Pride Sunday, June 29
Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, a welcoming and diverse community seeking to walk in the Way of Jesus and to reveal Christ’s reconciling love in our city, nation, and world.
Get Involved: If you fill out a “Let’s Get Connected Card” found in your pew, or at the Welcome Table by the door where you came into the church, we’d be glad to keep you up to date with all that’s happening at Holy Communion. Or, simply scan the QR code below to visit holycommunion.net where you can share your contact information, find a worship bulletin, read the latest news, and more.
Communion: “These are the gifts of God for the people of God.” At Church of the Holy Communion, we believe that it is Christ himself who invites us to meet him in the bread and the cup. Though it is known by many names - Communion, Mass, Holy Eucharist, The Lord’s Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar - it is the means by which Christ’s real presence abides with us by faith. Therefore, all are welcome to receive. When it comes time for Communion, please follow the directions of the Greeters. The bread is offered to all, with gluten free wafers available, upon request, from the minister. If you would like to receive the wine, you may either drink from the cup, or intinct (dip) the wafer in the wine. Likewise, it is acceptable to receive only the bread, if for personal or health reasons you prefer to not consume wine. Those not receiving Communion, may also come forward. Indicate to the minister that you do not wish to receive Communion by simply crossing your arms across your chest, and the minister will offer a prayer for God’s blessing in your life.
Children in Worship: Kids are expected and encouraged to participate in worship! The Pray Ground (the carpeted area at the front of the Sanctuary) is open for those in need of some wiggle room. Kids not in the Pray Ground, are asked to stay in the pews with their caregivers during worship. Children are welcome to help with greeting and passing the offertory plate; speak with a Greeter, if interested!
Accessibility: “Priority Seating” is provided for caretakers of those with mobility needs. Our entrances have auto-open buttons, and our elevator is ADA compliant. Both the downstairs restrooms and one of the upstairs restrooms are accessible.
Hearing Assistance: Hearing assistance devices are available from the welcome table. If you have any questions, just ask a Greeter.
Donations: We welcome donations to support the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Monetary donations can be placed in the offering plate that will be passed during the service, put in the wooden offering box found at the Welcome Table, by scanning the QR code below, or by electronic donations set up through your bank or on the church website, holycommunion.net. Thank you!
Prelude
Welcome
Opening Hymn Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Opening Acclamation Please rise in body or spirit.
Blessed are you, Holy and Living God.
You come to your people and set them free.
There is one Body and one Spirit
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
One God, one Faith, one Baptism
One God and Maker of all.
The Celebrant continues
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.
Song of Praise Sung at 10:30 God Welcomes All
The Liturgy of Word
Collect of the Day
God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Eternal One, Source of all life, and Giver of all that is good, you put on the fullness of our humanity for the sake of healing your beloved but broken creation; open our minds, liberate our hearts, and strengthen our souls that we might not live in fear, but walk in your way of perfect, healing, self-giving love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you, Merciful One, in the power of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Please be seated. 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21
A reading from the Book of First Kings.
The Lord said to Elijah, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place."
So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 16 (spoken in unison)
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
I have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord, my good above all other.”
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods *
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because you are at my side I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your hand are pleasures for evermore.
Second Reading
A reading from the poem, “Jesus At The Gay Bar,” by Jay Hulme
He’s here in the midst of it -
right at the centre of the dance floor,
robes hitched up to His knees
to make it easy to spin.
At some point in the evening
a boy will touch the hem of His robe
and beg to be healed, beg to be
anything other than this;
and He will reach His arms out,
sweat-damp, and weary from dance.
He’ll cup this boy’s face in his hand
and say,
my beautiful child
there is nothing in this heart of yours
that ever needs to be healed.
Sequence Hymn Over My Head arr. John Bell
The Holy Gospel Please remain standing, in body or spirit. Luke 9:51-62
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Christ
Sermon Rudy Nickens
A time of silence is observed following the sermon.
Nicene Creed Spoken in unison.
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
Deacon In the stillness of this moment and the strength of our gathering, let us offer our prayers for the Church, the world, and one another to the Holy One whose love knows no bounds.
