The prelude marks the beginning of our preparation for worship.
Let us enter in silence, keeping a spirit of prayer and reverence.
The service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page and on YouTube.
The People’s responses are in bold type, and directions are italicized.
PRELUDE
“Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” arr. R. Powell
Please stand
PROCESSIONAL
”Morning has broken” The Hymnal 1982, #8
1 Morning has broken
like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
fresh from the Word!
2 Sweet the rain’s new fall
sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness
where his feet pass.
3 Mine is the sunlight!
Mine is the morning
born of the one light
Eden saw play!
Praise with elation,
praise every morning,
God’s re-creation
of the new day!
WELCOME & OPENING
Officiant Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please stand or kneel
The Confession of Sin BCP p. 79
Officiant Let us 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 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 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.
Officiant Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
Please stand
THE INVITATORY AND PSALTER BCP p. 80
Officiant Lord, open our lips.
People And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Officiant and People
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Officiant The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.
Venite The Hymnal 1982, #S35
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
A Reading from the Book of Psalms (119:105-112)
(Lay Reader 1 and People read responsively by whole verse.)
105 Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.
106 I have sworn and am determined *
to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am deeply troubled; *
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, *
and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is always in my hand, *
yet I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me, *
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111 Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *
truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *
for ever and to the end.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Please be seated
The Lessons
A Reading from the Book of Genesis (25:19-34)
Lay Reader 1 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”
When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle 19: The Song of the Redeemed BCP p. 94
(Lay Reader 1 and People read together)
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done,
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth,
O King of all the ages.
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name?
for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near and fall down before you,
because your just and holy works have been revealed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:1-11)
Lay Reader 2 There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law– indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle 17: The Song of Simeon BCP p. 93
(Lay Reader 2 and People read together)
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten 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 for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew (13:1-9,18-23)
Officiant Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.
But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
THE HOMILY The Rev. Deacon George Snyder
Officiant and People together, all standing
The Apostles’ Creed BCP p. 96
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 to the dead.
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.
The People stand or kneel
The Prayers BCP p. 97
Officiant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Officiant Let us pray.
Officiant and People
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.
Suffrages A BCP p. 97
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collect of the Day
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Sundays BCP p.98
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for Guidance BCP p.100
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by
your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Mission BCP p. 101
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
Please be seated
THE OFFERING The Ushers collect the offering at this time
Officiant Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.
Please be seated
OFFERING HYMN
“Earth and all stars” The Hymnal 1982, #412
1 Earth and all stars,
loud rushing planets,
sing to the Lord a new song!
O victory,
loud shouting army,
sing to the Lord a new song!
He hath done marvelous things.
I, too, will praise him with a new song!
2 Hail, wind, and rain,
loud blowing snowstorms,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Flowers and trees,
loud rustling dry leaves,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain
3 Trumpet and pipes,
loud clashing cymbals,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Harp, lute, and lyre,
loud humming cellos,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain
4 Engines and steel,
loud pounding hammers,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Limestone and beams,
loud building workers,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain
5 Classrooms and labs,
loud boiling test-tubes,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band,
loud cheering people,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain
6 Knowledge and truth,
loud sounding wisdom,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son,
loud praying members,
sing to the Lord a new song!
Refrain
Please stand as the offerings are brought to the altar.
Hymn
“The Doxology” (v. 3) The Hymnal 1982, #380
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 PEACE
Officiant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Please be seated
ANNOUNCEMENTS, BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY PRAYERS
Please stand
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lay Reader 2 In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
In the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for St. Paul’s in Chillicothe, and Indian Hill Church.
In our Parish cycle of prayer, we pray for Janet & Dave Reuter; Eva, Rob, Madeline & Elizabeth Reuter; and Tony & Kendall Rubino.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those on our Parish Prayer List: Jim H., Hayward, George, Patricia, Jim T., Mary-Anna, Wayne, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Susan, and the Darnell family; and for all who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Give to the departed eternal rest;
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Officiant Thanksgiving, blessing and praise be yours, God of the incarnation; because you care for us and for our prayer. May our love for you and our likeness to you be strengthened every time we pray. Amen.
THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING BCP p.101
Officiant and People
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom BCP p.102
Officiant Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Officiant Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Recessional
“Lift high the cross” The Hymnal 1982, #473
Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore
his sacred Name.
1 Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
Refrain
2 Each new-born servant of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died.
Refrain
3 O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee.
Refrain
4 So shall our song of triumph ever be:
praise to the Crucified for victory.
Refrain
DISMISSAL
The congregation is dismissed.
Officiant Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Please exit quietly or remain quietly listening during the Postlude.
POSTLUDE
“Joshua fought the battle of Jericho” arr. J. Raney
+++++++
Thank you for joining us in worship.
Please know that your participation with us today,
in person or online, has been a blessing.
READINGS and MINISTRY SCHEDULE
July 12, 2026:
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Readings:
Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112;
Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
Officiant: Deacon George
Organist: Barbara Acker-Mills
Acolyte: Stephanie Welch
Lay Readers: Jim Rudd, Judy Rudd
Tech & Facebook Live: TJ Walch, Katherine Wagner
Ushers: Wayne Harper, Dave Reuter
Counters: Dave Reuter, Katherine Wagner
Open/Close: Wagner/Welch
July Altar Guild: Janet Reuter & the Welch Family
Altar Flowers: TBD
Candle: Claudia & Steve Hurd
Coffee Hour: Claudia & Steve Hurd
July 19, 2026:
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings:
Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23;
Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43
Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo
Organist: TBD
Acolyte: Gabriel Walch
Lay Readers: Laura Leach, Rene Meadors
Chalicists: Judy Rudd, Kendall Rubino
Tech & Facebook Live: Dave Reuter, Katherine Wagner
Ushers: Dave Reuter, Wayne Harper
Counters: Carol Nancarrow, Janet Reuter
Open/Close: Wagner/Reuter
July Altar Guild: Janet Reuter and the Welch Family
Altar Flowers: Claudia & Steve Hurd
Candle: TBD
Coffee Hour: TBD
Announcements for the Week of January 12
The CANDLE in the Sanctuary Lamp is given by Claudia & Steve Hurd
COFFEE HOUR is hosted by Claudia & Steve Hurd
Today we say FAREWELL and GODSPEED to our Music Director, Barbara Acker-Mills. We are sorry to see her leave St. Mark’s as she has truly blessed us with her musical abilities, but we are also excited for her as she begins her new position as Organist at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Centerville. Many thanks to Barbara for her gifts of time and talent, and for her patience in teaching us new service music and hymns. We wish her the best!
July 19 is HUNGER SUNDAY and the Food Pantry at St. Paul’s Methodist Church can always use canned soups. fruits, vegetables, and meats; cereal and oatmeal; dried beans; drink mixes; pancake mix and syrup; pasta and jarred sauce; cooking oil and spices. If you’d like to make a financial donation, please note “Food Pantry” in the memo line. Thank you for your generosity!
ACOLYTES NEEDED! Are you looking for a new and different ministry to serve? Come join the St. Mark’s Acolyte Corps who assist the priest or worship leader at all services. Questions? Contact Acolyte Director Elizabeth Wagner-Weber.
MENTORING AND TUTORING PROGRAM – St. Mark’s is partnering with Mad River Local Schools to support 1st–4th graders at Saville Elementary through mentoring or tutoring. Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office for more information.
JOINT Worship Services/Events for St. Mark’s and St. Paul’s
Sunday, Aug 2 – Outreach Project and Worship Service at St. Mark’s at 10am.The Outreach Committees at both parishes will work together to organize details for a joint outreach project.
Sunday, Oct 4 – Outdoor Worship service & Pet Blessing at 10am. Location TBD.
