Pentecost-12 (Yr A) August 20, 2023

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE                            “Prelude on ‘Duke Street’”                                       Robert J. Powell

 

OPENING HYMN               “We the Lord’s People”                                                   Hymn #51

 

1. We the Lord’s people, heart and voice uniting,
praise him who called us out of sin and darkness
into his own light, that he might anoint us
a royal priesthood.

2. This is the Lord’s house, home of all his people,
school for the faithful, refuge for the sinner,
rest for the pilgrim, haven for the weary;
all find a welcome.

3. This is the Lord’s day, day of God’s own making,
day of creation, day of resurrection,
day of the Spirit, sign of heaven’s banquet,
day for rejoicing.

4. In the Lord’s service bread and wine are offered,
that Christ may take them, bless them, break, and give them
to all his people, his own life imparting,
food everlasting.

Words: John E. Bowers Music: Richard Wayne Dirksen

 

 

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            “Rejoice in the Lord always”                       Voices Found #162

 

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  And again I say rejoice!

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  And again I say rejoice!

 

Repeat one time.

 

 

Celebrant   The Lord be with you.

People   And also with you

 

Celebrant   Let us pray

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

 

                    Please be seated for the lessons.

 

FIRST LESSON            Genesis 45:1-15                         A Reading from the Book of Genesis

 

Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am hon-ored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept up-on his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

 

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

 

 

PSALM                                Psalm 144                                                   Read responsively.

 

1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, * when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head * that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, * and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon * that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: * life for evermore.

 

 

Epistle                    Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32                  A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not reject-ed his people whom he foreknew.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once diso-bedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL                    “How wondrous and great thy works”                         Hymnal #533

 

 

GOSPEL                        Matthew 15: 10-20, 21-28

 

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

 

Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He an-swered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what de-files. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

 

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.

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Celebrant: Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray not as we ask in our ignorance, no as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

 

 

THE CONFESSION

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

Most merciful God: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

 

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

 

THE PEACE

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

Response: And also with you.

 

Please greet one another with a sign of peace.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

OFFERTORY/ANTHEM

“His eye is on the sparrow”                                                                            Charles Gabriel

 

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.

 

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

Glory to you for ever and ever.

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

By your will they were created and have their being.

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

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

Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.

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

And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apos-tles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

 

SANCTUS                                                                                                                     HYMN S128

 

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

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

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

Hosanna in the highest.

 

 

The Celebrant continues

 

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.”
After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving, We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming. Lord God of our Ancestors: God of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name. Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.

Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN.

 

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

 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be

done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and

deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now

and forever. Amen

 

THE FRACTION/THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

 

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

 

COMMUNION HYMN              “O Jesus, joy of loving hearts”                                     Hymnal #649

 

1  O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,

          the fount of life and our true light,

     we seek the peace your love imparts,

          and stand rejoicing in your sight.

 

2  We taste in you our living bread,

          and long to feast upon you still;

     we drink of you, the fountainhead,

          our thirsting souls to quench and fill.

 

3  For you our restless spirits yearn

          where’er our changing lot is cast;

     glad, when your presence we discern,

          blest, when our faith can hold you fast.

 

4  O Jesus, ever with us stay;

          make all our moments calm and bright;

     oh, chase the night of sin away,

          shed o’er the world your holy light.

 

 

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

May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And the Blessing of God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, be with you now and remain with you al-ways.

 

RECESSIONAL HYMN                       “Jesus Shall Reign”                                           Hymn #544

 

1  Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

     doth his successive journeys run;

     his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

     till moons shall wax and wane no more.

 

2  To him shall endless prayer be made,

     and praises throng to crown his head;

     his Name like sweet perfume shall rise

     with every morning sacrifice.

 

3  People and realms of every tongue

     dwell on his love with sweetest song;

     and infant voices shall proclaim

     their early blessings on his Name.

 

4  Blessings abound where’er he reigns:

     the prisoners leap to lose their chains,

     the weary find eternal rest,

     and all who suffer want are blest.

 

5  Let every creature rise and bring

     peculiar honors to our King;

     angels descend with songs again,

     and earth repeat the loud amen.

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                                        “Pasticcio”                                    Jean Langlais

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Ministers for August 20, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Elizabeth Reuter and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Gabe Walch and Jim Rudd
Chalice Bearers: Jim Rudd and Kendall Rubino
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Ginny Tuxhorn and Tony Rubino
Counters: Janet Reuter and Gary Welch
Open/Close: Wagner/Welch
Coffee Hour: Norma Peachey and Ginny Tuxhorn

 

 

Ministers for August 27, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Elizabeth Reuter and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Judy Rudd and Don Nancarrow
Chalice Bearers: Carol Williamson and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Tech Table: TJ Walch
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Carol Williamson
Counters: Janet Reuter and Kendall Rubino
Open/Close: Rudd/Reuter
Coffee Hour: (see board)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Celebrate the start of the Season of Creation by treating yourself to a box of fresh-picked vegetables from Procter Center Farm. For Four weeks, the farm will be delivering fresh off the vine tomatoes, juicy corn, and much more. All produce is grown spray-free, right at Procter Camp & Conference Center. Place your order(s) today. First pick-up weekend is August 20th, and then runs until September 10th. Orders must be in by each Thursday, 10am, prior to that pick-up weekend. Dis-count applies for those who place orders ahead of time!

https://www.proctercenter.org/farm/

We need a minimum of 7 orders for the farm to deliver here. You don’t have to be a St. Mark’s member to participate. If the minimum isn’t reached, the delivery will be postponed until the minimum is met.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Weekend Harvest Box, please do not hesitate to contact Danielle Vogel at Procter Farm Center: dvogel@proctercenter.org .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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