Pentecost-18 (Yr B) Sep 26, 2021

 

The Celebration of Holy Eucharist

The Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

 

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Dayton, Ohio, September 26, 2021, 10:30 AM

 

 

Note: the service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page.

 

If you’re new to St. Mark’s please see an usher for a welcome packet so we might acknowledge your visit and include you on our email list for weekly updates and information regarding St. Mark’s and the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The RESTROOM is located to the right as you enter the building.

 

Throughout the service the people’s responses are in italics; directions are in bold italics.

 

If you prefer a gluten-free host please notify an usher prior to the service.

 

PRELUDE:

“If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee”               Sigfrid Karg-Elert

 

GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS   

 

Please stand for the ringing of the bell and processional.

 

PROCESSIONAL:                        

“All praise to thee, for thou, o king divine” (verses 1-3)                The Hymnal 1982,  #477

 

1  All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine,

   didst yield the glory that of right was thine,

   that in our darkened hearts thy grace might shine.

       Alleluia!

 

2  Thou cam’st to us in lowliness of thought;

   by thee the outcast and the poor were sought;

   and by thy death was God’s salvation wrought.

       Alleluia!

 

3  Let this mind be in us which was in thee,

   who wast a servant that we might be free,

   humbling thyself to death on Calvary.

       Alleluia!

 

4  Wherefore, by God’s eternal purpose, thou

   art high exalted o’er all creatures now,

   and given the Name to which all knees shall bow.

       Alleluia!

 

5  Let every tongue confess with one accord

   in heaven and earth that Jesus Christ is Lord;

   and God the Father be by all adored.

              Alleluia! Amen.

 

 

The Liturgy of the Word

 

Please remain standing

 

Celebrant:  Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. 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.

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY: 

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Let us pray. O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

SONG OF PRAISE:

“Gloria in excelsis”                The Hymnal 1982,  #S280

 

All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. 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.

 

Please be seated

 

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ESTHER:

Reader: The king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?” Esther said, “A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.  Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated. Mordecai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same month, year by year, as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor.   (7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22)

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

 

 

Please stand 

 

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS: 

Reader: If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel now say;

All: If the Lord had not been on our side, when enemies rose up against us;  Then would they have swallowed us up alive in their fierce anger toward us; Then would the waters have overwhelmed us and the torrent gone over us; Then would the raging waters have gone right over us.

Reader: Blessed be the Lord!  he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

All: We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.              (PS 124)

 

Please be seated

 

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF JAMES:

Reader:  Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.  Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.     (5:13-20)

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

 

Please stand

  

GRADUAL:                           

“If thou but trust in God to guide thee”      (verse 1)                           The Hymnal 1982,  #635

 

1  If thou but trust in God to guide thee,

       and hope in him through all thy ways,

   he’ll give thee strength whate’er betide thee,

       and bear thee through the evil days.

   Who trusts in God’s unchanging love

   builds on a rock that nought can move.

  

THE GOSPEL: 

Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Celebrant:  John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”      (9:38-50)

Celebrant:  The Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to you, Lord Christ.  

 

GRADUAL:                           

“If thou but trust in God to guide thee”      (verse 2)                           The Hymnal 1982,  #635

 

2  Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving;

       so do thine own part faithfully,

   and trust his word, though undeserving;

       thou yet shalt find it true for thee;

   God never yet forsook in need

       the soul that trusted him indeed.

 

 

Please be seated

 

THE SERMON 

 

 

Please stand

 

NEW! THE NICENE CREED:   The cantor sings verse 1, the congregation sings verses 2&3)

 

“I believe in God almighty”       Wonder, Love, & Praise,  #769

 

1  I believe in God almighty, author of all things that be,

     Maker of the earth and heavens, Keeper of the sky and sea.

     I believe in God’s son, Jesus, now for us both Lord and Christ,

     of the Spirit and of Mary born to bring abundant life.

 

 

2  I believe that Jesus suffered, scourged and scorned and crucified;

     taken from the cross, was buried— True Life there had truly died.

     I believe that on the third day Christ was raised up from the grave,

     then ascended to God right hand. He will come to judge and save.

