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THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The color green,
used for the vestments and paraments in the season after Pentecost, represents
growth and life in the Holy Spirit.
OLD TESTAMENT: The prophet Ezekiel preached to the exiles of Judah in Babylon. Apparently, a common belief
among them was that it didn’t matter what they did, God had it out for them
because of what their ancestors had done. Ezekiel counters this belief and
calls the people to have confidence in God who accepts those who reject sin and
turn toward him.
NEW
TESTAMENT: Paul admonishes the church
in Philippi, apparently because of the conflict in the
congregation, and encourages them to unity and humility. He holds up for them
the example of Christ in his self-emptying (kenotic)
love for humanity. Philippians 2:6-11, perhaps one of the most beautiful
passages of all Scripture, is thought to be taken from an early hymn of praise
to Jesus, proclaiming both his humiliation and his exaltation.
GOSPEL:
The scene is Jerusalem in Holy Week. Jesus has made his triumphal entry into the city
on Palm Sunday, has driven the moneychangers from the temple, cured the lame
and sick and received the praises of the children. The next day, he returns to
the city and is teaching in the Outer Court of the Temple.
The ‘chief priests and the elders of the people’
confront Jesus, perceiving in him a direct threat to their religious authority.
They attempt to discredit him by trapping him in his own words. Jesus turns
their words around on them. In a series of parables, which we will hear over
the next several weeks, Jesus contrasts repentance and faith in the Kingdom he
brings with the false religiosity embodied by his opponents.
Upon reaching your place,
you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:
1 How dear to me is
your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My soul has a desire and longing
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in
the | living God.
2 The sparrow has
found her a house
and
the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who
dwell | in your house!*
They will always be | praising
you.
4 Happy are the
people whose strength | is in you,*
whose hearts are set on the |
pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go
through the desolate valley
will find it a | place of springs,*
for the early rains have covered
it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb
from | height to height,*
and the God of gods will reveal
him- | self in Zion.
7 Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;*
hearken, O | God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defend-
| er, O God;*
and look upon the face of | your
anointed.
9 For one day in
your courts
is better than a thousand in | my own
room,*
and to stand at the threshold of
the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents | of
the wicked.
10 For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*
he will give | grace and glory;
11 no good thing will
the | Lord withhold*
from those who walk | with
integrity.
12 O | Lord of hosts,*
happy are they who put their |
trust in you!
You
may pray the following prayers:
Holy
Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer and send your holy
angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all those who assemble
together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Most
gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten our
hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach your Holy
Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting love.
OPENING MUSIC All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
I.
Roger Petrich
II.
David Cherwien
Please meditate
on the text of the hymn as it is played:
1 All
hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let
angels prostrate fall;
bring
forth the royal diadem
and
crown him Lord of all.
2 Crown
him, you martyrs of our God,
who
from his altar call;
extol
the stem of Jesse’s rod
and
crown him Lord of all.
3 O
seed of Israel’s chosen race
now
ransomed from the fall,
hail
him who saves you by his grace
and
crown him Lord of all.
4 Hail
him, you heirs of David’s line,
whom
David Lord did call--
the
God Incarnate, man divine--
and
crown him Lord of all.
5 Sinners,
whose love can ne’er forget
the
wormwood and the gall,
go
spread your trophies at his feet
and
crown him Lord of all.
6 Let
ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe
on
this terrestrial ball
to
him all majesty ascribe
and
crown him Lord of all.
7 Oh,
that with yonder sacred throng
we
at his feet may fall!
We’ll
join the everlasting song
and
crown him Lord of all.
Text: Edward Perronet, 1726-1792, sts. 1-5; J. Rippon, A
Selection of Hymns, 1787, sts. 6-7
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made
by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of
the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts
are open, all desires known, and from whom 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 Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Amen
If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God
who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
(1
John 1:8-9)
Silence for reflection and
self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we
are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
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.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus
Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen
In the mercy of Almighty God,
Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake the Father forgives you
all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to
become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
(2 Corinthians 13:13)
KYRIE
ELEISON
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation, let us pray to the
Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the
Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and
praise,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
HYMN OF
PRAISE
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his
people on earth.
