The Celebration of Holy Eucharist

The Third Sunday in Lent

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Dayton, Ohio, March 20, 2022, 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:

“O God, mark Though My Sighs and Anguish” Johann Ludwig Krebs

WELCOME: The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor

Please stand for the ringing of the bell and processional.

PROCESSIONAL:

“Now, quit your care and anxious worry” (verses 1-3) The Hymnal 1982, #145

1 Now quit your care and anxious fear and worry;

for schemes are vain and fretting brings no gain.

Lent calls to prayer, to trust and dedication;

God brings new beauty nigh;

reply, reply, reply with love to love most high.

2 To bow the head in sackcloth and in ashes,

or rend the soul, such grief is not Lent’s goal;

but to be led to where God’s glory flashes,

his beauty to come near.

Make clear, make clear, make clear where truth and light appear.

3 For is not this the fast that I have chosen?

(The prophet spoke) To shatter every yoke,

of wickedness the grievous bands to loosen,

oppression put to flight,

to fight, to fight to fight till every wrong’s set right.

The Penitential Order

Celebrant: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. His mercy endures for ever.

Celebrant: Let us bow down before the Lord. Please kneel as you are able

THE DECALOGUE:

Celebrant: Hear the commandments of God to his people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not make for yourself any idol. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God. Amen, Lord have mercy.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Amen, Lord have mercy.

Honor your father and your mother. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit murder. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit adultery. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not steal. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not be a false witness. Amen, Lord have mercy.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Amen, Lord have mercy.

Please remain kneeling

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 stand

COLLECT OF THE DAY:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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: 1982 Hymnal, #424, verse 3

All: For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.

Please be seated

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF EXODUS:

Reader: Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.” (3:1-15)

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

Please stand

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS:

Reader: O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;
All: my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there is no water. Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory. For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise.

Reader: So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your Name.

All: My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips, When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches.

Reader: For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

All: My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast. (PS 63:1-8)

Please be seated

A READING FROM PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS:

Reader: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (10:1-13)

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

Please stand

GRADUAL:

“From deepest woe I cry to thee” (verses 1-2) The Hymnal 1982, #151

1 From deepest woe I cry to thee;

Lord, hear me, I implore thee!

Bend down thy gracious ear to me;

I lay my sins before thee.

If thou rememberest every sin,

if nought but just reward we win,

could we abide thy presence?

2 Thou grantest pardon through thy love;

thy grace alone availeth.

Our works could ne’er our guilt remove;

yea, e’en the best life faileth.

For none may boast themselves of aught,

but must confess thy grace hath wrought

whate’er in them is worthy.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF LUKE:

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

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Celebrant: At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them–do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'” (13:1-9)

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

GRADUAL:

“From deepest woe I cry to thee” (verse 3) The Hymnal 1982, #151

3 And thus my hope is in the Lord,

and not in my own merit;

I rest upon his faithful word

to them of contrite spirit.

That he is merciful and just,

here is my comfort and my trust;

his help I wait with patience.

Please be seated

THE SERMON

Please stand

THE NICENE CREED:

All: 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 worshipped 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.

Please stand or kneel

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:

Reader: Gathered by the Holy Spirit and renewed in the Word, let us pray to our merciful God for the needs of the world.

Reader: We pray for your church as it welcomes the lost, that the forgiveness and steadfast love made known in Jesus Christ may meet us in word, meal, and mission. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for the creation filled with your goodness and for all who tend it, that seeds planted in springtime may produce a rich harvest to be shared with a hungry world. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for an end to war, remembering especially the people of Ukraine: for refugees and for those who are providing sanctuary and aid, for civilians joining the Ukrainian army in defense of their country, for those who have died, for the wounded and those who grieve, for those who are living in fear – especially those who are cut off from food, water, fuel and heat and unable to escape danger, for the whole world watching and praying, and for nations who discern right action as well as measures of mercy and aid. Assist us Lord in the restoration of peace. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for the lonely, the estranged, and those battling addictions, that you will come to the aid of all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for the people of this congregation and all families; we remember those named on the parish prayer list: Paul, Ann, Ruby, Howard, the Darnell family, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Mary, Carmen, George, and Vern. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Reader: We give thanks for the saints of every time and place, that the great welcome they receive may strengthen us with hope for life in the midst of death. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Celebrant: Receive these, our prayers, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ who leads us to life. Amen.

