SAINT MICHAEL
and
All Angels Episcopal Church
The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels
September 28, 2025
CELEBRATING OUR
9 AM TRADITIONAL Church
WELCOME
FROM THE RECTOR
The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata
We’re so glad you’ve joined us at Saint Michael today. We’d love to get to know you better, so please take a moment to fill out the welcome card, either physically or digitally, that can be found on this page or in the pew back in front of you. Our Welcome Team members are in the hallways today to help you with anything you need.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, and it’s the 80th Anniversary of our founding in 1945. It’s a wonderful day to celebrate who we are and who we are becoming! As we continue our fall series on “Serve,” hope you’re taking advantage of praying along with the clergy of Saint Michael through our Weekday Meditations. They’re a great gift, helping to center us on prayer each day, and they can be streamed anywhere you listen to podcasts. I also encourage you to join one of our wonderful Sunday classes that resume next week. To find out more about our ministry programs, please pick up a copy of the Sunday News or stop one of our wonderful greeters after this service.
As we prepare to worship together, I invite you to take a moment and center yourself on God’s presence. Worshiping, learning, and giving together help us grow closer to who God created us to be, and you’re part of that work. May God bless you today and every day, and I hope to see you again very soon!
CONNECT WITH US
Scan the QR Code to fill out the welcome card, sign up for emails, and register for Saint Michael 101. saintmichael.org/welcome
The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels
Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The service begins on page 355 of The Book of Common Prayer. Hymns may be found in the blue hymnal in the pew rack.
The Word of God
Prelude
Variations on Rustington
Welcome
Brenda Portman
Entering Procession (standing, sung by all) Hymn 618
“ Ye watchers and ye holy ones” Lasst uns erfreuen
The Opening Acclamation and Collect for Purity (standing)
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 (standing, sung by all)
“Glory to God”
The Collect of the Day (standing)
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Hymn S 280
Brenda Portman is an American organist and composer of organ and choral works. Many of her organ works— including today’s prelude—are the result of improvisations. Her studies in Dutch minimalist organ music are evident in the small melodic hymn tune fragments she uses as building blocks.
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Children ages three through eight are invited to meet a member of our ministry staff by the pulpit to be escorted to children’s chapel; they will return to the congregation following the Peace.
Chanted by the Choir to a psalm setting by Kellow J. Pye.
The Lesson (seated)
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Lector The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Psalm (seated) Psalm 103:19-22
The LORD has set his throne in heaven, * and his kingship has dominion over all. Bless the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding, * and hearken to the voice of his word. Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, * you ministers of his who do his will. Bless the LORD, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion; * bless the LORD, O my soul.
Sequence Hymn (standing, sung by all) Hymn 367, v.1
“Round the Lord in glory seated” Rustington
The Gospel (standing) John 1:47-51
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon (seated) The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata
The Nicene Creed (standing)
All 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.
Parish
Prayers of the People
As of September 17, 2025
John Aldridge
Rami Angir
Kathryn Anschutz
Huntley Bateman
Don Baty
Larry Been
Barbara Hart Bell
Becky Bell
John Bergner
Shirley Blackman
Robert Bliss
Len Bourland
Dianna Bowen
Cosette “Coco” Cathey
Ben Cervin
Carolyn Cochran
Jean Coleman
Patti Cooper
Carlos Cuellar
Joel Forrest
Ray Franks
Jean Fuller
Forest Germany
Curtis Green
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: Form VI (standing)
Celebrant Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Lector In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work; People For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
Lector For Donald, our President; for Greg, our Governor; for Eric, our Mayor; and for this community, the nation, and the world;
People For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Lector For the just and proper use of your creation;
People For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
Lector For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
People For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
Lector For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
People For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
Lector For Sean, our Presiding Bishop; for George and Wayne, our Bishops; and for all bishops and other ministers;
People For all who serve God in his Church.
Lector For those on the Saint Michael prayer list, and ___, and for the special needs and concerns of this congreg ation. Hear us, Lord;
People For your mercy is great.
Lector We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life. We will exalt you, O God our King;
People And praise your Name for ever and ever.
Lector We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom. Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
People Who put their trust in you.
Jody Guenther
Josh Hight
Earle Hill
William Hinkley
Barbara Hornback
Jack Hubbell
Wade Hyde
Ada Lynn Jones
Lynne Kent
John Khoury
Danny Landeros
Velma Landry
Frank Lauinger
Kenneth Lindh
Maggie Little
Jenna Long
Tom Luce
Celia Smith McGrath
Sarah Margaret Mannes
Dimitri Margetis
Maisie Evans Marsau
David Martin
Michael Matamoros
Janie Meyer
Irene Moir
Mark Monfrey
Jim Morris
Jack Myers
Heather Nemec
Bob Paccone
Bob Paddock
Jerry Lee Price
Paul Rodgers
Gerry Roberts
Arden Showalter
Brad Smith
Chandler Wade Smith
Dianne Smith
Fadey Suleiman
Byrd Teague
John Wieden
Jack Winlow
Mary Wolf
Hannah Wood
Give online by scanning this QR code.
Celebrant Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin and Absolution (kneeling)
Celebrant Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
All 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 (standing)
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Announcements (please be seated)
The Holy Communion
Offertory Anthem (sung by the Saint Michael Choir)
The Proclamation: Gloria in excelsis Deo Karl Jenkins
Gloria in excelsis Deo Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Glory to God in the highest And on earth peace, good will towards men. - Traditional Latin
Presentation Hymn (standing, sung by all)
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”
Trumpets
“The Proclamation: Gloria in Excelsis Deo” is the opening movement of Gloria by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. Known for his eclectic style, Jenkins blends elements from classical, world, and contemporary music to create accessible and impactful works. Composed in 2010, Gloria sets the traditional Latin text alongside additional texts from various cultures, promoting unity and peace. This movement sets the tone with an energetic, rhythmic declaration of praise, reflecting Jenkins’s signature fusion of bold harmony and driving momentum. PraiseGod,fromwhomallblessings - flow;praise him,allcreatures - herebelow; - praisehimabove,
host:praiseFather,
All baptized persons of any age regardless of their denomination and tradition are welcome to share in the banquet of the Lord’s Supper.