(Luke 2:14)
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
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
O God,
you alone judge rightly
and search the depths of the heart.
Make us swift to do your will
and slow to judge our neighbor,
that we may walk with those
who follow the way of repentance and faith
and so enter your heavenly kingdom.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son,
who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit;
one God,
now and forever.
Amen
CALL TO
THE WORD
God guides the humble in doing right
and teaches his way to the lowly.
Let us
hear the Word of the Lord. Psalm 25: 8
Sit
First READING Ezekiel 18:1-4,
25-32
1The word of
the Lord came to me: 2What
do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The
parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3As
I live, says the Lord God, this
proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Know that all lives
are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it
is only the person who sins that shall die.
25Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now,
O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26When
the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they
shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27Again,
when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what
is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28Because they
considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed,
they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29Yet the house of
Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my
ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 25:1-8
The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my | trust in you;*
let me not be humiliated, nor
let my enemies triumph | over me.
2 Let none who look to you be | put to shame;*
let
the treacherous be disappointed | in their schemes.
3 Show me your | ways, O Lord,*
and teach | me your paths.
4 Lead me in your | truth and teach me,*
for
you are the God of my salvation;
in you have
I trusted all | the day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compas- | sion and love,*
for they are from | everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and | my transgressions;*
remember
me according to your love
and
for the sake of your good- | ness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright | is the Lord;*
therefore he teaches sinners |
in his way.
8 He guides the humble in | doing right*
and
teaches his way | to the lowly.
SECOND READING
Philippians 2:1-13
1If then there
is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the
Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of
the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do
nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as
better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own
interests, but to the interests of others.
5Let the same mind be in you that
was in Christ Jesus,
6who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not
only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in
you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia. At the name of Jesus every knee
should bend,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Alleluia.
Philippians 2:10-11
Gospel Matthew 21:23-32
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
23When [Jesus]
entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him
as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things,
and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus said to them, “I will also
ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by
what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come
from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If
we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But
if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John
as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he
said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things.
28“What do you think? A man had two
sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He
answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The
father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but
he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They
said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors
and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For
John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but
the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it,
you did not change your minds and believe him.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY O
God, My Faithful God
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as
it is played.
true fountain ever flowing,
without whom nothing is,
all perfect gifts bestowing:
give me a healthy frame,
and may I have within
a conscience free from blame,
a soul unstained by sin.
2 Give me the strength to do
with ready heart and willing
whatever you command,
my calling here fulfilling--
to do it when I ought,
with all my might--and bless
whatever I have wrought,
for you must give success.
3 Keep me from saying words
that later need recalling;
guard me, lest idle speech
may from my lips be falling;
but when, within my place,
I must and ought to speak,
then to my words give grace,
lest I offend the weak.
4 When dangers gather round,
oh, keep me calm and fearless;
help me to bear the cross
when life seems dark and cheerless;
help me, as you have taught,
to love both great and small,
and, by your Spirit's might,
to live at peace with all.
Text:
Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.
Stand
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in
the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the
Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of
the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy
Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and
the life everlasting. Amen
Made one by
the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Father for the whole people of God in
Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
For the Church, that in humility and obedience we
may hear your call to turn to you. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For this congregation; that we may be of one mind
with each other and with Christ. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For our bishop, Dan; our pastors Maurice and
Harvey; our sons in ministry Tsena and Christopher; that they may call many to
repentance and faith. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For the whole world, and especially for those in
every place who long for freedom and justice, that people may be blessed with
impartial judges, fair laws, and just officers of the peace. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
For our President, Donald; the Congress, the
Courts; our governor Thomas and the state and local governments, and the
members of our armed forces; that they may exercise their offices with
integrity. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
With thanksgivings for your mercies, we pray for
those in need, near or far away; for those whom we love and those who are
unknown to us, and for those who have asked us for prayer:
The People may offer silent or
spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.
Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We thank you for those who have died in Christ, who
have heard your call and believed your Word and now rejoice with you in your
Kingdom; Grant that we also may turn to you and together with them adore you
and worship your Son as Lord forever. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we
pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also
with you.