Please stand

THE PASSING OF THE PEACE:

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

The Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord. Please do not attempt to shake hands with those who do not appear comfortable doing so. Hand sanitizer is available in the aisle inset as you come up for Communion.

Please be seated

BIRTHDAY and ANNIVERSARY PRAYERS

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Wardens

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.

OFFERTORY

“O Blessed Lord God” arr. Ruth Heller

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.

PRAYER FOR THE GIFTS OF FOOD:

Celebrant: Remembering Jesus, who fed friends and strangers on the hillside, accept our gifts of food for the hungry in our community.

Celebrant: United in Christ, instill in us sincere appreciation for the food on our tables and the will to provide for those who are hungry. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

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 A:

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 God thanks and praise.

Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Pascal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

THE SANCTUS: The Hymnal 1982, #S129

All sing: 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.

You may stand or kneel

Celebrant: Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world. On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, 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; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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.” Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

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: The Hymnal 1982, #343 verse 4

All: Lord, sup with us in love divine, thy Body and thy Blood, that living bread, that heavenly wine, be our immortal food.

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:

“Bread of the world” The Hymnal 1982, #301

1 Bread of the world, in mercy broken,

Wine of the soul, in mercy shed,

by whom the words of life were spoken,

and in whose death our sins are dead:

look on the heart by sorrow broken,

look on the tears by sinners shed;

and be thy feast to us the token

that by thy grace our souls are fed.

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: May God the Father, who does not despise the broken spirit, give you a contrite heart. May Christ, who bore our sins, heal you by his wounds. May the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, speak to you words of pardon and peace. Amen.

RECESSIONAL:

“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing” The Hymnal 1982, #433

1 We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

he chastens and hastens his will to make known;

the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:

sing praises to his Name; he forgets not his own.

2 Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

so from the beginning the fight we were winning:

thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be thine!

3 We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

and pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation:

thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

DISMISSAL:

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

POSTLUDE:

“Prelude and Fugue in G Minor” Johann Sebastian Bach

THE CANDLE IN THE SANCTUARY LAMP remains lighted throughout the week to

indicate and honor the eternal presence of Christ. It is given today in honor of all travelers.

GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY

THIS SUNDAY– LENT 3- HOLY EUCHARIST – MAR. 20:

Celebrant: The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor

Music Director/Organist: Donna Larsen

Ushers: Dave Reuter, Ginny Tuxhorn

Acolytes: Jackie Hoskinson, Gabriel Walch

Lay Eucharist Ministers: Readers: OT/PS: Carol Williamson EP/POP: Jackie Hoskinson

Chalicists: Don Nancarrow, Kendall Rubino

Tech: TJ Walch, Mary-Anna Welch

Counters: Carol Nancarrow, Tony Rubino

Altar Guild: Janet Reuter, Mary-Anna Welch, Stephanie Welch

NEXT SUNDAY– LENT 4- HOLY EUCHARIST – MAR. 27:

Celebrant: The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor

Music Director/Organist: Donna Larsen

Ushers: Tony Rubino, Jim Rudd

Acolytes: Gary Welch, Stephanie Welch

Lay Eucharist Ministers: Readers: OT/PS: Gary Welch EP/POP: Jackie Hoskinson

Chalicists: Judy Rudd, Elizabeth Wagner

Tech: Katherine Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner

Counters: Carol Nancarrow, Tony Rubino

Altar Guild: Janet Reuter, Mary-Anna Welch, Stephanie Welch

Sanctuary Lamp: OPEN

Events at St. Mark’s this Week

THIS SUNDAY (Lent 3, Mar. 20): HOLY EUCHARIST, 10:30am, in person and on Facebook Live; HUNGER SUNDAY; EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY, 1:30pm, Fellowship Room.

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

TUESDAY: TOPS MEETING, 10a, Lounge; NA MEETING, 7:30pm, Parish Hall

WEDNESDAY: LENTEN PROGRAM, 7pm, Zoom

THURSDAY: VESTRY MEETING, 7:15pm, Zoom; SAA MEETING, 7:30pm, Lounge

FRIDAY: COMMUNICATIONS MEETING, 9:00am, Zoom

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

NEXT SUNDAY (Lent 4, Mar. 27): HOLY EUCHARIST, 10:30am, in person and on Facebook Live; CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUND COLLECTION SUNDAY; EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY, 1:30pm, Fellowship Room.

