The prelude is a time for preparation for worship.
As we enter the sanctuary, let us prepare through quiet prayer and meditation.
The service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page and on YouTube.
The People’s responses are in bold type, and directions are italicized.
As a courtesy to others, please silence your cell phone.
The Hymnal 1982 is the blue hymnal;
Wonder, Love, & Praise is the green hymnal;
Lift Every Voice and Sing II is the red and black hymnal
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PRELUDE: “Crown Him” Ruth Schram
PRAYER REQUESTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, BIRTHDAYS
Please stand as you are able.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN:
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name” (v. 1-3) The Hymnal 1982, #450
- All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all!
bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all!
- Crown him, ye martyrs of our God, who from his altar call:
praise him whose way of pain ye trod, and crown him Lord of all!
praise him whose way of pain ye trod, and crown him Lord of all!
- Hail him, the Heir of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
the God incarnate, Man divine, and crown him Lord of all!
the God incarnate, Man divine, and crown him Lord of all!
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. 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.
SONG OF PRAISE LEVaS II, #246
Praise, praise, honor and glory, Praise, praise, honor and glory.
Praise, praise, honor and glory, Honor and glory to Christ, our King.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People Also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; 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.
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Reader A reading from the book of Deuteronomy
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.
Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
PSALM 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.
3 You turn us back to the dust and say, *
“Go back, O child of earth.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past *
and like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep us away like a dream; *
we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
be gracious to your servants.
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.
SECOND READING 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Reader A reading from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
GRADUAL HYMN:
“Spirit of God” LEVaSII, #119
1. Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Draw it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
And make me love thee as I ought to love.
2. I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no op’ning skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
3. Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
4. Teach me to love thee as thine angels love.
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heav’n descended dove,
My heart an altar, and thy love the flame.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 22:34-46
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they
gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test
him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him,
“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a
second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Now while the Pharisees
were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of
the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said
to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The
Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your
feet”’? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able
to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more
questions.
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Please be seated.
THE SERMON The Rev. Jean Vargo
Please stand as you are able.
THE NICENE CREED BCP p.358
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.
ANTIPHON: “O Lord, hear my Pray’r” Taizé
O Lord hear my pray’r, O Lord hear my pray’r. When I call, answer me.
O Lord hear my pray’r, O Lord hear my pray’r. Come and listen to me.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Church of the Province of Central Africa.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for Christ Church Xenia and the Beloved Community Commission.
In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Eva, Rob, Madeline, and Elizabeth Reuter; Kendall and Tony Rubino; and Megan Rubino, and Adam and Addison Oiler.
After each petition the People respond with “Hear Our Prayer”
Reader God of deliverance, hear our prayers and deliver us into your kingdom as we say, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Celebrant Loving God who time and again has heard your people’s cry and lifted them from their despair, hear our prayers and lift us up that we might, more fully, be the people you created us to be and empower us for your mission of love. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SIN BCP p.360
Celebrant Let us 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 by 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.
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.
People And also with you.
The ministers and People greet each other with signs of peace.
THE OFFERTORY: The ushers collect the offering at this time.
OFFERTORY HYMN
“Revive Us Again” (v. 1-3) LEVaSII, #157
1. We praise thee, O God, for the son of thy love,
For Jesus who died and is now gone above
(refrain)
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen, Hallelujah!
Thine the glory, revive us again.
2. We praise thee, O God, for thy spirit of light,
Who has shown us our Savior, and scattered our night. (refrain)
3. All glory and praise to the lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sins and cleansed ev’ry stain. (refrain)
Please stand as you are able.
DOXOLOGY
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” The Hymnal 1982, #380
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Eucharistic Prayer B BCP p. 367
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 our thanks and praise.
Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” The Hymnal 1982, #S129
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.
Celebrant We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night before he died for us, 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, according to his command, O Father,
Celebrant and People
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with St. Mark and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. 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 for ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER BCP p. 364
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD BCP p. 364
FRACTION ANTHEM:
“O Lamb of God”
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
ALL are welcome to the table of the Lord.
If you choose not to receive Holy Communion and wish to receive a blessing,
please cross your arms over your chest.
Come to the Great Eucharist thanking God for all he has done and will do for us.
COMMUNION HYMN: (v. 1-3) LEVaSII, #74
“Jesu, Jesu”
(refrain)
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from you.
- Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet
master who acts as a slave to them. (refrain)
- Neighbors are rich and poor, neighbors are black and white,
neighbors are near and far away. (refrain)
- These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love;
all these neighbors to us and you. (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.
BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN:
“Come with us, O Bless’d Jesus” (V. 1, 3) The Hymnal 1982, #336
1. Come with us, O blessed Jesus, with us evermore to be;
And though leaving now thine altar, let us nevermore leave thee.