The people exchange a sign of peace
with the simple words, Peace be with you.
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
We do
not presume to come to your table, O Lord,
trusting
in our own righteousness,
but in
your manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your
table.
But you
are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.
Grant us, therefore, O gracious Lord,
so to eat the
flesh of your dear son, Jesus Christ,
and so to drink
his blood,
that we may
evermore dwell in him and he in us.
Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading
into the Sanctus:
The Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to
the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
It is indeed
right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks
and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ:
Though he was in the form of
God, he humbled himself as a servant and was obedient even to the point of
death on the cross; therefore you have highly exalted him and given him the
name that is above all names.
And so, with the Church on earth
and the hosts of heaven, we bend the knee and confess him as Lord and God, praising you with the
unending hymn:
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! (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)
The
pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
We praise and thank you, O God,
for in your infinite goodness you have created us
to receive and rejoice in your love and mercy.
In the fullness of time and
according to your purposes
you sent your beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, born of Mary.
He came to proclaim the
Kingdom;
He healed the sick and numbered Himself among sinners;
He poured Himself out in death,
giving His life as our ransom and our righteousness.
In the
night in which He was betrayed
our Lord Jesus took bread and
gave thanks,
broke it, and gave it to His
disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my Body,
given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of
me.
Again,
after supper, He took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink,
saying:
This cup is the new covenant in
my Blood,
shed for you and for all people
for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of
me.
Let us proclaim the mystery
of faith:
Christ
has died.
Christ
is risen.
Christ
will come again.
Holy Father,
as we remember our Lord's life and passion,
His resurrection and ascension,
we give you our thanks and bless your holy name.
Because your Son has made us
His fellow-servants,
a holy priesthood, a people set apart, we pray:
Send now His life-giving
Spirit
upon this Bread of Life and this Cup of Blessing,
that we and all who partake
of Christ's body and blood
may find our unity in Him
and our lives defined by His cross,
as we await His final coming as Lord of love.
Through
Him, with Him, in Him,
in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all
honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,
now
and forever.
Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave
us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the
Spirit,
we pray to his
Father, saying:
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,
forever and
ever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-15)
We adore Christ with the words of
the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
The Lord who is exalted over earth and heaven
is humble to come to us in this meal. Come, eat,
and live.
Thanks be to God.
(Philippians
2: 9-10)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us peace.
(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
Admission to the Sacrament is by
invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who
are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread
and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The
communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not
come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all
the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you
have reached the table with the elements on it.
When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ,
given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed
for you,’ drink the wine. Please take
the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.
Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.
Please meditate
on the text of the hymn as it is played.
At the Name of Jesus
1 At the name of Jesus
ev'ry knee shall bow,
ev'ry tongue confess
him
king of glory now.
we should call him
Lord,
who from the
beginning
was the mighty Word.
2 At his voice creation
sprang at once to
sight,
all the angel faces,
all the hosts of
light,
thrones and
dominations,
stars upon their way,
all the heav'nly
orders
in their great array.
to receive a name
from the lips of
sinners
unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it
spotless to the last;
brought it back
victorious
when from death he
passed.
4 In your hearts enthrone
him;
there let him subdue
all that is not holy,
all that is not true.
Crown
him as your captain
in temptation's hour;
let his will enfold you
in its light and pow'r.
5 Christians, this Lord
Jesus
shall return again
with his angel train;
for all wreaths of
empire
meet upon his brow,
king of glory now.
Text: Caroline M. Noel, 1817-1877
When all have
received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant
go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the
salvation
which you have prepared in the
sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the
nations
and the glory of your people
Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to
the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is
now,
and will be forever. Amen Song
of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
Almighty Father, you gave your Son
both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life.
Enable us to
receive him always with thanksgiving,
and to conform our
lives to his;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious
to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you
peace.
Amen (Numbers 6:24-26)
DISMISSAL
Go
in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be
to God!
CLOSING MUSIC Joyful,
Joyful We Adore Thee
Please maintain social distance and remain
masked while exiting the building. Please sanitize your hands before leaving
the building.
