All Saints Sunday (Yr A) November 5, 2023

 

 

 

PRELUDE                         ’In Memoriam”                                                     Kenneth Meek

 

OPENING HYMN          “Who are these like stars appearing”                      Hymn #286

 

1  Who are these like stars appearing,

       these, before God’s throne who stand?

   Each a golden crown is wearing;

       who are all this glorious band?

                 Alleluia! hark, they sing,

                 praising loud their heavenly King.

 

 2  Who are these of dazzling brightness,

       these in God’s own truth arrayed,

   clad in robes of purest whiteness,

       robes whose luster ne’er shall fade,

                 ne’er be touched by time’s rude hand?

                 Whence comes all this glorious band?

 

 3  These are they who have contended

       for their Savior’s honor long,

   wrestling on till life was ended,

       following not the sinful throng;

                 these, who well the fight sustained,

                 triumph by the Lamb have gained.

 

 4  These are they whose hearts were riven,

       sore with woe and anguish tried,

   who in prayer full oft have striven

       with the God they glorified;

                 now, their painful conflict o’er,

                 God has bid them weep no more.

 

 5  These, like priests, have watched and waited,

       offering up to Christ their will,

   soul and body consecrated,

       day and night they serve him still.

                 Now in God’s most holy place,

                 blest they stand before his face.

 

 

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                      “Glory to God”                               S278 Matthias

 

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.

 

 

Celebrant   The Lord be with you.

People   And also with you

 

Celebrant: Let us pray

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your
blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable
joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

 

                    Please be seated for the lessons.

 

FIRST LESSON      Revelation 7:9-17     A Reading from the Revelation to John

 

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could
count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before
the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their
hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

 

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living
creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
singing,

 

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honorand power
and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

 

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white,
and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.”
Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they
have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

“For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and
night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

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

 

 

PSALM                 Psalm 34: 1-10, 22                      Read responsively by whole verse.

 

1 The 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.

 

3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.

 

5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.

 

7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!

 

9 Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.

 

22 The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.

 

 

Epistle                   1 John 3:1-3                            A Reading from the first letter of John

 

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God;
and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not
know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been
revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for
we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just
as he is pure.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL              “Lord forever at thy side”                          Hymn #670

GOSPEL                        Matthew 5:1-12

 

Deacon or Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

 

People:  Glory to you Lord Christ.

 

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down,
his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of
evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.”

 

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

 

 

SERMON                                                                                                               The 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.

 

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

Silence

 

For all people in their daily life and work;

For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

 

For this community, the nation, and the world;

For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

 

For the just and proper use of your creation;

For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

 

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;

For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

 

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;

For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

 

For Michael our Presiding Bishop, and Wayne, Ken, Nedi, and Wendall our Bishops; and for all bishops and other ministers;

For all who serve God in the Church.

 

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.
Silence The People may add their own petitions

 

Hear us, Lord;

For your mercy is great.

 

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence The People may add their own thanksgivings

 

We will exalt you, O God our King;

And praise your Name for ever and ever.

 

We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence The People may add their own petitions

 

Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;

Who put their trust in you.

 

Celebrant:

“God of the generations, when we set our hands to labor, thinking we work alone, remind us that we carry on our lips the words of prophets, in our veins the blood of martyrs, in our eyes the mystics’ visions, in our hands the strength of thousands.”  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                  “The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King”                  Arr. Henry Ley

 

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

 

At this time the ushers will bring up the offering of money and any pantry items. As they do this, please stand and sing the following:

 

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.

 

It is truly right to glorify you, Father, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God,
living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever.

 

Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with
your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance.

 

Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and,
beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with
them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify
your Name, as we sing,

 

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.

 

 

Then the Celebrant continues

 

We acclaim you, holy Lord, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom
and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so
that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures.
When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of
death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find
you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets
you taught us to hope for salvation.

 

When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having
loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them
he 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.”

 

Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. Recalling Christ’s death
and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your
right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have
given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.

