Pentecost-8 (Yr A) July 23, 2023

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE              “Short fantasia on the hymn tune ‘Abridge’”                Thomas Adams

 

OPENING HYMN              “As Jacob with travel”                                  Hymn #453

 

1  As Jacob with travel was weary one day,

     at night on a stone for a pillow he lay;

     he saw in a vision a ladder so high,

     that its foot was on earth and its top in the sky:

 

              Alleluia to Jesus, who died on the tree

              and has raised up a ladder of mercy for me.

 

2  The ladder is long, it is strong and well-made,

     has stood hundreds of years and is not yet decayed;

     many millions have climbed it and reached Zion’s hill,

     many millions by faith now are climbing it still:

 

     Refrain

 

3  Come, let us ascend! All may climb it who will,

     for the angels of Jacob are guarding it still;

     and remember, each step that by faith we pass o’er,

     many prophets and martyrs have trod it before:

 

     Refrain

 

4  And when we arrive at the haven of rest,

     we shall hear the glad words, “Come to me all the blest,

     here are regions of light, here are mansions of bliss.”

     Who would not want to climb such a ladder as this:

 

     Refrain

 

 

Celebrant     Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

People     And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen

 

Celebrant

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

 

 

HYMN OF PRAISE                 “I want Jesus to walk with me”                      LEVAS#70

 

1  I want Jesus to walk with me;

    I want Jesus to walk with me;

    All along my pilgrim journey, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

2  In my trials, Lord, walk with me;

    In my trials, Lord, walk with me;

    When the shades of life are falling, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

3  In my sorrows, Lord, walk with me;

    In my sorrows, Lord, walk with me;

    When my heart within is aching, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

 

Celebrant   The Lord be with you.

People   And also with you

 

Celebrant   Let us pray

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

 

                    Please be seated for the lessons.

 

FIRST LESSON          Genesis 28:10-19a              A Reading from the Book of Genesis

 

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood be-side him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel.

 

The Word of the Lord Response:  Thanks be to God.

 

 

PSALM                                  Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23                        Read responsively.

 

1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; * you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places * and are acquainted with all my ways.

 

3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, * but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You press upon me behind and before * and lay your hand upon me.

 

5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; * it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6 Where can I go then from your Spirit? * where can I flee from your presence?

 

7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; * if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning * and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

 

9 Even there your hand will lead me * and your right hand hold me fast.
10 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, * and the light around me turn to night,”

 

11 Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; * darkness and light to you are both alike.
22 Search me out, O God, and know my heart; * try me and know my restless thoughts.

 

23 Look well whether there be any wickedness in me * and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

 

 

Epistle                    Romans 8: 12-25                    A Reading from the Paul’s letter to the Romans

IBrothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if chil-dren, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in la-bor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of ourbodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 

The Word of the Lord Response:   Thanks be to God.

 

 

GRADUAL                              “Almighty God, your Word is cast”                                 Hymnal #589

 

 

GOSPEL                        Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

 

Deacon or Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
People:  Glory to you Lord Christ.

 

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He an-swered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the har-vest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

I ask your prayers for the departed. Pray for those who have died.

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his an-gels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

 

The Gospel of the Lord. Response:    Praise to you Lord Christ

 

 

SERMON                                                                                                                Rev. Cricket Park

 

 

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.

 

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

The celebration continues with the Prayers of the People. The Leader and People

pray responsively.

 

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Wayne, our Bishop Provisional; Nedi, Wendell, and Ken, our assisting bishops; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church.
Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence

 

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence

 

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence

 

I ask your prayers for the departed [especially ]. Pray for those who have died.
Silence

 

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored [especially whom we remember today]. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence

 

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

(You are invited to add your own petitions silently or aloud.)

 

Celebrant: O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all as-saults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

 

 

THE CONFESSION

Deacon/Celebrant: Let us then confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and 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.

 

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

 

THE PEACE

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

Response: And also with you.