 

 

3  I believe in God’s own Spirit, bonding all the saints within

     One church, catholic and holy, where forgiveness frees from sin;

     in the body’s resurrection, for the breaking of death’s chain

          gives the life that’s everlasting. This the faith that I have claimed.

 

 

Please stand or kneel

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:  

Reader: Let us now call to mind all who are in want or need and commend them to God’s transforming care. Most kind and loving God, confident of your care and concern for the whole of creation, we offer you our prayers of adoration, intercession, and thanksgiving.

Reader: Gracious God, we pray for the faithful all over the world, that all who love you may be united in your service. We pray for the Church, for St. Mark’s and for all congregations worshipping and serving Christ and the world in his name. Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader: We pray for the oppressed: For victims of injustice, prejudice, wrongful imprisonment or violence, and for the safety of all refugees; remembering especially the people of Afghanistan, women, children, and all those who were unable to evacuate. Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader:  For this assembly, having been fed on the Word and Sacraments of our common worship; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader: For the church and its leaders, formed by worship, practice and shared life in community; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader:  For preachers and teachers of the Christian tradition, who share the Word as a gift for all; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader:  For the people of the United States, for the community of Riverside and its sister communities, and for all those who hold authority in our nation and its municipalities; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader:  For the world, for refugees, victims of warfare and of oppression, for those impoverished physically and emotionally by racial, ethnic and gender discrimination; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader: For the addicted and those imprisoned, for the unemployed and the homeless; Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader:  For those who are ill or suffer from any especially those in this community we remember this day: Howard, Ruby, George, the Darnell Family, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Carmen, Mary, and Vern, and those named on the parish prayer list;  and for the medical, health and wellness practitioners who care for them; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Reader:  For ourselves, for our ongoing evolution as we experience the adventure of being human, that we may use the spiritual gifts bestowed upon us for the good of all; Lord, hear our prayer. 

Celebrant: Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. 

 

 

THE CONFESSION:

Celebrant:  Let us confess our sins to God and our neighbor.

All:  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.

Celebrant:  Our Lord Jesus Christ has bestowed power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to those who are truly repentant, absolution and remission of sin.  Therefore, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, be reconciled to God through grace and “go and sin no more.” Amen.

 

Please be seated

 

BIRTHDAY and ANNIVERSARY PRAYERS 

 

Please stand

 

THE PASSING OF THE PEACE:  

Celebrant:  The peace of the Lord be always with you.  And also with you.

REMAINING IN THEIR PEWS,  the congregation offers the peace of God to one another.

 

OFFERTORY SENTENCE: 

Celebrant: O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; because you have created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.   (Rev. 4:11)

  

Thank you for your generous weekly gifts.

The day-to-day mission and ministry of St. Mark’s

 is funded primarily by gifts received in the offering plate each week.

 

Please be seated

 

OFFERTORY:

“Peace I Leave With You”    arr: Lara Hoggard         

 

Please stand

 

PRAYER FOR THE OFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE: 

Celebrant:  Let us pray.

All: Most Holy God, the author of life and creator of all that is, receive and bless my offering this day; that the currency of worldly value may become the currency of transformation through the worship  and work of this community. Amen. 

 

 

The Liturgy of the Table

 

To receive the sacrament, please  line up in the center aisle; at your turn approach the Celebrant to receive the Host. Return to your seat via the side aisles.

Those not receiving the sacrament are invited to come forward for a blessing; cross your arms across your chest to indicate this to the Celebrant who will administer the blessing.

If you are unsure about receiving the sacrament please make an appointment with The Rev. MacGregor who would be delighted to speak with you.

  

Please remain standing

 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER C: 

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.

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

People: Glory to you for ever and ever.

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

People: 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 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.

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

People: 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:

 

 

THE SANCTUS:          The Hymnal 1982,  #S130

 

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and

might, Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in

the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

You may stand or kneel

 

Celebrant: And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, 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 Lord. 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.”

Celebrant: 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.”

Celebrant: Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,

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

Celebrant: Lord God of our Fathers and Mothers; God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel; 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.

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

Celebrant: 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!   (with gusto!)

