MARCH 9, 2025 @ 10:30 A.M. St. John’s Episcopal Church Huntington, WV Streaming live at: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnshuntington https://www.youtube.com/@StJohnsEpiscopalWV/streams
Join us at St. John’s for Eucharist on Sundays at 8 & 10:30, and Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 10:30 Beginning in Lent, Adult Forum will meet Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. and Lenten Study, Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. Come and Grow in Love and community with St. John’s!
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT FORUM
SUNDAY MORNINGS FROM 9:00 – 9:45 A.M. WE ARE STUDYING “PRACTICAL MYSTICISM” BY EVELYN UNDERHILL. YOU CAN FIND IT WHEREVER BOOKS OR EBOOKS ARE SOLD. IF YOU NEED TO BORROW A COPY, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
ON MONDAYS, WE MEET IN FRONT OF HARMONY HOUSE ON 4TH AVENUE AT 10:50.
3/10: TRINITY LEADS
3/17: ST. JOHN’S LEADS
3/24: TRINITY LEADS
ON FIVE WEDNESDAY EVENINGS DURING LENT WE WILL DISCUSS “THE FIRE NEXT TIME” BY JAMES BALDWIN. WE WILL MEET IN TYLER HALL AT 6:00 P.M. FOR A LIGHT SUPPER OF SOUP AND BREAD. IF YOU WISH TO JOIN VIRTUALLY, WE WILL BEGIN THE HYBRID MEETING ON ZOOM AT 6:15. YOU CAN JOIN BY SCANNING THE QR CODE HERE OR USING THE LINK IN YOUR WEEKLY EUPDATE.
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US IN TYLER HALL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR 10:30 SERVICE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 16 WE WILL DISCUSS HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA WITH LOCAL HOUSING ADVOCATES FROM AGENCIES WHO WORK TO IDENTIFY NEEDS (AND SOLUTIONS!) FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS
First Lesson: Natasha Vance
Psalm: David Castleberry
Epistle: Tim Balch
Prayers of the People: Tim Balch
Verger: Chuck Andrus
Chalice: TBD
Greeters: Mary Beth & Nick Reynolds
Altar Guild: Team 1
First Lesson: David Castleberry
Psalm: David Castleberry
Epistle: Debra Coleman
Prayers of the People: Debra Coleman
Verger: Chuck Andrus
Chalice: Emeritus Webb
Greeters: Carmen Snook & Joe Hoffer
Altar Guild: Team 2
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED
Coffee Hours Hosts/Sponsors are needed for March & April.
CRIDLIN FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
MARCH GOAL
48 boxes of Hamburger Helper
WHO WE ARE St. John’s is an open and affirming community of faith and YOU are welcome here – just as you are. Adults, families, widows and widowers, retired folks, partners, those in transition, empty-nesters, divorced, single parents, questioning teens and wiggly children are all valued members of our community.
Everything you will need for this service is in your worship leaflet. For the first-time visitor, liturgy may be exhilarating or confusing. In this service, people stand, sit, and kneel. You will hear sung and spoken responses, and other participatory elements. Remember that we are all here to worship and learn – and there is no wrong way! And we love having children in our service. Don’t worry about any noise or activity. We want your children to feel at home here too. We offer a Children’s Time in Tyler Hall if you prefer. There, they will hear biblical teachings and participate in activities geared toward their age level.
Restrooms can be found downstairs just outside Tyler Hall. To take the stairs, go out the double doors at the rear of the Sanctuary, take the stairwell to the right to the men’s room and the stairwell to the left to the women’s room. To take the elevator, exit the Sanctuary by the side door to the parking lot and follow the veranda around to the glass door to the elevator lobby. Go to level B. You’ll turn left, go through Tyler Hall, and into the restroom hallways.
We invite you to join us following the service this and every Sunday for coffee hour in Tyler Hall. We hope you will come for coffee and goodies but stay for the loving welcome you will find in community at St. John’s.
On Sunday, March 16th, we will gather in Tyler Hall following our 10:30 Service to learn more about homelessness in Huntington and how we can each advocate for the unhoused in our community. Advocates from local agencies such as Harmony House and the Huntington City Mission, as well as some member of our Huntington City Council will join us.
As most of us know, St. John’s (and the other Episcopal Parishes in Huntington) partner with Harmony House each week to serve lunch to our unhouse neighbors…but there is more to do.
Homelessness is due to many factors and this session will help us understand the resources and funding sources available to help. We will learn where advocacy is most needed and what each of us can do to help.
Mark your calendars for our next St. John’s Instructed Eucharist on Sunday, April 27th
Last year, we concluded our Adult Formation Series, The Anglican Way, with an instructed Eucharist. Your Vestry, at their Winter Retreat, suggest that we offer another opportunity for parishioners and inquirers to learn more about our Liturgy – but this time, on a Sunday morning. We hope you will join us on the Second Sunday of Easter for this instructed worship experience.
Watch your weekly eUpdates and bulletins for additional information
PLEASE NOTE: This service begins with the Prelude. The ringing of the bell signals the beginning of the Liturgy. We begin with a procession while singing our Opening Hymn. Additional announcements regarding our Parish Life will follow Take5
Worship lies at the heart of the Christian life. It is in worship that we express our theology and define our identity. It is through encountering God within worship and prayer that we are formed and transformed as the people of God.
The people’s responses are in bold. This booklet contains everything you will need to participate in this service.
The bell rings to signal the beginning of our liturgy
Please stand as you are able.