Leader We give thanks for the witness of your Church, O Christ. For all who respect your life-giving and liberating love. For communities that honor queer and transgender lives, and for voices that proclaim your gospel of love and transformation. Strengthen your Church with power through your Spirit, especially where it has caused harm or withheld blessing. Teach us to walk in love, as Christ loved us, and to be faithful stewards of your reconciling grace.
Leader God, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Leader We pray for all who serve in public trust and give thanks for leaders who pursue justice with courage and humility. For lawmakers, advocates, and peacemakers who defend dignity and protect the vulnerable. Let your wisdom guide all in authority; may their hearts be turned to equity, compassion, and peace. We grieve the harm caused by unjust laws and unmitigated violence and cruelty, and we ask your Spirit to move mightily wherever your people cry out for freedom.
Leader God, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Leader We rejoice in the beauty of creation and in the fierce care of those who tend it. For organizers, artists, healers, and neighbors who build beloved community from the ground up. Bless the land beneath our feet, the rivers and forests, the creatures with whom we share this earth. We pray for those who live without shelter or safety, for the displaced and the dispossessed, for those harmed by the climate crisis and systems of greed. Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Leader God, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Leader We remember those who suffer and those in any kind of trouble. For all who carry hidden wounds, who live with chronic pain, illness, addiction, or despair. For LGBTQ+ youth and elders, especially those cut off from family or care. Let your Spirit bring healing, courage, and companionship. We commend to you all who have died: those remembered and those forgotten, those claimed and those erased, especially those we name before you now.
(The People may add their own petitions, silently or aloud.)
Gather them into your light, where sorrow is no more, and joy never ends.
Leader God, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Celebrant Holy One, receive the prayers we offer and those known only to you. Knit us together in your chosen family, bind us together in the love that bears all things, and raise us up in the resurrection of Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People Amen.
Peace Please rise in body or in spirit.
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
You are invited to greet those around you by saying “Peace be with you” or simply “Peace.”
Welcome and Announcements Please be seated for a few brief announcements.
Offertory Sentence
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
Offertory Anthem Draw the Circle Wide by Gordon Light and Mark Miller
Offertory Hymn Please rise in body or spirit, and sing (10:30) as the Greeters bring forth our financial offering.
There is Enough by Kellie Meyer
The Liturgy of the Table
Eucharistic Prayer Please remain standing, in body or spirit.
Celebrant The Lord 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.
We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God,
source of life abundant.
From before time you made ready the creation.
Your Spirit moved over the deep
and brought all things into being:
sun, moon, and stars;
earth, winds, and waters;
and every living thing.
You made us in your image,
and taught us to walk in your ways.
But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away;
and yet, as a mother cares for her children,
you would not forget us.
Time and again you called us
to live in the fullness of your love.
And so this day we join with Saints and Angels
in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity,
lifting our voices to magnify you as we say:
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.
Glory and honor and praise to you, holy and living God.
To deliver us from the power of sin and death
and to reveal the riches of your grace,
you looked with favor upon Mary, your willing servant,
that she might conceive and bear a son,
Jesus the holy child of God.
Living among us, Jesus loved us.
He broke bread with outcasts and sinners,
healed the sick, and proclaimed good news to the poor.
He yearned to draw all the world to himself
yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love.
Then, the time came for him to complete upon the cross
the sacrifice of his life,
and to be glorified by you.
On the night before he died for us,
Jesus was at table with his friends.
He took bread, gave thanks to you,
broke it, and gave it to them, and said:
“Take, eat:
This is my Body, which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine.
Again, he gave thanks to you,
gave it to them, and said:
“Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant,
which is poured out for you and for all
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Now gathered at your table, O God of all creation,
and remembering Christ, crucified and risen,
who was and is and is to come,
we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine,
and ourselves, a living sacrifice.
Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts
that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ.
Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth
and make us your new creation,
the Body of Christ given for the world you have made.
In the fullness of time bring us,
with [___________ and] all your saints,
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
to feast at the banquet prepared
from the foundation of the world.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to you be honor, glory, and praise,
for ever and ever. AMEN.