 

Celebrant and People

 

We praise you, we bless you,
we give thanks to you,
and we pray to you, Lord our God.

 

The Celebrant continues

 

Lord, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon
us, and upon these gifts, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your
holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your
Son Jesus Christ.

 

Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a
living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.

 

Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the
blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace.

 

Remember all who have died in the peace of Christ*, and those whose faith is known
to you alone; bring them into the place of eternal joy and light..

 

And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs,
prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with Mark and all the saints who have found
favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give you glory
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty
God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. AMEN.

 

Necrology 2023 – St. Mark’s

 

Samantha Anders
John Brodrick
Charles Brown
Robert Bunton
Gus Chuvalas
Jane Collins
Matt Cuiffa
Joan and Carey Daley
Deanna Ewers
Charles Feeser
Steve Fortener
Zachary Fortener
Alberta “Bonnie” Foster
Ruth Gayheart
Jenny Gusler
Larry Hadley
Sue Garwood Hall
Anna Irwin
Charles Jansen
Delores Johnson
Pat Kauffman
Phyllis Kidwell

Ruth Korody
Judith and Ronald Kozma
Margaret Kuhn
Dave Lenox
Lucy Lemoine
Jack Luce
Walter McKinstry Jr.
Muriel Nelson
Beverly Pendergast
Brent Douglas Phillips
Dr. Eric Polansky
Gerald Rouch
Melanie Savaglio
Carol Sharp
John Spicuzza
Emily Taylor
Joseph Venturella
Blaire Weaver
Ruby Webster
Delores Welch

 

 

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

Celebrant:   Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

People:        Therefore let us keep the feast.

 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION:

 

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

 

Everyone is welcome to come forward for communion or a blessing.

 

 

COMMUNION HYMN                 “Humbly I adore thee”                    Hymnal #314

 

1  Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen,

    who thy glory hidest ’neath these shadows mean;

    lo, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,

    tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud.

 

 

2  Taste and touch and vision to discern thee fail;

    faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil.

    I believe whate’er the Son of God hath told;

    what the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold.

 

 

3  O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death;

    living Bread that givest all thy creatures breath,

    grant my spirit ever by thy life may live,

    to my taste thy sweetness never-failing give.

 

 

4  Jesus, whom now hidden, I by faith behold,

    what my soul doth long for, that thy word foretold:

    face to face thy splendor, I at last shall see,

    in the glorious vision, blessed Lord, of thee.

 

 

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant:  Let us pray.

People:
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

 

And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

 

THE BLESSING

 

 

RECESSIONAL HYMN            “O God, our help in ages past”                 Hymn #680

 

1 For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

   who thee by faith before the world confessed,

   thy Name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed.

         Alleluia, alleluia!

 

2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might:

   thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;

   thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.

         Alleluia, alleluia!

 

3 O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,

   fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,

   and win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.

         Alleluia, alleluia!

 

4 O blest communion, fellowship divine!

   We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;

   yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.

         Alleluia, alleluia!

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                          Overture                              Robert J. Powell

 

 

        Please join us for coffee in the Fellowship Room of the Community Building.

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Welcome to St. Mark’s! During the service, please assume the postures of prayer and
devotion as best suits your ability. If you are able, please stand for the Gospel, singing
hymns, and the prayers. Kneeling and sitting are also appropriate for the prayers of
the people and the Eucharistic prayers. Remember, the posture of your heart is more
important to God than the position of your body.

 

 

Ministers for November 5, 2023
Altar Guild for November: Norma Peachey and Ginny Tuxhorn
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolyte: Elizabeth Reuter
Lay Readers: Judy Rudd and Don Nancarrow
Chalice Bearers: Jim Rudd and Kendall Rubino
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Jim Rudd
Counters: Tony Rubino and Jim Rudd
Open/Close: Wagner/Rudd
Coffee Hour: Carol Williamson
The Altar Flowers are given by Carol Williamson in thanksgiving for all the blessings in
life, and the hope of each new day. The sanctuary candle is in honor of her parents,
Buel and Mary, whose love and guidance never failed.