 

Please stand

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

All: 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.

  

FRACTION ANTHEM: “Agnus Dei “                          The Hymnal 1982,  #S164   

 

All: Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer, redeemer of the world: give  us your peace, give us your peace.

 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION:

Celebrant:  The Gifts of God for the People of God.

 

The people may now come forward to receive the Sacrament.

 

 

THE PRAYER OF RECEPTION FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING ONLINE:

(to be said by those at home)

Blessed Jesus, with your faithful people at every altar of your church where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I offer my praise and thanksgiving.  Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.  Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you.  May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and the life to come.  Amen.

 

Please stand

 

COMMUNION HYMN:  

“O wheat whose crushing was for bread”                         Wonder, Love, & Praise, #760

 

1 O wheat, whose crushing was for bread,

   O bread whose breaking is for life,

   O life, your seeming end is seed,

   a seed for wheat, our bread and life.

 

 

2 O fruit whose crushing was for wine,

   O wine whose flowing is for blood,

   O blood, your pouring out is life,

   our life in you, O fruitful vine.

 

 

3 O life whose crushing was for love,

   O love whose spending was to death,

   O death, your mourning is our joy,

   full joy and birth to lasting life.

 

 

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:

Celebrant:  ….. +And may the blessing . . .

 

RECESSIONAL:

“Praise to God, immortal praise”     The Hymnal 1982,  #288

 

1  Praise to God, immortal praise,

   for the love that crowns our days;

   bounteous source of every joy,

   let thy praise our tongues employ:

   all to thee, our God, we owe,

   source whence all our blessings flow.

 

 

2  All the plenty summer pours;

   autumn’s rich o’erflowing stores;

   flocks that whiten all the plain;

   yellow sheaves of ripened grain:

   Lord, for these our souls shall raise

   grateful vows and solemn praise.

 

 

3  As thy prospering hand hath blessed,

   may we give thee of our best;

   and by deeds of kindly love

   for thy mercies grateful prove;

   singing thus through all our days

   praise to God, immortal praise.

 

  

DISMISSAL:

Celebrant:  Alleluia! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

 

 POSTLUDE:

“Solemn March”                                                 C.E. Horsley

 

  

THE CANDLE IN THE SANCTUARY LAMP remains lighted throughout the week to indicate and honor the eternal presence of Christ. It is dedicated this week by the Wagners in celebration of their 39th anniversary.

 

THE ALTAR FLOWERS are given by Libby Nicholson in loving memory of her father, the Rev. John Cobb.

 

 

 

GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY

 

THIS SUNDAY– PENTECOST 18 – HOLY EUCHARIST – SEPTEMBER 26:

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor

Music Director/Organist: Donna Larsen

Ushers: Ginny Tuxhorn, Jim Rudd

Tech: TJ Walch, Katherine Wagner

Acolyte: Jennifer Phillips/Elizabeth Wagner

Lay Eucharist Ministers: Readers: OT/PS: Judy Rudd   EP/POP: Don Nancarrow

Counters: Janet Reuter, Gary Welch

Altar Guild: Carol Nancarrow, Kendall Rubino

Coffee Hour: OPEN

 

 

NEXT SUNDAY– PENTECOST 19 – HOLY EUCHARIST – OCTOBER 3:

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Jack Koepke

Music Director/Organist: Donna Larsen

Ushers: Wayne Harper, Tony Rubino

Tech: Gary Welch, Mary-Anna Welch

Acolyte: Jackie Hoskinson

Lay Eucharist Ministers: Readers: OT/PS: Jim Rudd   EP/POP: Elizabeth Wagner

Counters: Carol Nancarrow, Dave Reuter

Altar Guild: Katherine Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner

Coffee Hour: OPEN

Altar Flowers: Webster

Sanctuary Lamp: OPEN

 

 

 

Events at St. Mark’s this Week

 

THIS SUNDAY (Pentecost 18, Sept 26): HOLY EUCHARIST,10:30am, in person and on

Facebook Live

MONDAY: SAA MEETING, 6:30am, Lounge; AA MEETING, 7:30pm, Parish Hall

TUESDAY:  TOPS MEETING, 9:30am, Bride’s Room; NA MEETING, 7:30pm, Parish Hall

WEDNESDAY: No events this day

THURSDAY: SAA MEETING, 7:30pm, Lounge

FRIDAY: No events this day

SATURDAY:  HIDDEN GEMS, noon, parking lot; AA MEETING, 7:30pm, Parish Hall

NEXT SUNDAY (Pentecost 19, Oct. 3): HOLY EUCHARIST 10:30am, in person and on Facebook Live. 

