Pentecost-6 (Yr A) July 9, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE                 “Allegro Moderato in C Major”                   Gustav Merkel

 

OPENING HYMN     “God, my King, thy might confessing”         Hymnal #414

 

1. God, my King, Thy might confessing,
Ever will I bless Thy Name;
Day by day Thy throne addressing,
Still will I Thy praise proclaim.

 

2. Honor great our God befitteth;
Who His majesty can reach?
Age to age His works transmitteth,
Age to age His power shall teach.

 

3. They shall talk of all Thy glory,
On Thy might and greatness dwell,
Speak of Thy dread acts the story,
And Thy deeds of wonder tell.

 

4. Nor shall fail from memory’s treasure
Works by love and mercy wrought;
Works of love surpassing measure,
Works of mercy passing thought.

 

5. Full of kindness and compassion,
Slow to anger, vast in love,
God is good to all creation;
All His works His goodness prove.

 

6. All Thy works, O Lord, shall bless Thee;
Thee shall all Thy saints adore:
King supreme shall they confess Thee,
And proclaim Thy sovereign power.

 

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                 “I want Jesus to walk with me”                      LEVAS#70

 

1  I want Jesus to walk with me;

    I want Jesus to walk with me;

    All along my pilgrim journey, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

2  In my trials, Lord, walk with me;

    In my trials, Lord, walk with me;

    When the shades of life are falling, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

3  In my sorrows, Lord, walk with me;

    In my sorrows, Lord, walk with me;

    When my heart within is aching, Lord,

    I want Jesus to walk with me.

 

 

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you

 

Celebrant Let us pray

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our
neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with
our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67                A Reading from the Book of Genesis

 

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

The servant said to Laban, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly
blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and
herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah
my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given
him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife
for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you
shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’

 

“I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if
now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am standing here by the
spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say,
“Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me,
“Drink, and I will draw for your camels also” —let her be the woman whom
the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

 

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with
her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said
to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and
said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered
the camels. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter
of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her
nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped
the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led
me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son.
Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell
me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.”

 

And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said,
“I will.” So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abra5
ham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May
you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession
of the gates of their foes.” Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted
the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his
way. Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb.
Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels
coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly
from the camel, and said to the servant, “Who is the man over there, walking in
the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and
covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then
Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became
his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s
death.

 

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

 

 

PSALM                                  Psalm 45:11-18                         Read responsively.

 

11 “Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *
forget your people and your father’s house.
12 The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13 The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *
the rich among the people seek your favor.”
14 All glorious is the princess as she enters; *
her gown is cloth-of-gold.
15 In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16 With joy and gladness they are brought, *
and enter into the palace of the king.
17 “In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *
you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18 I will make your name to be remembered from one generation to another; *
therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”

 

 

Epistle                    Romans 7: 15-25a                    A Reading from the Paul’s letter to the Romans

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very
thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in
fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing
good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot
do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if
I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

 

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For
I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at
war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my
members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL               “Lord of all hopefulness”                            Hymn #482

 

1. Lord Of All Hopefulness, Lord Of All Joy,
Whose Trust, Ever Childlike, No Cares Could Destroy:
Be There At Our Waking, And Give Us, We Pray,
Your Bliss In Our Hearts, Lord, At The Break Of The Day.

 

2. Lord Of All Eagerness, Lord Of All Faith,
Whose Strong Hands Were Skilled At The Plane And The Lathe:
Be There At Our Labours, And Give Us, We Pray,
Your Strength In Our Hearts, Lord, At The Noon Of The Day.

 

3. Lord Of All Kindliness, Lord Of All Grace,
Your Hands Swift To Welcome, Your Arms To Embrace:
Be There At Our Homing, And Give Us, We Pray,
Your Love In Our Hearts, Lord, At The Eve Of The Day.

 

4. Lord Of All Gentleness, Lord Of All Calm,
Whose Voice Is Contentment, Whose Presence Is Balm:
Be There At Our Sleeping, And Give Us, We Pray,
Your Peace In Our Hearts, Lord, At The End Of The Day.

 

 

GOSPEL                          Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

 

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

 

Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting
in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the
Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her
deeds.”

 

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed
them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been
handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him.

 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give
you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light.”

 

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.

 

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 bish-ops; 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: Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liber-ty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  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 our-selves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Je-sus 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         “Great God we sing”                  Franklin Ritter

 

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 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 wa-ter 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      “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds”              Hymn #644

 

1. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

 

2. It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

 

3. Dear Name! the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never-failing Treas’ry filled
With boundless stores of grace!

 

4. Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

 

5. Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

 

 

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

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                “We will extol you, ever blessed Lord”                          Hymn #404

 

1 We will extol you, ever-blessed Lord;
your holy Name forever be adored;
each day we live our psalm to you we raise;
you, God and King, are worthy of all praise,
great and unsearchable in all your ways.

 

2 Age shall to age pass on the endless song,
telling the wonders which to you belong,
your mighty acts with joy and fear relate;
praise we your glory while on you we wait,
glad in the knowledge of your love so great.

 

3 You, Lord, are gracious, merciful to all,
close to your children when on you they call;
and slow to anger, merciful and kind,
in your compassion we your blessings find.
We love you with our heart and strength and mind.

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                        “Allegretto con grazia”                                 Edward John Hopkins

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Ministers for July 9, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Jackie Hoskinson and Will Day
Lay Readers: Don Nancarrow and Carol Williamson
Chalice Bearers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Jim Rudd
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Carol Williamson and Tony Rubino
Counters: Carol Nancarrow and Dave Reuter
Open/Close: Rudd/Reuter
Coffee Hour: TBD
Flowers and Sanctuary Lamp: The Bertas

 

 

Ministers for July 16, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Scott Kelly and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Gary Welch
Chalice Bearers: Kendall Rubino and Carol Williamson
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Carol Williamson
Counters: Kendall Rubino and Jim Rudd
Open/Close: Nancarrow/Rubino
Coffee Hour: TBD
Flowers and Sanctuary Lamp: I

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

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.