Be thou one with us for ever, in our life thy love divine
Our own flesh and blood has taken, and to us thou givest thine.
2. Come with us, O King of glory, by angelic voices praised;
In our hearts as in thy heaven, be enraptured anthems raised.
Let the mighty chorus ever sing its glad exultant songs;
Let its hymn be heard for ever—peace for which creation longs.
DISMISSAL
People Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
“Werde Munter” Karen Keene
Thank you for joining us in worship.
Please know that your participation with us today,
in person or online, has been a blessing.
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Readings & Ministry Schedule
October 25, Pentecost 21
Readings:
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Psalm 19;
Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46
Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo
Deacon: The Rev. George Snyder
Organist: Karen Bocko
Acolyte: Faggio Nocero-Sargent
Lay Readers: Gabriel Walch, Judy Rudd
Chalicists: Jim Rudd, Judy Rudd
Tech & Facebook Live: TJ Walch
Ushers: Dave Reuter, Ginny Tuxhorn
Counters: Janet Reuter, Tony Rubino
Open/Close: Wagner/Reuter
Altar Flowers: Rommel Festus-Abibo
Candle: Rommel Festus-Abibo
Coffee Hour: Laura Leach
November 1, All Saints Day
Readings:
Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10, 22
Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo
Deacon: The Rev. George Snyder
Music Director: Karen Bocko
Acolyte: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Lay Readers: Don Nancarrow, Judy Rudd
Chalicists: Kendall Rubino, Carol Williamson
Tech & Facebook Live: Dave Reuter, Katherine Wagner
Ushers: Wayne Harper, Dave Reuter
Counters: Kendall Rubino, Gary Welch
Open/Close: Wagner/Reuter
Altar Guild: Norma Peachey, Ginny Tuxhorn
Altar Flowers: Limes
Candle: TBD
Coffee Hour: TBD
Announcements for the week of October 25
The Altar Flowers and the Candle in the Sanctuary Lamp are given by Rommel Festus-Abibo for the Glory of God and the Work of the Church.
Coffee Hour is hosted by Laura, Annie, and Ainsley Leach.
The Vestry will meet after the service in the Lounge. Our meetings are now scheduled for the fourth Sunday of each month, and all parishioners are welcome to attend. If there are topics of concern, please contact a vestry member or warden.
~~~NOVEMBER IS BUSY!~~~
Sunday Nov.1:
*All Saints Day: we include in that day’s Eucharistic Prayer names of loved ones who have died during the past year. If you have name(s) you’d like listed, please contact Katherine by Monday, Oct 26.
*Day of Change: when we leave Daylight Savings Time behind and ‘fall back’ one hour, we take up a special collection for the Food Pantry at St. Paul’s UMC. So as you change your clocks, please bring in your change (or checks or folding money) and place it in the specially marked baskets at the front and rear of the sanctuary.
*CARE House collection: We accept donations of individual snacks, small water bottles, stuffed animals (huggable sized), and gift cards (gas, Walmart Meijer, fast food) and pass them on to CARE House.
Sunday, Nov. 8:
*We will honor our veterans. If you would like your name listed in the bulletin with your fellow service members, please send Katherine your name, rank, and branch of service by Monday, Nov. 2.
*Stewardship Sunday: If you haven’t submitted your 2027 pledge yet, please bring it that day to be included with the worship service offering. Questions? Contact Jim Rudd.
JOINT SERVICE AT ST. PAUL’S Nov. 15 10am
We will celebrate Rev. Jean’s 45th Ordination Anniversary
with a joint service at St. Paul’s.
A Holy Cycle
The transition process is a holy cycle.
It begins with discovering what God is already doing in our community. We observe, listen, and ask questions.
We look for the small and large ways God’s love is at work among our neighbors – whether they live next door or in the next town.
As we learn the needs of our community, we also pray and reflect on our own gifts and passions, both individually and as a parish. We remember Jesus’ call to go and make disciples and Isaiah’s promise that God is making all things new. Our passions, shaped by the Spirit, meet the needs of the world around us. This is where ministry begins.
To be the church is to participate in God’s work. It is less about filling pews or balancing budgets – important as those are – and more about living the gospel with compassion, mercy, and Christ-like love. It is being the hands and feet of Christ wherever we are.
As we shape our parish goals, we shape them for the sake of our neighbors. We offer our community a church that cares for them, prays for them, and is present with them. And as God continues to inspire us, the cycle begins again: discovering need, noticing God’s activity, and listening for the Spirit’s leading.
May the Spirit of God inspire and guide you.