 

 

Places to be, things to do

 

CARE HOUSE SUNDAY is Sunday, Oct. 3. Donations of small water bottles, healthy snacks, and gift cards (gas, Kroger, Wal-Mart) are welcome. Monetary donations will be noted on your contribution sheet. NOTE: Please check the expiration dates of all food products, as CARE House cannot distribute anything that has expired.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, we’ll celebrate with our pets during the Sunday, Oct. 10 service.  All animals are welcome in the sanctuary (properly restrained);  for shyer pets, photos are welcome. For more information see the Narthex bulletin board or contact the office at 937-256-1082.

SECOND SUNDAY CHOIR: For those who love to sing,  please consider joining other members of St. Mark’s in a monthly choral (with safety protocols) offering. Please let music director, Donna Larsen, know you are interested so you can get the music ahead of time. Practice will be at 10am on the second Sunday; the anthem will be sung that day. Family members are encouraged to sing together! The next choir performance will be Sunday, Oct. 10.

VALLEY VINEYARDS:  Come enjoy St. Mark’s annual parish dinner at this lovely winery on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 6:30pm.  There’s a sign-up sheet in the Narthex with  the menus as well as the phone number needed to make your reservation by Thursday, October 14. Contact Tony

Rubino for more information.

 

 

The Community of St. Mark’s Classifieds

 

THE SEPTEMBER VESTRY MEETING was held on Thursday, Sept. 23 via Zoom.  The minutes will be emailed and copies available in the Narthex.

THE REV. ROWENA MACGREGOR will be out of the office from Monday, Sept. 27  through Friday, Oct. 8. The Rev. Jack Koepke will celebrate with us on Sunday Oct. 3;  for pastoral needs, please contact the office.

THE CONSTANT CONTACT  will be now be published weekly on Saturdays.  Special issues will be provided as needed.

HOW TO DONATE ONLINE:  From your phone, text the word “give” to 937-932-1082 and it will take you through the steps to set up your account.  Contact the office if you have questions.

 

 

Lesser Feasts and Fasts

 

RECOMMENDED FEAST DAY TO OBSERVE:  Wednesday, Sept. 29, is the Feast of  St. Michael and All Angels. The scriptural word angel means, literally, a messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always felt themselves to be attended by healthful spirits: swift, powerful, and enlightening. Those beneficent spirits are often depicted in Christian art in human form, with wings to signify their swiftness and spacelessness, with swords to signify their power, and with dazzling raiment to signify their ability to enlighten. Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by name: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is the powerful agent of God who wards off evil from God’s people, and delivers peace to them at the end of this life’s mortal struggle. Michael is the patron saint of countless churches, including Mont Saint-Michel, the monastery fortress off the coast of Normandy that figured so prominently in medieval English history, and Coventry Cathedral, England’s most famous modern church building, rising from the ashes of the most devastating war of our time.

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.    (Holy Women, Holy Men)

 

 

 

Prayers for the Week of Sept. 26:

 

FOR PEACE.  For those who have died; For medical professionals,  and all those who are suffering from exhaustion and burnout in the midst of the pandemic; For the homeless; For all those addicted to heroin, remembering especially those who died this week from overdose; For all those who have committed suicide; For all our brothers and sisters who have died by violence around the world, remembering especially the recent acts of violence across the nation; For our enemies; For the safety of all American military and civilian personnel where ever they serve, remembering especially all those serving at Wright-Patterson AFB; For those who struggle with the basic necessities of life after natural catastrophic events, especially those misplaced by earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, drought, fire, mudslides, and tornadoes; For the millions of refugees worldwide who wander the lands of the earth and whose suffering is greater than we can ever know, especially the people of Afghanistan who seek asylum,  may they find safety and peace.