 

 

Ministers for November 12, 2023
Altar Guild for November: Norma Peachey and Ginny Tuxhorn
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolyte: Gabe Walch
Lay Readers: Judy Jim Rudd and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Chalice Bearers: Carol Williamson and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Carol Williamson and Tony Rubino
Counters: Tony Rubino and Jim Rudd
Open/Close: Nancarrow and Reuter
Coffee Hour: The Welch Family
Flowers given in honor of Stephanie’s 30th birthday by the Welch family.
Sanctuary Candle given in memory of Jim Veazey and Eleanor Kehl by Katherine
Wagner

 

Thank you to the Phillips family for the flowers and sanctuary candle on October 29th.

 

Calendar items:
November 5—All Saints’ Sunday, Pledge Sunday, and CARE House collection day
November 5—Adult Education and Sunday School, 9:15am
November 10—Family Game Night, 6pm
November 11—Diocesan Convention
November 23—Thanksgiving Day
December 3—Advent I and CARE House collection
December 10—Advent II
December 17—Advent III
December 24—Advent IV, 10:30am; Christmas Eve, 5:00pm

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Adult Forum: Fall Feasts and Fasts
There are several significant feast days in September through November. Our Adult
Forum class will talk about these occasions at 9:00am in the Lounge. Come for all;
come for some. Get to know the saints and the history behind a holy day or two.

October 29th—The Autumnal Triduum: All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints, All Souls
November 5th—Edith Cavell
November 12th—Hilda of Whitby
November 19th—St. Andrew

November 26th—no adult forum due to Thanksgiving weekend.

December 3rd—first Sunday in Advent—ideas anyone?

 

 

All Saints’ Sunday—November 5  TODAY!

Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed.
Bring all your coins for a Day of Change offering. (Dollar bills are good too.)
Bring your pledge card and place it on the altar as a sign of your commitment to
St. Mark’s in 2024.
Bring a picture of a relative/ancestor for our All Saints’ Sunday ofrenda.

 

Family Game Night—November 11

Mark your Calendars for our November 10, 6pm, evening of games and
laughter. Questions? Contact TJ Walch.

 

Day of Change—November 5  TODAY!

Please remember to set your clocks back one hour and bring your
contributions for the food pantry at St. Paul’s Methodist Church.
This is the time of year when there is an even greater need for food.
No amount is too small-or too large! Thank you in advance for your
continuing support.

 

Canterbury Cookie Fundraiser

Donations of INGREDIENTS for a cookie sale to raise funds for the residents
of Canterbury Court have been requested. The following items are needed:
All-purpose flour                                       Granulated sugar
Butter-flavor Crisco                                  Brown sugar
Parchment paper                                       Almond extract
Walnuts                                                    Vanilla extract
Butter-cake mix (yellow cake)                Toffee Chips
Nutmeg                                                   Condensed milk
Peaches in heavy syrup                          Cherries in heavy syrup
Please bring your donations to church no later than November 12th.

 

“Adventurer’s Guide to the Bible” High School Retreat
November 17-19 at Procter Center
Students in grades 9-12 are invited to gather at Procter for a weekend of immersion
in the 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The campaign runs parallel to the events
of the Bible, but the way the plot unfolds is up to you! Experienced players and those
new to the game are welcome.
Register here.

 

Please sign up for December ministries.
There are empty spaces for flowers, sanctuary lamps, and coffee hours. The sign-up
sheet is on the bulletin board by the church office. A separate sign-up will go out via
email for Christmas flowers.

 

At this time, there has not been a volunteer for coffee hour on the Sunday after
Thanksgiving (Christ the King Sunday). The priest suggests a pot-luck of Thanksgiving
leftovers. Sides, salads, and pies anyone?

 

Mark Your Calendars: Youth Group Fundraising Coffee Hour on November 19th!
Come hungry and help the youth raise money for Neighborhood Bridges. Coney dogs
are the menu item for the day!

 

 

St. Mark’s is a parish in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.