 

Please greet one another with a sign of peace.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

OFFERTORY/ANTHEM         “Great God we sing”                  Franklin Ritter

 

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
The Celebrant will invite the congregation to participate in the offering with a sentence of scripture. As the ushers bring the gifts to the altar, please sing the following hymn:

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below;

Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 

 

THE HOLY COMMUNION

 

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 him thanks and praise.

 

The Celebrant continues, with the congregation joining in the words in bold type.

 

God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.

Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, gal-axies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.

By your will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.

Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.

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 only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.

By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed.

And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apos-tles, 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                                                                                                                     HYMN S128

 

All: 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.

 

 

The Celebrant continues

 

On the night he was betrayed he 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, he 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 many 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,

We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

 

Lord God of our Ancestors: God of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah; 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. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.

Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.

Accept these prayers and praises, Father, 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.

 

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

 

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 FRACTION/THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION:
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God.

 

COMMUNION HYMN               “O for a closer walk with God”                    Hymnal #684

 

1 O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heav’nly frame,
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb!

 

2 Where is the blessedness I knew
when first I sought the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
of Jesus and His Word?

 

3 Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
and drove Thee from my breast.

 

4 The dearest idol I have known,
whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from Thy throne
and worship only Thee.

 

5 So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.

 

 

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant Let us pray.

 

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son 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 Lord.  Amen.

 

THE BLESSING

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace. And the blessing of our Triune God be with you this day and remain with you always.

 

RECESSIONAL HYMN                “I want to walk as a child of the light”                            Hymn #490

 

1  I want to walk as a child of the light.

        I want to follow Jesus.

    God set the stars to give light to the world.

        The star of my life is Jesus.

 

            In him there is no darkness at all.

            The night and the day are both alike.

            The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

            Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

 

2  I want to see the brightness of God.

        I want to look at Jesus.

    Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path,

        and show me the way to the Father.

 

    Refrain

 

3  I’m looking for the coming of Christ.

        I want to be with Jesus.

    When we have run with patience the race,

        we shall know the joy of Jesus.

 

    Refrain

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                               “Fantasia”                                                Johann Pachelbel

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Ministers for July 23, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Stephanie and Gary Welch
Lay Readers: TJ Walch and Jackie Hoskinson
Chalice Bearers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Don Nancarrow
Tech Table: TJ Walch
Ushers: Tony Rubino and Jim Rudd
Counters: Carol Nancarrow and Gary Walch
Open/Close: Welch/Wagner
Coffee Hour: Jim and Jackie Hoskinson
Sanctuary Lamp: Ginny Tuxhorn

 

 

Ministers for July 30, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Elizabeth Reuter and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Carol Williamson and Susan Kendall
Chalice Bearers: Kendall Rubino and Judy Rudd
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Ginny Tuxhorn
Counters: Dave Reuter and Kendall Rubino
Open/Close: Reuter/Rubino
Coffee Hour: Please volunteer

 

 

Softball!
Cheer on the St. Mark’s team at Fairfield Ball Park, 627 N. Broad St., Fairborn, OH 45324. Dates and times are on the Calendar next to the parish office.

 

Coffee House Ministry at Kroger Starbucks
Join Rev. Cricket and the coffee house ministry she lovingly calls St. Arbucks on Wednesdays, beginning on June 7th. She’ll be there between 10am and Noon.

 

St. Arbuck’s is a ministry of presence. It’s an invitation to sit, chat, and get to know our neighbors. Cricket’s been known to do a fair amount of knitting too.

 

Bring yourself, your handwork, and your hospitality to the St. Arbucks chapel at Kroger!

 

 

 

Clean Jokes for the week (Thank you Parade Magazine)

What do dentists call their x-rays? Tooth pics

Do you want to hear a construction joke? Sorry, still working on it.

What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo?
One’s heavy and the other’s a little lighter

And finally… How do you measure a snake?
In inches—they don’t have feet.

 

 

 

St. Mark’s is a parish in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The diocese is currently in a search for its next Bishop.