Pentecost-7 (Yr A) July 16, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE                “Now let us rejoice”                                            Franklin Ashdown

 

OPENING HYMN                “Spread, o spread thou 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.

 

 

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

Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; 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          Genesis 25:19-34              A Reading from the Book of Genesis

 

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Be-thuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,

the elder shall serve the younger.”

 

When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am fam-ished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

 

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

 

 

PSALM                                  Psalm 119:105-112                        Read responsively.

 

105 Your word is a lantern to my feet * and a light upon my path.
106 I have sworn and am determined * to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am deeply troubled; * preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, * and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is always in my hand, * yet I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me, * but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111 Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; * truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes * for ever and to the end.

 

 

Epistle                    Romans 8: 1-11                    A Reading from the Paul’s letter to the Romans

I There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law– in-deed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL                                “Thy Word” Michael                                  W. Smith and Amy Grant

 

 

GOSPEL                        Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

 

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

 

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they with-ered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

 

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 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: O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all as-saults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of 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         “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                   “One bread, one body”                      LEVAS#151

 

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,

              one cup of blessing which we bless.

              And we, though many, throughout the earth,

              We are one body in this one Lord.

  

1  Gentile or Jew, servant or free,

     woman or man, no more.

     One Lord.

 

     Refrain

   

2  Many the gifts, many the works,

     one in the Lord of all.

     One Lord.

 

     Refrain

  

3  Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,

     gathered to one for all.

     One Lord.

 

     Refrain

 

 

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                    “O Christ, the Word incarnate”                                  Hymn #632

 

1  O Christ, the Word Incarnate,

       O Wisdom from on high,

   O Truth, unchanged, unchanging,

       O Light of our dark sky;

   we praise thee for the radiance

       that from the scripture’s page,

   a lantern to our footsteps,

       shines on from age to age.

  

 

2  The Church from our dear Master

       received the word divine,

   and still that light is lifted

       o’er all the earth to shine.

   It is the chart and compass

       that o’er life’s surging sea,

   mid mists and rocks and quicksands,

       still guides, O Christ, to thee.

  

 

3  O make thy Church, dear Savior,

       a lamp of purest gold,

   to bear before the nations

       thy true light as of old;

   O teach thy wandering pilgrims

       by this their path to trace,

   till, clouds and darkness ended,

       they see thee face to face.

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                               “Fantasia”                                                Johann Pachelbel

 

 

————————————-

 

 

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: In memory of Zach Johnson

 

 

Ministers for July 23, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Stephanie and Gary Walch
Lay Readers: TJ Walch and Jackie Hoskinson
Chalice Bearers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Don Nancarrow
Tech Table: TJ Walch
Ushers: Tony Rubino and Jim Rudd
Counters: Carol Nancarrow and Gary Walch
Open/Close: Welch/Wagner
Coffee Hour: TBD
Sanctuary Lamp: Ginny Tuxhorn

 

 

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.