Places to be, things to do

THE LENTEN PROGRAM: Awakening!: 40 days of Self-care and Self-knowledge, will be held every Wednesday during Lent at 7pm via Zoom. Participants may drop in during any week or do the entire series. The Rev. Rowena MacGregor to facilitate; contact her for the Zoom link.

THE ST. MARK’S MEN’S LUNCH BUNCH will meet at The Pub, located at The Green Town Center in Beavercreek on Thursday, Mar. 24 at 12:30pm. All St Mark’s men are invited–no need to RSVP! This is a new offering for men. For more information contact Fred Berta at 704-309-3152 or flbretiredncr@aol.com.

THE MARCH VESTRY MEETING: will be held on Thursday Mar. 24 at 7:15pm via Zoom. Contact the office if you would like the link.

The Community of St. Mark’s Classifieds

BAPTISM: Easter is one of the major feast days of the Church and is a traditional day for baptisms. If you are interested in baptism for yourself or are a parent of a child that you wish to have baptized, please contact The Rev. Rowena Mae MacGregor to set up an appointment.

THE SUNDAY READINGS can be found at www.lectionarypage.net. The readings for Sunday, Mar. 27 are Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to make a donation towards the Easter flowers, envelopes are in the pews and on the Ushers’ Table.

Lesser Feasts and Fasts

RECOMMENDED FEAST DAY TO OBSERVE: Thursday, March 24, is the Feast of Óscar Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador; Archbishop of San Salvador, 1980. Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdémez was born on August 15, 1917 in San Salvador. Ultimately he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome to study theology. After his ordination to the priesthood, he returned to his native land, where he worked among the poor, served as an administrator for the Church, and started an Alcoholics Anonymous group in San Miguel. When he was appointed a bishop, radicals distrusted his conservative sympathies. However, after his appointment as Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, a progressive Jesuit friend of his was assassinated, and Romero began protesting the government’s injustice to the poor and its policies of torture. He met with Pope John Paul II in 1980 and complained that the leaders of El Salvador engaged in terror and assassinations. He also pleaded with the American government to stop military aid to his country, but this request was ignored. Romero was shot to death while celebrating Mass at a small chapel near his cathedral on March 24, 1980. The previous day, he preached a sermon calling on soldiers to disobey orders that violated human rights. He had said, “A bishop will die, but the Church of God which is the people will never perish.” The Roman Catholic Church declared him “a servant of God,” and he is honored as a martyr by many Christian denominations worldwide. Almost nine months after Romero’s assassination, four Maryknoll nuns were also killed in the course of their duties by the El Salvadoran army. Nine Jesuit priests were similarly murdered in November of 1989. A statue of Romero stands at the door of Westminster Abbey as part of a commemoration of twentieth-century martyrs.

Almighty God, you called your servant Oscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, we may without fear or favor witness to your Word who abides, your Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be praise and glory now and for ever. Holy Women, Holy Men)

Prayers for the Week of Mar 20

FOR PEACE. For the people of Ukraine: refugees, for those who have died and those who grieve, for those in the military defending the sovereignty of this nation; For those who have died; For those affected by natural disasters, remembering especially the people of Australia devastated by flooding; 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: remembering especially teens and young adults who took their own lives this week; For all our brothers and sisters who have died by violence around the world, remembering especially violence in our 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.

For those in our prayer cycles: in the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Mexico; in the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for St. Patrick’s in Dublin, All Saints in Portsmouth, and St. James in Cincinnati;

For St. Mark’s Families; For those celebrating March birthdays; For those celebrating March wedding anniversaries; For those on our parish prayer list; For those who suffer from illness, grief, or any other adversity.

For faithful animal companions and those who care for all animals;

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, Phoebe Myhrum, Brice Patterson, Martha Camele, Maggie Gough, Brad Gough, Catherine Duffy, Alane Osborne, Libbie Crawford, Gayland Trim, Molly Cook, Victoria Lewis, Kate Meeks, Kyle Schenkewicz, Gregory Williams.

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.

For more announcements, click HERE.

To read a copy of the February 24, 2022 Vestry Minutes, click HERE.

(NOTE: Password Protected: Contact Dave or Katherine for Password.)

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ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Rev. Rowena MacGregor facilitates various adult educational/spiritual development offerings (Zoom). Be sure to check the Sunday bulletin for times and dates of her most recent programs.

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