Pentecost-20 (Yr A) October 15, 2023

 

 

 

PRELUDE                                 “My Song is Love Unknown“                       Matthew H. Corl

 

OPENING HYMN                    “Glory, love, and praise, and honor”                   Hymn #300

 

1 Glory, love and praise, and honour
for our food, now bestowed,
render we the Donor.
Bounteous God, we now confess thee;
God, who thus blessest us,
meet it is to bless thee.

 

2 Thankful for our ev’ery blessing,
let us sing Christ the Spring,
never, never ceasing.
Source of all our gifts and graces
Christ we own; Christ alone
calls for all our praises.

 

3 He dispels our sin and sadness,
life imparts, cheers our hearts,
fills with food and gladness.
Who himself for all hath given,
us he feeds, us he leads
to a feast in heaven.

 

 

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

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may
continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ 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          Exodus 32:1-14            A Reading from the Book of Exodus

 

Then God spoke all these words:

 

I am the When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the
people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who
shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of
Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them, “Take off
the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters,
and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears,
and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and
cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who
brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar
before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to
the LORD.” They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought
sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to
revel.

 

The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up
out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside
from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of
a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods,
O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” The LORD said to Moses,
“I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my
wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make
a great nation.”

 

But Moses implored the LORD his God, and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath
burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with
great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with
evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume
them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind
and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply
your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised
I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And
the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his
people.

 

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

 

 

PSALM                 Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23                       Read responsively by whole verse.

 

1 Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
2 Who can declare the mighty acts of the LORD *
or show forth all his praise?

 

3 Happy are those who act with justice *
and always do what is right!
4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you have for your people, *
and visit me with your saving help;

 

5 That I may see the prosperity of your elect
and be glad with the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.
6 We have sinned as our forebears did; *
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.

 

19 Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *
and worshiped a molten image;
20 And so they exchanged their Glory *
for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.

 

21 They forgot God their Savior, *
who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *
and fearful things at the Red Sea.

 

23 So he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, *
to turn away his wrath from consuming them.

 

 

Epistle         Philippians 4:1-9    A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi

 

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in
the Lord in this way, my beloved.

 

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I
ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside
me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers,
whose names are in the book of life.

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known
to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on
doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL        “Where cross the crowded ways of life”                     Hymn #609

GOSPEL                        Matthew 22:1-14

 

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

 

People:  Glory to you Lord Christ.

 

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven
may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent
his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they
would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited:
Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been
slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they
made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the
rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged.
He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said
to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore
into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’
Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both
good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was
not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here
without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants,
‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are
chosen.”

 

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:

A prayer from Archbishop Hosam Naoum:
O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of
violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in
these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians
and for all people of the land. While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and
the establishment of peace, We also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.
Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour
as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father.
In Jesus’ name we pray.  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 King of Love My Shepherd Is”

 

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 right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

 

For by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a new people in Jesus Christ our Lord, to show forth your glory in all the world.

 

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:

 

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

 

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:

 

Celebrant and People:

 

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

 

The Celebrant continues:
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 forever.   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

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          “This is the hour of banquet and of song”           Hymnal #316

 

1. This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heavenly table spread for me;
here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.

 

2. Too soon we rise; we go our several ways;
the feast, though not the love, is past and gone,
the Bread and Wine consumed: yet all our days
thou still art here with us—our Shield and Sun.

 

3. Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
giving us foretaste of the festal joy,
the Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love.

 

 

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          “Rejoice ye pure in heart”                              Hymn #556

 

1  Rejoice, ye pure in heart!

          Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

     Your glorious banner wave on high,

          the cross of Christ your King.

 

              Rejoice, rejoice,

                   rejoice, give thanks, and sing.

 

2  With all the angel choirs,

          with all the saints of earth,

     pour out the strains of joy and bliss,

          true rapture, noblest mirth.

 

     Refrain

 

3  Your clear hosannas raise,

          and alleluias loud;

     while answering echoes upward float,

          like wreaths of incense cloud.

 

     Refrain

 

4  Yes, on through life’s long path,

          still chanting as ye go,

     from youth to age, by night and day,

          in gladness and in woe.

 

     Refrain

 

5  Still lift your standard high,

          still march in firm array,

     as warriors through the darkness toil,

          till dawns the golden day.

