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The Liturgy of the Word

(Our liturgy comes directly from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

This version is the approved Expansive Language Prayer A)

The responses of the people are in bolded italics.

Prelude

Opening Hymn SEE INSERT

Opening Acclamation

May 24 (Day of Pentecost)

Celebrant Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

May 31-July 12:

Celebrant Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.

People And blessed be God’s reign, now and for ever. Amen.

Song of Praise Shalom My Friends

The Collect of the Day (remain standing in body or spirit) SEE INSERT

Celebrant God be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

The Readings (please be seated) SEE INSERT

First Lesson

Reader The Word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Psalm

Reader We will now pray the psalm responsively by half verse.

Second Lesson

Reader The Word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn We Are on Our Way

The Holy Gospel

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to ___.

All Glory to you, Lord Christ.

(After the Gospel reading)

Deacon The Gospel of the Savior.

All Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon

Contemplative Silence

The Nicene Creed (Please rise in body or spirit)

Celebrant Let us affirm our faith in the words of 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,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

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,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who 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.

Prayers of the People (standing or kneeling in body or spirit) Form III

Leader Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

People That we all may be one.

Leader Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;

People That your Name may be glorified by all people.

Leader We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;

People That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

Leader We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;

People That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Leader Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;

People That our works may find favor in your sight.

Leader Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;

People That they may be delivered from their distress.

Leader Give to the departed eternal rest;

People Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Leader We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;

People May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Leader Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

Silence

The People may add their own petitions

Concluding Collect

Celebrant O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

The Confession

Deacon Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence (kneeling in body or spirit)

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 our Savior 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.

Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace (Please rise in body or spirit)

Celebrant The peace of Christ be always with you.

People‍ ‍And also with you.

Offering:

Announcements & Offering (Please be seated)

As part of our offering, a basket of food, which will be delivered to the U-City School's Community Cupboard, will also be brought to the altar.

Blessing of Birthdays & Anniversaries

All Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their heart may your peace which passes all understanding abide all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Table

Offertory Hymn or Anthem SEE INSERT

Doxology (Please rise in body or spirit) The Hymnal 1982, #380, vs. 3

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures here below;

praise God above, ye heavenly host:

Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.

Words: Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Music: Old 100th, melody from Psaumes octante trois de David, 1551, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois (1510?1561?)

Please rise or kneel, in body or spirit

The Great Thanksgiving

Celebrant God be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

PeopleIt is right to give our thanks and praise.

Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

(Celebrant adds a Proper Preface)

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus

Celebrant and People

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Celebrant Holy and gracious God: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and maker of all.

Jesus stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Savior 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 Jesus 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, Almighty God, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in Christ. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Savior. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Celebrant As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray, using the language or version of our hearts,

Padre nuestro que estás . . . Our Father who art . . .

All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Celebrant These are God's holy gifts, for you, God's holy people.

Deacon This is the table of company with Jesus. It is the table of sharing with the poor and lowly of the world, with whom Jesus identified.

Celebrant So come to this table you who have much faith or you who would like to have more; you who have been here often and you who have not been here in a long time. Come. It is Christ who invites you to meet him here.

People Amen. As the bread and wine are transformed, may we be changed into the likeness of Christ; bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh, loving and caring in the world.

Communion Protocol

Everyone is welcome at God’s table. The Greeters will direct you to the altar rail, where you are welcome to stand or kneel. The host (bread) will be dropped into your cupped hands. When you move to the wine, you may either drink from the cup, or have your host dipped. If you require gluten-free, let the server know. If you prefer a blessing, cross your arms over your chest, and if you are unable to come to the altar rail, let an usher know, and we will bring communion to you.

Communion Hymns SEE INSERT

The Sending of Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs)

At various times, Lay Eucharistic Visitors take the consecrated bread and wine to those who cannot physically be present for worship. When we do so, the following prayer may be offered:

Deacon We send you forth, bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the Body and Blood of Christ our Savior.

People We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread, one cup.

Post Communion Prayer (standing or kneeling, in body or spirit)

Celebrant Let us pray.

All Eternal God, you have graciously accepted us as living members of our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing

Closing Hymn SEE INSERT

Dismissal

Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia!

All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Postlude

✠

Vestry

Kellie McCoy, Senior Warden

Joe Donahou, Junior Warden

Jim Wire, Treasurer

Pat Redington, Secretary

Rebecca Comas, Heidi Volkl,

Rudy Walz, Gloria Grenwald,

Karen Payne, Nancy Donohoo

Staff

The Rev. Brenda Sol, Rector

314-721-7401 x302; rector@holycommunion.net

The Rev. Chester Hines, Deacon

314-386-7762; chinesj@charter.net

Darcy Brainard, Parish Administrator

314-721-7401 x301; office@holycommunion.net

Mary Chapman, Director of Music

mchapman@holycommunion.net

Earl Naylor, Organist

organist@holycommunion.net

Erin Meadows, Financial Administrator

314-721-7401 x304; financeadmin@holycommunion.net

INSERT:

Second Sunday After Pentecost, June 7

Gun Violence Prevention Sunday & Guest Preacher, Denise Carpenter

Prelude: Fantasia in G Minor Johann Pachelbel

Processional Hymn: God of Grace and God of Glory H594

Offertory Hymn: If We Just Speak of Thoughts & Prayers Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, SEE INSERT

Communion Hymn: God, Our Nation Feels the Loss Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, SEE INSERT

Recessional Hymn: We Shall Overcome L227

Postlude: Prelude and Fugue in F Major Vincent Lübeck

Opening Prayers

Celebrant Lord, make us instruments of your peace;

All Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

Celebrant Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;

All Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

Celebrant O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

All to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

The Collect

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.

Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

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

The Psalm 33:1-12

Please pray responsively by half verse (bolded text).

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; *
it is good for the just to sing praises.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp; *
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3 Sing for him a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4 For the word of the Lord is right, *
and all his works are sure.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, *
by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.

7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *
and stores up the depths of the sea.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; *
he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught; *
he thwarts the designs of the peoples.

11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever, *
and the designs of his heart from age to age.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

The Epistle: Romans 4:13-25

The promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

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

The Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Deacon: The Gospel of the Savior.
All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Prayers of the People

Leader We call to mind the many victims of gun violence, those who have lost their lives, those who have lost their livelihood, and those who have lost life’s passion. We pray especially for those who have been killed here in the St. Louis area and we hold their stories and their memories dear. May their loss not be in vain, and may we shape a new story of hope from the broken pieces of grief. And so we pray,