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Worship Service – Holy Eucharist Rite II – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Blessing of the Animals
October 6 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am UTC-5
Holy Eucharist with Blessing of the Animals
Rev. George Favell Presiding
Coffee Hour after church in the Guild Hall
Oct. 13 – Morning Prayer
Oct. 20th – Holy Eucharist
Oct. 27th – Holy Eucharist
Prelude
Announcements
Opening Hymn – Hymnal 400, verses 1-4
Opening Acclamation
Celebrant Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
People Glory to God for ever and ever.
Collect for Purity
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.
Gloria in excelsis – Hymnal S280
Celebrant God be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Collect of the Day
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Hebrew Scriptures
A reading from the book of First Kings.
God said to Elijah the prophet, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people
People Thanks be to God.
The Psalm – Psalm 131
O Lord, I am not proud;*
I have no haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters,*
Or with things that are too hard for me.
But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother’s breast;*
My soul is quieted within me.
O Israel, wait upon the Lord,*
From this time forth for evermore
The Christian Scriptures
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
For I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people
People Thanks be to God.
Gospel Hymn – “Good Soil”
Gospel Announcement
Celebrant God be with you!
People And also with you!
Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Gospel of the Lord
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Gospel Recession – “Good Soil”
Sermon
Prayers of the People – Form IV (found on page 388 of BCP)
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all the beloved creatures that you have entrusted to our care. May they, in their simplicity, know and feel your love.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Celebrant God our rock and refuge: keep us safe in your care and strengthen us with your grace, that we may pray to you faithfully and love one another boldly, following the example of Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives for ever and ever. Amen.
Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins to God.
All Together
God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.
Absolution
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of 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 Christ be always with you.
People And also with you.
Birthday and Anniversary Prayers
Offertory Sentence
Offertory Hymn – Hymnal 405
Presentation Hymn
Sung as the offering is brought forward. Please stand as you are able.
We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be.
All that we have is thine alone
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Eucharistic Prayer 1 – from EOW
| 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. |
It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, all-holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy. You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to fullness of life.
Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we say:
Sanctus – Hymnal S130
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace.
But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love.
Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory.
Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, 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.”
As supper was ending, Jesus 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 poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with [ ___________ and] all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise,
for ever and ever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Fraction Anthem
This is the true bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
Whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
The Gifts of God for the People of God. This is the Lord’s Table, not our own.
All are welcome to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Meditation Communion Hymn
Blessing of the Animals
All Together
Most high, omnipotent good Lord, you have made us and all living things. You are even more wonderful than what you have made. We thank you for giving us these pets who bring us joy. As you take care of us, so also we ask your help that we might take care of those who trust us to look after them. By doing this, we share in your own love for all creation. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant circulates through the congregation, blessing the animals individually.
Postcommunion Prayer
God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing – The Blessing of St. Clare of Asissi
Closing Hymn – Hymnal 400, verses 5-7
The Dismissal
Let us go forth into the world, bringing God’s healing love to the entire creation.
People Thanks be to God.
Postlude