Celebrant
And now, as our Savior
Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say,
Lord’s Prayer Pray in the language of your heart.
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.
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre, venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre. Amén.
The Breaking of the Bread
God of promise, you have prepared a banquet for us.
Happy are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Communion Hymns The congregation is invited to join in the singing of communion hymns at 10:30.
For All the Children by David Lohman
My Song Is Love Unknown by John Ireland
Post Communion Prayer Please rise in body, or in spirit.
Let us pray.
Almighty and ever-living 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 forever.
Amen.
Sending of Lay Eucharistic Visitors
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.
The Blessing
Recessional Hymn We Walk in Love by Deanna Witkowski
Dismissal
Deacon Go in Peace and serve the Lord!
People Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Announcements
More information on upcoming events can be found at holycommunion.net
Pride Sunday Worship: Holy Communion celebrates LGBTQIA2S+ Pride TODAY at both 8 and 10:30 am services. St. Louis gay activist, civic leader, DEI trainer and former HoCo senior warden, Rudy Nickens, will be our guest preacher. Join our 9 am coffee hour in Mitchell Hall, filled with rainbow-colored goodies! We will feature table discussions on Episcopal queer ministry, mission, life and spirituality in 2025.
Want go to the Parade with others? The STL PrideFest Parade begins at today at noon! If you would like to attend the parade after our 10:30 am Pride Service, and are interested in carpooling (driving or riding), contact Andrew Wasson at 618.317.2190 (call or text) or wassona@wustl.edu.
Saturday Evening Compline & Prayers for the Nation: Attend our brief, (< 30 mins) lay-led, Saturday evening service. Arrive between 6:30-7pm for quiet meditation & Compline begins at 7pm. All are welcome!
Summer Church Music! All musicians are invited to share their talent with the congregation by providing special music for our summer services. Do you have something to share? Please contact Mary Chapman at mchapman@holycommunion.net.
Tornado Relief Resources: Email Parish Administrator, Darcy Brainard at office@holycommunion.net for a comprehensive resource list, or visit our website at holycommunion.net
Live Streamers Wanted! Would you like to help live stream our 10:30 worship service? With a little training from a current streamer, you can! Our very user-friendly system is designed so that anyone can do it, no matter their technology capabilities. Talk to any current member of the live streaming team, or email office@holycommunion.net to volunteer.
The Altar flowers have been donated by Rudy Walz and Bob Meinz, in honor of all people who fought injustice in the past, and continue to fight presently, and in the future.
Servers
Guest Preacher: Mr. Rudy W. Nickens Jr.
Celebrant: The Reverend Earl Mahan
Assisting Clergy: The Reverend Julie Graham
Deacon: The Reverend Chester Hines
Music Director: Mary Chapman
Readers: Lisa Hummel (8), Alisa Williams, Denise Carpenter, Grace Gorski (10:30)
Intercessor: Maryanne Angliongto (8), Tim Anderson (10:30)
Announcements: Rebecca Comas
Greeters: Michael Salsich, Bob Lowes
Crucifer: Lydia Roesler
Chalice Bearers: Karen Payne, Marlene O’Brien, Andrew Wasson
Streamer: Rebecca Comas
Vestry
Fran Caradonna, Senior Warden
Joe Donahou, Junior Warden
Kellie McCoy, Treasurer
Pat Redington, Secretary
Rebecca Comas
Heidi Volkl
Andrew Wasson
Tim Anderson
Rudy Walz
Gloria Grenwald
Staff
The Rev. Earl Mahan, Rector
call 314-721-7401 x303 text 314-669-6231
The Rev. Julie Graham, Associate Rector
call 314-721-7401 x302 text 314-886-7594
The Rev. Chester Hines, Deacon
call 314-367-7332 chinesj@charter.net
Darcy Brainard, Parish Administrator
call 314-721-7401
Mary Chapman, Director of Music
Earl Naylor, Organist
Jim Kern, Financial Administrator
Music used and reprinted with permission under OneLicense #A-704988 and WorshipCast License #13476
