Pentecost-4 (Yr A) June 25, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE                  “My Jesus, I love thee”                Diane Bish

 

OPENING HYMN        “Christ For the World We Sing”                 Hymnal #537

 

1  Christ for the world we sing!

     The world to Christ we bring with loving zeal;

     the poor, and them that mourn, the faint and overborne,

     sin-sick and sorrow-worn, whom Christ doth heal.

 

2  Christ for the world we sing!

     The world to Christ we bring with fervent prayer;

     the wayward and the lost, by restless passions tossed,

     redeemed at countless cost from dark despair.

 

3  Christ for the world we sing!

     The world to Christ we bring with one accord;

     with us the work to share, with us reproach to dare,

     with us the cross to bear, for Christ our Lord.

 

4  Christ for the world we sing!

     The world to Christ we bring with joyful song;

     the new-born souls, whose days, reclaimed from error’s ways,

     inspired with hope and praise, to Christ belong.

 

 

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                “People of God”                     Voices Found #109

 

1. People of God, gather together,
   come, let us sing on this glorious day.
   Shouting abroad praise to the maker
   come and with body and soul let us pray.

 

Refrain:
Come let us join in the heavenly dance,
praising in joyous celebration.

 

2. Hearing God’s word, heeding the message,
   come and rejoice as we answer the call.
   With one accord made in God’s image,
   come in community welcoming all.
   Refrain

 

3. Bearing your gifts, enter God’s presence;
   come let us share in the heavenly feast.
   Mending all rifts, healing divisions,
   come and from sorrows and hurts be released.
   Refrain

 

4. Women and men, harmony blending
   come, swell the chorus in loving accord.
   Raising again thanks never ending
   come to the God who is Wisdom and Word.
   Refrain

 

Tune: EARTH AND ALL STARS

 

 

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you

 

Celebrant Let us pray

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you nev-er fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

                    Please be seated for the lessons.

 

FIRST LESSON             Genesis 21:8-21                          A Reading from the Book of Genesis

The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not in-herit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

 

When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
The Word of the Lord Response: Thanks be to God.

 

 

PSALM                Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17                                         Read responsively by whole verse.
1 Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, * for I am poor and in misery.
2 Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; * save your servant who puts his trust in you.

 

3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; * I call upon you all the day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, * for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

 

5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, * and great is your love toward all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, * and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, * for you will answer me.

 

8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, * nor anything like your works.

9 All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, * and glorify your Name.

 

10 For you are great; you do wondrous things; * and you alone are God.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; * give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid.

 

17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; * because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

 

 

Epistle                   Romans 6: 1b-11                 A Reading from the Paul’s letter to the Romans
Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be en-slaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL                  “Take up your cross, the Savior said”                           Hymn #675

 

1  Take up your cross, the Savior said,

       if you would my disciple be;

   take up your cross with willing heart,

       and humbly follow after me.

 

 

2  Take up your cross, let not its weight

       fill your weak spirit with alarm;

   his strength shall bear your spirit up,

       and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

 

 

3  Take up your cross, heed not the shame,

       and let your foolish heart be still;

   the Lord for you accepted death

       upon a cross, on Calvary’s hill.

 

 

4  Take up your cross, then, in his strength,

       and calmly every danger brave:

   it guides you to abundant life

       and leads to victory o’er the grave.

 

 

5  Take up your cross, and follow Christ,

       nor think till death to lay it down;

   for only those who bear the cross

       may hope to wear the glorious crown.

 

 

GOSPEL Matthew 9:35-10:8

 

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

People:    Glory to you Lord Christ.

 

Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can de-stroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

 

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

 

 

SERMON                                                                                                                  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

 

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

That we all may be one.

 

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;

That your Name may be glorified by all people.

 

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;

That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

 

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;

That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

 

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;

That our works may find favor in your sight.

 

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;

That they may be delivered from their distress.

 

Give to the departed eternal rest.

Let light perpetual shine upon them.

 

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;

May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

 

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

 

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

 

Celebrant: O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent

your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near:

Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into

your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

THE CONFESSION

Deacon/Celebrant: Let us then confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace.

 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. 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 walk in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

 

THE ABSOLUTION

 

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/PRESENTATION OF GIFTS

The Celebrant will invite the congregation to participate in the offering with a sentence

of scripture. As the ushers bring the gifts to the altar, please sing the following

hymn:

 

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 people stand or kneel. Then the Celebrant continues,

with the congregation joining in the words in bold type.

 

Father, Lord of all creation, we praise you for your goodness and your love. When we turned away you did not reject us. You came to meet us in your Son, welcomed us as your children and prepared a table where we might feast with you. In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us.

 

He opened wide his arms upon the cross and, with love stronger than death, he made the perfect sacrifice for sin.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, our redeemer, on the night before you died you came to table with your friends. Taking bread, you gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

 

Lord Jesus, we bless you: you are the bread of life

 

At the end of supper you 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; do this in remembrance of me.

