Pentecost-9 (Yr A) July 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

PRELUDE                        “Chorale and Sanabande”                     Anthony Giamanco

 

OPENING HYMN            “O worship the king”                               Hymn #388

 

1  O worship the King, all glorious above!

     O gratefully sing his power and his love!

     Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

     pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

 

 

2  O tell of his might! O sing of his grace!

     Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.

     His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

     and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

 

 

3  The earth, with its store of wonders untold,

     Almighty, thy power hath founded of old,

     hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,

     and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

 

 

4  Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

     It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;

     it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,

     and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

 

 

5  Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

     in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;

     thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end!

     Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

 

 

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, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, noth-ing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; 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 29:15-28              A Reading from the Book of Genesis

 

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daugh-ters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Ra-chel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any oth-er man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

 

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

 

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

 

 

PSALM                                  Psalm 105:1-11, 45b                                         Read responsively.

 

1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *

   make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *

   and speak of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy Name; *

   let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *

   continually seek his face.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, *

     his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *

   O children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God; *

   his judgments prevail in all the world.
8 He has always been mindful of his covenant, *

   the promise he made for a thousand generations:
9 The covenant he made with Abraham, *

   the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10 Which he established as a statute for Jacob, *

   an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11 Saying, “To you will I give the land of Canaan *

   to be your allotted inheritance.”
45b Hallelujah!

 

 

Epistle                    Romans 8:26-39                    A Reading from the Paul’s letter to the Romans

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit inter-cedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

 

“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 

 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

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

 

 

GRADUAL                          “Blessed Jesus at thy word”                                   Hymnal #440

 

 

GOSPEL                        Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

 

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

 

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

 

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on find-ing one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

 

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

 

 

SERMON                                                                                                               The Rev. Cricket Park

 

 

THE NICENE CREED

 

We believe in one God,

     the Father, the Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth,

     of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

     the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,

     God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

     begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

     Through him all things were made.

     For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

          by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin

          Mary, and was made man.

     For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death

          and was buried.

     On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

          he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the

          Father.

     He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

          and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

     With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

     He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

 

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

The celebration continues with the Prayers of the People. The Leader and People

pray responsively.

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Celebrant: 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           “Lord, You’ve searched and known me”           Douglas Wagner

 

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

 

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              “Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart”              Hymnal #488

 

1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

   all else be nought to me, save that thou art—

   thou my best thought, by day or by night,

   waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

 

2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

   I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

   thou my great Father; thine own may I be;

   thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

 

3 High King of heaven, when victory is won,

   may I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun!

   Heart of my heart, whatever befall,

   still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

 

 

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              “Thy kingdom come, O God”                                 Hymn #613

 

1  Thy kingdom come, O God!

          Thy rule, O Christ, begin!

     Break with thine iron rod

          the tyrannies of sin!

 

2  Where is thy reign of peace,

          and purity, and love?

     When shall all hatred cease,

          as in the realms above?

 

3  When comes the promised time

          that war shall be no more,

     oppression, lust, and crime

          shall flee thy face before?

 

4  We pray thee, Lord, arise,

          and come in thy great might;

     revive our longing eyes,

          which languish for thy sight.

 

5  Wherever near or far

          thick darkness broodeth yet:

     arise, O Morning Star,

          arise, and never set!

 

 

DISMISSAL

 

The congregation is dismissed.

People    Thanks be to God.

 

POSTLUDE                               “Fantasia”                                                Johann Pachelbel

 

 

————————————-

 

 

Ministers for July 30, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Elizabeth Reuter and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Carol Williamson and Susan Kendall
Chalice Bearers: Kendall Rubino and Judy Rudd
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Dave Reuter and Ginny Tuxhorn
Counters: Dave Reuter and Kendall Rubino
Open/Close: Reuter/Rubino
Coffee Hour: Please volunteer
Sanctuary Lamp: Given by Ginny Tuxhorn in memory of her husband

 

Ministers for August 6, 2023
Organist: Donna Larsen Vocalist: Laura Leach
Acolytes: Jackie Hoskinson and Will Day
Lay Readers: Gary Welch and Gabe Walch
Chalice Bearers: Don Nancarrow and Jim Rudd
Tech Table: Dave Reuter
Ushers: Carol Williamson and Jim Rudd
Counters: Carol Nancarrow and Janet Reuter
Open/Close: Nancarrow/Reuter
Coffee Hour: Please volunteer
Sanctuary Lamp: Given by Ginny Tuxhorn in memory of her husband

 

 

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!

 

 

Rev. Cricket will be on vacation July 31—August 5.
Please, no bleeding, no dying, no fires. If these emergencies do happen, she can be reached via her cell phone. Calls will be returned as soon as possible. St. Arbuck’s should still happen—it doesn’t take a priest to chat and have coffee. See you next week!

 

 

 

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.