21st Sunday of Pentecost, Oct 18, 2026 (10:30 am)
The Liturgy of the Word
(Liturgy: Expansive Language Prayer C, from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.)
The responses of the people are in bold.
Prelude
Processional Hymn *SEE MUSIC (at end of service bulletin)
Welcome
Opening Acclamation
Officiant Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.
People And blessed be God’s reign, now and for ever. Amen.
Song of Praise (10:30am only)
The Collect of the Day
Officiant The Creator be with you.
People And also with you.
Officiant Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
First Lesson: 33:12-23 (please be seated)
Reader A reading from The Book of Exodus.
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”
The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to all God’s Creation.
All Thanks be to God.
Psalm 99
1 The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 "O mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob." REFRAIN
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One. REFRAIN
Living Epistle
Sequence Hymn Celtic Alleluia
The Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Deacon The Gospel of the Savior.
All Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon
Contemplative Silence
The Nicene Creed (please rise in body or spirit)
Officiant 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 Form VI, BCP
The Leader and People pray responsively
Leader In peace, we pray to you, God. For all people in their daily life and work;
All For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
Leader For this community, the nation, and the world;
All For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Leader For the just and proper use of your creation;
All For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
Leader For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
All For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
Leader For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
All For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
Leader For Deon, our Bishop; and for all bishops and other ministers;
All For all who serve God in God’s Church.
Leader For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, including those on our parish prayer list.
The People may add their own petitions
Leader Hear us, Lord;
All For your mercy is great.
Leader We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, including the ministries of Holy Communion, especially ____ .
The People may add their own thanksgivings, silently or aloud.
Leader We will exalt you, O God;
All And praise your Name for ever and ever.
Leader We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
The People may add their own petitions
Leader God, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
All Who put their trust in you.
Concluding Collect
Officiant Holy One, hear the prayers of your people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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)
Officiant The peace of Christ be always with you.
People And also with you.
Announcements & Offering (please be seated)
Offering:
Blessing of Birthdays & Anniversaries
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.
Offertory Sentence
Officiant Let us with gladness present the offerings and oblations of our life and labor to the Lord.
The Liturgy of the Table
Offertory Hymn or Anthem *SEE MUSIC
Doxology (Please rise in body or spirit, sung at 10:30 only) H380, 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.
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.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant God of all power, Source and Sustainer of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.
All Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant At your command all things came to be: shining light and enfolding dark; the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.
All By your will they were created and have their being.
Celebrant From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with the capacity for memory, reason, and skill. You made us the stewards of your creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
All Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
Celebrant Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your eternal Word, born of your servant Mary, to fulfill your Law, opening for us the way of freedom and peace.
All By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed.
Celebrant And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
Sanctus
Celebrant and People
Please rise or kneel, in body or spirit.
Celebrant Blessed are you, Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, 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, gave thanks, and said,
"Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,
All We celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection as we await the day of his coming.
Celebrant Therefore, O God, we who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. Sanctify us also, and let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in Christ’s name.
All Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.
Celebrant God of our ancestors; Redeemer and Mother of Israel; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength; for pardon only and not for renewal.
Accept these prayers and praises, Almighty God, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray, using the language or version of our hearts,
Our Father who art . . . Padre nuestro que estás . . .
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 for ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Fraction
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 are avoiding alcohol, let the bread-server know and you will be given grape juice. 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 MUSIC
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 In the name of Christ and this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ’s body and blood.
People We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread, one cup. Amen.
Post Communion Prayer (standing or kneeling as able)
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
Recessional Hymn *SEE MUSIC
Dismissal
Officiant Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
Postlude
*Music*
Prelude: Prelude in E flat Major Alexandre Guilmant
Processional Hymn: When Morning Gilds the Skies H427
Sequence Hymn: Celtic Alleluia
Offertory Anthem: Angels Unaware Pepper Choplin
Communion Hymn: Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face H318
Be Thou My Vision H488
Recessional Hymn: When in Our Music God is Glorified H420
Postlude: Miniature #8 David Maxwell
Announcements
Laundry Love: Holy Communion members have supported our University City community since 2017. Each third Tuesday of the month, this ministry shares pizza and conversation, and provides laundry quarters for our neighbors. Join us Tuesday, Oct 20, 6-8 p.m. at Classic Coin Laundromat on Balson Ave. Sign up on our website by clicking: Service & Outreach > Laundry Love.
Adult Forum LQBTQIA+ Pride Presentation: On Sun, Oct 25 Lisa Hummel, Rudy Walz and Beth from PFLAG will present on historical and present-day issues surrounding our LQBTQIA+ community, within school and government settings. Mitchell Hall, 9am. To learn more about PFLAG, visit pflag.org.
Community of Hope Information Session + Cookies! Join Denise Carpenter on Sun, Oct 25 at 11:30am in Mitchell Hall. She'll be sharing the opportunity to join a community steeped in Benedictine spirituality, which serves others through compassionate listening. Learn more here: www.cohi.org/
Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral: Attend Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral on October 25 at 5pm. Our choir will join the Cathedral choir for the service, and we'd love for you to join us!
Sages Luncheon: Wed, Oct 28, 1pm at Mi Ranchito in University City.
Blessing of the Costumes: Sunday, Oct 25. Wear your costume to worship at either service for a special blessing!
Getting to Know You Gatherings: Oct 24, 27, 28, 29. Join us for one of the upcoming “Getting to Know You Gatherings.” Chat with Mother Brenda, reconnect with old friends and make new ones! Take an invitation from the Narthex and use the QR code to bring a heavy appetizer or a dessert and a bottle of your favorite beverage, & choose your date/location. Or call the office: 314-721-7401.
Names of Loved Ones due by 10/27: As part of our Nov. 1st All Saints celebration, we will publish a list of those we love but see no longer. Please email or call the office, before Oct. 28, with names of your loved ones who have passed on.
Save the Date
All Saints Ofrenda: Sun, Nov 1. Turn in photos of loved ones who have passed to add to our annual Orfenda – an altar to honor the dead. Or email your photo to office@holycommunion.net to have photos printed (deadline 10/27). Please leave photos in Darcy’s mailbox.
Church Work Day: Sat, Nov 7th!
Buy the Book, Save the Date: Tuesdays, 7pm, starting Nov. 9. Zoom book group and Immigration Justice discussion with Intern Alicia Shapinsky, featuring Edafe Okporo's memoir, Asylum.
Servers
Preacher: The Reverend Brenda Sol
Guest Organist: Cheryl Foster
Crucifer: Sherifa Olivia Bethune
Readers: Lisa Hummel (8), Ashlyn Walls (10:30)
Intercessor: Fran Caradonna (10:30)
Greeters: Mark Willingham (8), Faye Westbrook (10:30)
Chalice Bearers: Karen Payne (8), Marlene O’Brien (10:30)
Streamer: Aris Diaz
Vestry
Joe Donahou, Rector’s Warden
Heidi Volkl, People’s Warden
Jim Wire, Treasurer
Pat Redington, Secretary
Tim Anderson, Bex Comas, Nancy Donohoo,
Gloria Grenwald, Karen Payne, Rudy Walz
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
Earl Naylor, Organist
Erin Meadows, Financial Administrator
314-721-7401 x304; financeadmin@holycommunion.net
Music used and reprinted with permission under OneLicense #A-704988, WorshipCast License #13476, and St. James Music Press License #14747.