 

For those in our prayer cycles: in the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for the Church of the Province of Uganda;  in the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for St. Patrick’s in Dublin, St. James in Cincinnati, and St. George’s in Dayton;  in our Parish cycle of prayer, we pray for Dave and Janet Reuter,  Rob, Eva, Madeline, and Elizabeth Reuter, and Tony, Kendall Rubino, and Justin Rubino;  For those celebrating September birthdays:  Eva Reuter (9/1), Jim Tallman (9/6), Tibby Day (9/10), Steve Darnell (9/14), Paul Sharp (9/20), Katherine Wagner (9/26); For those celebrating wedding anniversaries: Rob & Eva Reuter (9/4), Mike and Katherine Wagner (9/25);  For those on our parish prayer list: Howard, Ruby, George, the Darnell Family, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Carmen, Mary, Vern; For those who suffer from illness, grief, or any other adversity: Ann –  friend of the Bertas; Caiti  – friend of Ann Phillips; Carl – friend of the Welches; Carol – friend of the Rubinos; Carrie – Susan Kendall’s daughter; Cassie and Jane – friends of the Tallmans; Chip – Jim Rudd’s step-mother; Chris & family – friends of the Reuters; Cindy & Marvin – friends of Elizabeth Wagner; Clara – Pat Tallman’s cousin; Danielle – Jenna Walch’s sister; David – Vern Hogden’s son; Emily – Ann Phillips’ niece; Emma, Lowell, & the Burton Family – friends of Juanita Limes and the Darnells; Helen – Wayne Harper’s mother-in-law; Holzwarth Family – friends of the Wagners; Jaime & Ryan – Linda Stagles’ daughter & son-in-law; James – Linda Stagles’ brother; Joni & Leslie – family of  softball team member; Jose & Elena – friends of the Welches;  Katie – friend of the Reuters; Keith & Jeff – friends of Jim Larsen; Lark – friend of Katherine Wagner; Leslie – friend of Juanita Limes; Margaret – Rowena MacGregor’s mother; Mary – friend of the Wagners; Meghan – friend of Elizabeth Wagner ; Mya – Rowena MacGregor’s great-niece; Nanci – friend of the Larsens; the Pitcher Family – friends of Katherine Wagner; Renea – friend of Juanita and Lisa; Roberta – Tracey Swartz’ mother; Ron – friend of Ruby Webster; Steve & Debi – friends of Linda Stagles; Sue & Tom – friends of the Phillips’; Susan – friend of the Nancarrow’s; Tonia – Juanita Limes’ daughter-in-law; Tony – Judy Rudd’s brother; Tracy – friend of the parish.

 

For faithful animal companions and those who care for them; For the mission work of this congregation: CARE House, Canterbury Court, St. Paul’s UMC Food Pantry, Becoming Beloved Community Initiative, and for the non-profit groups who use our Community Building;  For our Diocesan Bishops: for our Provisional Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wayne Smith; The Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price, the Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, and the Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs; For our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry; For all postulants and candidates for holy orders in this Diocese: Patricia Rose, Jacob Cunliffe, Dan Carlson, Amy Cochran, Phoebe Myhrum, Brice Patterson, Martha Camele, Maggie Gough, Brad Gough, Catherine Duffy, Alane Osborne, Libbie Crawford, Gayland Trim.

 

For all faith communities as we navigate the way forward in a world being transformed by a number of crises – that we remain faithful in our devotion to God and open to constant change and ongoing self-evaluation.

 

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To read a copy of the August 18, 2021 Vestry Minutes, click HERE.

 

 

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937-256-1082

Email: st_marks@ameritech.net

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – noon

 

 

The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor, Priest-In-Charge

570-404-2025   rector@stmarksdayton.org

 

Katherine Wagner, Parish Administrator

parishadmin@stmarksdayton.org

 

Donna Larsen, Music Director

musicdirector@stmarksdayton.org

 

Carol Nancarrow, Senior Warden

Jim Rudd, Junior Warden

wardens@stmarksdayton.org

 

 

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