of prayer hath none that can compare with: Jesus Christ be praised!

3. No lovelier antiphon in all high heaven is known than, Jesus Christ be praised! There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard: may Jesus Christ be praised!

4. Ye nations of mankind, in this your concord find: may Jesus Christ be praised! Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound: may Jesus Christ be praised!

5. Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see his face, sing, Jesus Christ be praised! God’s whole creation o’er, both now and evermore shall Jesus Christ be praised!

Leader: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

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.

God of all power and love, we give thanks for your unfailing presence and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss. Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire. Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world: a people who pray, worship, learn, break bread, share life, heal neighbors, bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit. Wherever and however we gather, unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission, that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria
All together


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.

Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day
All together
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

Leader: Please be seated for today’s readings

First Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. For the Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be for ever, and my deliverance will never be ended.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 138

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *
before the gods I will sing your praise.

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and praise your Name, *
because of your love and faithfulness;

3 For you have glorified your Name *
and your word above all things.

4 When I called, you answered me; *
you increased my strength within me.

5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *
when they have heard the words of your mouth.

6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *
that great is the glory of the Lord.

7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *
he perceives the haughty from afar.

8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand shall save me.

9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *
O Lord, your love endures for ever;
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Second Reading: Romans 12:1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God– what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Hymn: Hymn #522  – Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken

Lyrics:
1. Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God.  He whose word cannot be broken formed thee for his own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose?  With salvation’s walls surrounded, thou may’st smile at all thy foes.

2. See! the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love, well supply they sons and daughters and all fear of want remove. Who can faint, when such a river ever will their thirst assuage?  Grace which, like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.

3. Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear for a glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near. Thus deriving from their banner, light by night, and shade by day, safe they feed upon the manna which he gives them when they pray.

4. Blest inhabitants of Zion, washed in the Redeemer’s blood!  Jesus, whom their souls rely on, makes them kings and priests to God. ‘Tis his love his people raises over self to reign as kings; and as priests, his solemn praises each for a thankoffering brings.

Holy Gospel

Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Leader: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Leader: Please be seated for the Message of the Day

Interlude: “Where True Charity and Love Dwell” – plainsong

 

Leader: Please stand, as you are able, as we recite together The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed
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.

Leader: Please be seated for the The Prayers of the People

Reader: A Litany during a Pandemic

God the Father, Have mercy upon us.
God the Son, Have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy upon us.

Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy preserve us through this crisis, and for ever.
Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and wickedness, from disease and illness, especially this coronavirus,
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all ignorance and apathy and from all willingness to engage in activities that could harm others,
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart, from pride and a sense of invincibility,
Good Lord, deliver us.

We your children beseech you to hear us, O Lord God, to look upon this world struck by pandemic, and drive from us this disease.
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to strengthen the weak, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to give health and comfort to all who are already stricken with illness,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to give patience and grace to all those who are in quarantine or who fear that they have already contracted the virus,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to surround with your love those who are fearful or overcome with anxiety and worry,
We beseech you to hear us, Good Lord.

That it may please you to give wisdom and stamina to all who are working on tests, vaccines, and treatments,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to uphold, strengthen, and protect all those who are treating and ministering to the sick,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That is may please you to give to your people a heart to love their neighbor and to look after those who are most vulnerable.
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to support, help, and comfort those who are concerned about finances and employment,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to help students whose schools are closed grow in wisdom and knowledge and to give their teachers creativity and perseverance,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to heal the sick, lift up the stricken and east their breathing,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to receive into your bosom those who have died and embrace those who are grieving,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
Son of God, we beseech you to hear us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Grant us your peace.
[Litany by Fr. Rick, Rector of St. Mark’s, Basking Ridge, NJ, adapted. Used with permission.]

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. [The people add their intercessions and thanksgivings.]

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, praying for Deirdre, Becky, Chris, Nicole, Laura, Mary, Joseph, Roger, Sue, Eileen, Doris, and David, give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

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.

Leader: Together we pray
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.

All together
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.
Leader: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen

The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord is always with you.
People: And also with you.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader and People:
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.

The Closing Hymn: Hymn #379 – God is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him

Lyrics:
1 God is Love: let heaven adore him; God is Love: let earth rejoice; let creation sing before him, and exalt him with one voice. God who laid the earth’s foundation, God who spread the heavens above, God who breathes through all creation, God is Love, eternal Love.
2 God is Love: and love enfolds us, all the world in one embrace; with unfailing grasp God holds us, every child of every race. And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow’s iron rod, then we find that selfsame aching deep within the heart of God.
3 God is Love: and though with blindness sin afflicts all human life, God’s eternal loving-kindness guides us through our earthly strife. Sin and death and hell shall never o’er us final triumph gain; God is Love, so Love for ever o’er the universe must reign

The Blessing
Leader: The Peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God. And the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with us all today and always. Amen.

Postlude: “Con spirito” – Muzio Clementi

 

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One Comment

  1. Thank you for continuing to the on line service. I cannot drive to attend the service because of a bad leg.
    I appreciate being able to sing with the organ.

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