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer B (standing)
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant L ift 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.
Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to g ive thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Michael and the archangels sing your praise, the angels fulfill your commands, the cherubim and seraphim continually proclaim your holiness; the whole company of heaven glorifies your name and rejoices to do your will.
Therefore we pray that our voices may be heard with theirs, for e ver praising you and singing:
Sanctus and Benedictus (sung by all) Hymn S 129 “Holy, holy, holy”
Please kneel as you are able.
At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.
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 g ave 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, All 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 g ifts 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 Saint Michael 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.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
All are invited to come forward to the Communion rail at the direction of our ushers. Stand or kneel at the rail as you are able, and receive the wafer in the palm of your outstretched hands. If you desire a gluten-free wafer, clasp your hands in front of you with your palms down. Receive the wine by drinking from the chalice as it is offered to you, or by retaining the wafer, to dip lightly into the chalice for yourself. If you are not receiving, you may cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing. If you are unable to physically come to the rail, please indicate to an usher that you would like to receive Communion at your seat.
“Der alte Drache brennt vor Neid” (“The ancient dragon burns with envy”) is the third movement from J. S. Bach’s cantata “Herr Gott dich loben alle wir” BWV 130 written for the feast of Saint Michael in 1724. This dazzling bass aria in C major, scored for three trumpets, timpani, and continuo is a rare and vivid battle scene. Rather than depict a historical fight, Bach paints an ongoing cosmic confrontation: St Michael and the heavenly host guarding the faithful against the devil’s schemes. The martial brilliance of the trumpets (especially the demanding semiquaver passages) suggests vigilance and strength, while the bass line’s rumbling may hint at the enemy’s menace. The result is a drama of spiritual warfare, where divine protection is steadfast, defiant, and blazing with baroque splendor.
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 (kneeling, sung by all) Hymn S 154
“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia”
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.
Communion Anthem (sung by the Saint Michael Choir)
Der alte Drache brennt vor Neid Johann Sebastian Bach
Der alte Drache brennt vor Neid
Und dichtet stets auf neues Leid, Dass er das kleine Häuflein trennet. Er tilgte gern, was Gottes ist, Bald braucht er List, Weil er nicht Rast noch Ruhe kennet.
The ancient dragon [Satan] burns with envy And constantly dreams up new suffering [for Christians], So that he might put asunder the tiny little band. He would gladly wipe away what is God’s; He would readily use cunning, Because he knows neither rest nor peace.
- Anonymous
The Post-Communion Prayer (kneeling, spoken by all)
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 (kneeling)
The Dismissal (standing)
Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Departing Procession (standing, sung by all) Hymn 432
“O praise ye the Lord! Praise him in the height” Laudate Dominum Verses 1-3 from the Hymnal, v. 4 below
4. O f praiseyetheLord!thanksgiv - ing - andsongto himbeoutpouredAllages - along: - For mf loveincreation, - For cresc. heaven - restored,For Allargando graceofsalva - tion, - O ff praiseyetheLord!Amen, - Amen. -
Postlude
Voluntary in D major William Boyce
William Boyce (1711–1779) was one of the leading English composers of the 18th century, celebrated for his church music, symphonies, and theatrical works. In this vibrant arrangement for trumpet and organ, Boyce’s stately and lyrical style comes to life with brilliant antiphonal exchanges between the trumpets, supported by the organ’s rich harmonic foundation. The music showcases Boyce’s gift for noble melody and clear structure, reflecting the grandeur of English Baroque tradition.
The foregoing text of the worship service contained in this order of worship is taken from the Book of Common Prayer 1979. The Book of Common Prayer alone is of authority in the worship of the Episcopal Church. This program is provided for convenience of use on this occasion.
Streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE # M - 402151.
SEPT 28
7:30 AM
Traditional
Saint Michael Chapel
9 AM
Traditional Church
Joy! A Children’s Service
sunday at Saint Michael
Saint Michael Chapel
10 AM Reception
Feast of Saint Michael Patio off Colgate
Education for Youth and Children
11 AM Contemporary Church
Traditional
Saint Michael Chapel
5:30 PM
Traditional
Saint Michael Chapel
TODAY: Children and Youth classes will meet in their designated rooms in the Education Building. (See below)
Feast Saint Michael
6th and 7th Grade | Youth Room A
8th Grade | Youth Center
9th – 12th Grade | Youth Room B
Children
Godly Play: PreK – 1st Grade (Ages 3 – 7)
PreK (Room 213) | Kindergarten (Room 211) | 1st Grade (Room 208)
One Family of Faith: 2nd – 3rd Grade | Room 209
Launch 45: 4th – 5th Grade | Room 207
NEXT WEEK: Adult Education Classes Resume, October 5.
Adults
Origins of Our Faith Room 201 | Led by the Rev. Robin Hinkle
Faith And Practice | Faith in an Age of Facts Room 203 | Led by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso
Class For Parents | Faith Begins at Home Room 212 | Led by Meghan Houk
Saint Michael 101 | Spotlight: Music Room 200 | Led by Tom Hammond-Davies
Nursery available in rooms 19 & 20 in school hallway. Enter through Chapel or Sunday Education Wing entrance. See map for details.