 

Lord Jesus, we bless you: you are the true vine.

 

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ:

 

dying, you destroyed our death, rising, you restored our life;

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

 

Holy Spirit, giver of life, come upon us now; may this bread and wine be to us the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us, who know our need of grace, one

in Christ, our risen Lord.

 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Blessed Trinity: with your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of thanks and praise and lift our voice to join the song of heaven, for ever praising you and saying:

 

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.

 

 

Thanks be to you, our God, for your gift beyond words.

Amen. Amen. 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

 

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, who has taken away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

 

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed .

 

 

COMMUNION HYMN          “Father we thank thee who hast planted”                    Hymn #302

 

1 Father, we thank thee who hast planted

       thy holy Name within our hearts.

   Knowledge and faith and life immortal

       Jesus thy Son to us imparts.

 

 

2 Thou, Lord, didst make all for thy pleasure,

       didst give us food for all our days,

   giving in Christ the Bread eternal;

       thine is the power, be thine the praise.

 

 

3 Watch o’er thy Church, O Lord, in mercy,

       save it from evil, guard it still,

   perfect it in thy love, unite it,

       cleansed and conformed unto thy will.

 

 

4 As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,

       was in this broken bread made one,

   so from all lands thy Church be gathered

       into thy kingdom by thy Son.

 

 

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant Let us pray.

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body

and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and

bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and

work to your praise and glory. Amen.

 

THE BLESSING

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace. And the blessing of our Triune God be with you this day and remain with you always.

 

RECESSIONAL HYMN                     “Spread o spread, though mighty word”                  Hymn #530

 

1  Spread, O spread, thou mighty word,

     spread the kingdom of the Lord,

     that to earth’s remotest bound

     all may heed the joyful sound;

  

2  word of how the Father’s will

     made the world, and keeps it, still;

     how his only Son he gave,

     earth from sin and death to save;

  

3  word of how the Savior’s love

     earth’s sore burden doth remove;

     how forever, in its need,

     through his death the world is freed;

  

4  word of how the Spirit came

     bringing peace in Jesus’ name;

     how his never-failing love

     guides us on to heaven above.

  

5  Word of life, most pure and strong,

     word for which the nations long,

     spread abroad, until from night

     all the world awakes to light.

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                                “Allegro Maestoso”                                     Flav Peeters

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Ministers for June 25, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Gabriel Walch and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Jim Rudd and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Chalice Bearers: Jim Rudd and Don Nancarrow
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Carol Williamson and Jim Rudd
Counters: Dave Reuter and Gary Welch
Open/Close: Welch/Wagner
Coffee Hour: TBD

 

 

Ministers for July 2, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Stephanie Welch and Gary Welch
Lay Readers: Susan Kendall and TJ Walch
Chalice Bearers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Judy Rudd
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Ginny Tuxhorn and Jim Rudd
Counters: Jim Rudd and Gary Welch
Open/Close: Wagner/Welch
Coffee Hour: All American Potluck

 

 

 

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.

 

Mark your Calendar:
June 27, Softball Game
June 29, Vestry Meeting, 7:00pm

 

 

Licensed Lay Ministry in the Diocese of Southern Ohio
Lay ministry comes in many forms, but some ministries require a license from the ecclesiastical authority
in the diocese. All licensed lay ministers in the Diocese of Southern Ohio are required to
complete Safe Church and Dismantling Racism training. All licensed lay ministers are encouraged
to join the diocesan commitment to the four-fold path of Becoming Beloved Community: truthtelling,
proclamation, formation, and justice.

Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Worship Leader
To receive a new or renewal license as a Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, and/or Worship
Leader:
• Complete Dismantling Racism training (https://diosohio.org/event/dismantling-racism-trainingaugust/
2023-08-16/)
• In 2023, you may receive a license before completing this training, but it is expected that all licensed
ministers will complete this training by Easter 2024).
• Complete Safe Church training. (Safe Church Training – Diocese of Southern Ohio (diosohio.org) )
• If applying for a new license, complete ministry training through congregational clergy, a licensed
minister, diocesan trainers, an online course, or a combination of these.
• If applying for a renewal license, serve in the ministry over the course of three years. For worship
leaders, lead worship at least three times over the course of three years.

 

Use this license application to apply for or renew a Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor or Worship
leader license. (https://diosohio.org/training-lay-licensure/)

 

 

Next Sunday: All-American Potluck Coffee Hour

Sign up today to bring something for our potluck. Hot dogs and fixings will be provided.
We’ll need side dishes, desserts, drinks, chips, and dips. Be sure and wear your baseball swag to church. Let’s mark the Independence Day holiday with some red, white, and blue fun. The sign up sheet is in the fellowship room. Also, the sign up sheet for the rest of the year’s coffee hours is on the bulletin board by the microwave. Let’s fill those slots in also.

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

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.