 

     Refrain

 

6  At last the march shall end;

          the wearied ones shall rest;

     the pilgrims find their Father’s house,

          Jerusalem the blest.

 

     Refrain

 

7  Then on, ye pure in heart!

          Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

     Your glorious banner wave on high

          the cross of Christ your King.

 

     Refrain

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                          “Recessional”                              Jean Phillipe Rameau

 

 

        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 October 15, 2023
Altar Guild for October: Katherine Wagner and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolyte: Elizabeth Reuter
Lay Readers: Gary Welch and Gabe Walch
Chalice Bearers: Kendall Rubino and Don Nancarrow
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Tony Rubino and Jim Rudd
Counters: Carol Nancarrow and Kendall Rubino
Open/Close: Reuter/Rubino
Sanctuary Lamp is given by Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Coffee Hour: This week is open.

 

 

Ministers for October 22, 2023
Altar Guild for October: Katherine Wagner and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolyte: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Gabe Walch
Lay Readers: Jackie Hoskinson and Judy Rudd
Chalice Bearers: Don Nancarrow and Jim Rudd
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Ginny Tuxhorn
Counters: Janet Reuter and Jim Rudd
Open/Close: Welch/Nancarrow
Coffee Hour: Norma Peachey and Ginny Tuxhorn

 

 

Calendar items:
October 15—Food Pantry collection day
October 15—Adult Education and Sunday School, 9:15am
October 19—Vestry Meeting, 7:00pm on Zoom
October 21—Valley Vineyards Dinner
October 29—Adult Education and Sunday School, 9:15am
October 31-November 2: All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’, All Souls’
November 5—All Saints’ Sunday, Pledge Sunday, and CARE House collection day
November 5—Adult Education and Sunday School, 9:15am

 

 

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 15th—Teresa of Avila
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.

 

 

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!

 

 

A Letter from the Stewardship Committee:

 

October 2023

 

Dear Friends in Christ:

 

Greetings! Welcome to the St. Mark’s 2024 annual pledge campaign. As we plan for this next year,
we are excited for the future of St. Mark’s. There have been many changes to our small parish in the
past few years. We have a new spiritual leader in The Rev. Cricket Park, who returned to this diocese
following her recent retirement, and brings a new perspective on how to be followers of Jesus.
As difficult as it is to say goodbye to old friends, we rejoice in worshiping every Sunday with new
friends, some of whom are seeking to be followers of Jesus for the first time! The music is inspiring,
the church looks beautiful, and we are challenged every Sunday with a clear message about being
disciples of God.

 

Getting to know our neighbors in Riverside is important to us. This past year we have supported
Hope4Riverside, a collaborative of churches. Through their Neighboring Bridges affiliation, St.
Mark’s will be loaning space to store the many items kept on hand to help those in need. Another
outreach initiative that has been well-received is the St. Arbuck’s ministry that Cricket leads every
Wednesday, across the street at our new neighborhood Kroger. Is there anything more welcoming
than a cup of coffee, a place to sit, and people to talk with? This is just one example of how we take
the church to the people.

 

Like our own families, we have bills to pay. This is where you come in. We have worked hard to curb
expenses and to make the physical plant more efficient through grants, but we need your help. With
all the hopeful and positive energy at St. Mark’s, we ask you to prayerfully consider what you can
give to support our mission.

 

Accompanying this letter, you will be asked to make a pledge to St. Mark’s for this next year. On November 5, as we celebrate All Saints’ Day, you will be given the opportunity to lay your pledge card
on the altar, along with those of your fellow worshipers. Can’t you already hear the refrain,” for the
saints of God are just folks like me, and I mean to be one, too!”

 

Yours in Christ.

 

The 2024 Stewardship Committee
Jim Rudd, Chair
Don Nancarrow
Libby Nicholson
Kendall Rubino

 

 

2024 Pledge Card
I/We pledge to support the community of St. Mark’s, Riverside, through our prayers and presence.

 

In addition we pledge $__________ for 2024.

 

We will provide this offering
O weekly      O monthly      O quarterly

 

Contact Information:

 

Name: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________
City: ______________________ State: ____
Zipcode: __________
E-mail: ____________________________
Phone: ____________________________

 

Please bring this pledge to church on November
5th or mail it to St. Mark’s c/o Jim Rudd.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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