Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 3, 2023 9:00 a.m.
We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship. To learn more about the ministries we share in this place, you are invited to fill in one of the welcome cards found in the pew rack. Masks are available at all welcome tables, and the south transept (to the right) usually has room for those desiring physical distancing. We are glad you are here!
The Cathedral is equipped with a hearing loop for assisted listening via telecoil.
Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell Celebrant
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
Opening Voluntary Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707)
Choral Prelude on Gott der Vater wohn uns bei, BuxWV 190
Hymn 450 (omit * stanzas) Coronation
The Word of God
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 299
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant There is one Body and one Spirit;
People There is one hope in God’s call to us;
Celebrant One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People One God and Father of all.
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson Exodus 3:1-15
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 675 (stanzas 1, 3, and 5) Bourbon
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After the Gospel reading, the Deacon says The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Children’s Sermon
The Sermon The Rev. John Pitts, Assisting Priest
Presentation and Examination of the Candidates page 301
The Baptismal Covenant page 304
Prayers for the Candidates page 305
Thanksgiving over the Water page 306
The Baptisms page 307
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.
The People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Holy Communion
Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
At the Offertory
Anthem Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743)
Cantate Domino canticum novum, laus ejus in Ecclesia Sanctorum.
Laetetur Israel in eo, qui fecit eum, et filii Sion exultent in rege suo.
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing his praise in the company of his saints. Let Israel rejoice in him who made all; let the children of Zion praise God on high.
—Psalm 149:1, 2
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer A, page 361
Sanctus and Benedictus S 128
William Mathias (1934-1992)
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 362
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand and the Wine either by drinking from the cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.
At the Administration
Anthem Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625); harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Thou, who at thy first Eucharist didst pray that all thy church might be for ever one, grant us at every Eucharist to say with longing heart and soul, “Thy will be done.” O may we all one bread, one body be, through this blest sacrament of unity.
For all thy church, O Lord, we intercede; make thou our sad divisions soon to cease; draw us the nearer each to each, we plead, by drawing all to thee, O Prince of Peace; thus may we all one bread, one body be, through this blest sacrament of unity.
So, Lord, at length when sacraments shall cease, may we be one with all thy church above, one with thy saints in one unbroken peace, one with thy saints in one unbounded love; more blessed still, in peace and love to be one with the Trinity in Unity.
— William Harry Turton (1856-1938)Prayer after Communion page 365
The Blessing
Hymn 432
The Dismissal
Laudate Dominum
Deacon Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. People Thanks be to God.
Closing Voluntary
Praeludium d-moll BuxWV 140
Dieterich Buxtehude
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
The Old Testament Exodus 3:1-15 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are
standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’“ God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.
The Epistle Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Gospel Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Emily Scott Shepherd.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Alter are given to the glory of God and in celebration of the Baptism of Robert Hawkins Roland, by his family.
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral!
We are blessed by your presence. If you are new to the Cathedral, please fill out the WELCOME card in your pew and put it in the offering plate or give it to an usher.
Tours of the Cathedral are available every Sunday following the 11 a.m. service and on the third Sunday of each month after the 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. services. If you would like a tour, meet the Tour Guide by the eagle lectern.
Welcome Team members are in the Cathedral Bookstore after the service to visit with you and answer any questions you may have.
Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly. Please be advised that our services are livestreamed to Vimeo and Facebook. Your participation in the service serves as your consent to the broadcast of your image and voice and to the broadcast of the image and voice of your participating minor children.
Welcome
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Announcements
TODAY
Holy Baptism • We will have baptisms today during services at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. If you would like to learn more about baptism, or would like to arrange for yourself or a child to be baptized, please contact Baptism Coordinator Louise Langford at llangford@christchurchcathedral. org or 713-590-3305.
Labor Day Weekend Popsicle Event • Come cool off with your Cathedral family! Grab a popsicle in Reynolds Hall and enjoy some relief from the heat! Sunday, September 3, at 10 a.m.
Bible Studies • The Cathedral will offer several Bible studies this fall beginning September 5. Learn about your options and how to participate at www.christchurchcathedral.org/biblestudies
Sunday School Returns • Sunday School resumes meeting September 10. Each Sunday we gather together as a community and grow in our faith through teaching and discussion. Classes are offered for children and youth each Sunday from 10-11 a.m. and Latino ministries from 1-2:30 p.m. Learn more and register at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/sundayschool
It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit • This three part Dean’s Hour series runs through September and offers a look at the next chapter in the life of the Cathedral. Sundays at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
On Sept 10 we explore the calls of Abraham, Jesus, and Paul, asking how we might faithfully say “Yes” to God in this exciting time.
On Sept 17, we will thank our vestry for its work over the past fourteen months, reflect on the interim journey we’ve walked over the last year, and prepare ourselves for the arrival of Dean Nathaniel Katz.
On Sept. 24, we will get to know a little more about our next dean and also thank our search committee for bringing him to the Cathedral.
Becoming an Acolyte • Cathedral Youth, grades 7-12, can become actively involved in serving the church as acolytes and participate in Sunday services every few weeks. Learn all you need to know by attending a two-day training session. Upcoming dates are Saturdays Sept. 9 & 16 at 11 a.m. or Sundays Sept. 10 & 17 at 2:30 p.m. Contact the Rev. Ed Stein with questions at 713781-6406, or email: edward.stein1@att.net
Newcomer Party • The Welcome Council would like to invite you to our Newcomer Party, Tuesday, September 12, at 6 p.m.in the Bishop’s Courtyard. Whether you’ve just stepped through our doors or have been here a while but still feel new, this party is for you! Come connect with us and other friends who are ready to learn more about this phenomenal Cathedral community. Contact Minister for Community Life and Welcome, Elizabeth Cuevas, at ecuevas@christchurchcathedral.org for more details.
For more information about these and other events at the Cathedral, visit www.christchurchcathedral.org
After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332