THE GREAT LITANY
Enriching Our Worship I; p 46 I.
Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,
Holy and Mighty, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
Holy Immortal One, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy on us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us. II.
From all evil and mischief; from pride, vanity and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice; and from all evil intent,
From sloth, worldliness and love of money; from hardness of heart and contempt for your word and your laws, Savior deliver us.
From sins of body and mind; from deceits of the world, flesh and the devil, Savior deliver us.
From famine and disaster; from violence, murder, and dying unprepared, Savior deliver us.
In all times of sorrow; in all times of joy; in the hour of our death and at the day of judgment, Savior deliver us.
By the mystery of your holy incarnation; by your birth, childhood and obedience; by your baptism, fasting and temptation, Savior deliver us.
By your ministry in word and work; by your mighty acts of power; by the preaching of your reign, Savior deliver us.
By your agony and trial; by your cross and passion; by your precious death and burial, Savior deliver us.
By your mighty resurrection; by your glorious ascension; and by your sending of the Holy Spirit, Savior deliver us.
Hear our prayers, O Christ our God.
Govern and direct your holy Church; fill it with love and truth; and grant it that unity which is your will. Hear us, O Christ.
Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world, and to make disciples of all the nations. Hear us, O Christ.
Enlighten your bishops, priests and deacons (especially Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Matthew, our Diocesan Bishop, Greg, our Priest, and Klára, our Priest) with knowledge and understanding, that by their teaching and their lives they may proclaim your word. Hear us, O Christ.
Give your people grace to witness to your word and bring forth the fruit of your Spirit. Hear us, O Christ.
Grant insight to those who lead in this Diocese and Parish that they may be faithful stewards and wise leaders. Hear us, O Christ.
Bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived. Hear us, O Christ.
Strengthen those who stand; comfort and help the fainthearted; raise up the fallen; and finally beat down Satan under our feet. Hear us, O Christ.
Guide the leaders of the nations into the ways of peace and justice. Hear us, O Christ.
Give your wisdom and strength to Donald, the President of the United States, Patrick, the Governor of this state, (and Patrick, the Mayor of this city) that in all things they may do your will, for your glory and the common good. Hear us, O Christ.
Give to the Congress of the United States, the members of the President’s Cabinet, those who serve in our state legislature, and all others in authority the grace to walk always in the ways of truth. Hear us, O Christ.
Bless the justices of the Supreme Court and all those who administer the law, that they may act with integrity and do justice for all your people. Hear us, O Christ.
Give us the will to use the resources of the earth to your glory and for the good of all. Hear us, O Christ.
Bless and keep all your people, Hear us, O Christ.
The Great Litany continues on page 6.
Comfort and liberate the lonely, the bereaved (especially the Harrison family) and all those oppressed.
Keep in safety those who travel (especially ) and all who are in peril. Hear us, O Christ.
Heal the sick in body, mind or spirit (especially Markai, all those hospitalized, and all who are in our prayers), and provide for the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. Hear us, O Christ. Guard and protect all children who are in danger (especially in poverty and war). Hear us, O Christ.
Shower your compassion on prisoners, hostages and refugees, and all who are in trouble. Hear us, O Christ.
Forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and turn their hearts. Hear us, O Christ.
Hear us as we remember those who have died (especially Karry) and grant us with them a share in your eternal glory. Hear us, O Christ.
VI.
Give us true repentance; forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance and our deliberate sins; and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your word.
The Collect is the prayer appointed for each Sunday that “collects” or captures the theme of the day or season of the Church year. It summarized the attributes of God as revealed in the scriptures for the day.
The Celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you. All And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The people are seated.
The first lesson is typically from the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) which Jesus knew and from which he often referred or quoted. The second lesson is taken from the New Testament, and is typically from a letter (epistle) to the early Church, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Revelation to John.
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy
When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, you shall make this response before the LORD your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of th e fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me." You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house. The Word of the Lord All Thanks be to God.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the / Most High, * abides under the shadow of / the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my / stronghold, * my God in whom / I put my trust."
9 Because you have made the LORD your / refuge, * and the Most High your / habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen / to you, * neither shall any plague come / near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge o - / ver you, * to keep you / in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in / their hands, * lest you dash your foot / against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and / adder; * you shall trample the young lion and the serpent / under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I de - / liver him; * I will protect him, because / he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will / answer him; * I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him / and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satis - / fy him, * and show him / my salvation.
The Epistle: Romans 10:8b-13 A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans
"The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
THE SEQUENCE HYMN
Forty days and forty nights
The Hymnal 1982; #150
Holy Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Luke All Glory to you, Lord Christ
After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written,
'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, Lord Christ
THE SERMON The Rev. Gregory Pennington 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 peace of the Lord be always with you. All And also with you.
The people greet one another with a sign of God’s peace and then are seated.
THE OFFERTORY SENTENCE
The Officiant may say
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:1, 2:2)
OFFERTORY
Your offerings support the mission, ministry, and operations of St. John’s Episcopal Church. We now also accept debit & credit cards and electronic bank transfers online. You may scan the QR code to give or give via text at (833) 842-7451
Thank you for your generosity!
THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE
Doxology verse The Hymnal 1982; #143, v.5
This is Eucharistic Prayer C
(Expansive Language approved by the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church)
In the Great Thanksgiving, we do what Jesus himself asked us to do: thank God and recall all that God has done for us in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. The Great Thanksgiving, or Eucharistic Prayer is a prayer with four parts. Each of these four parts corresponds to a different action of Jesus at the Last Supper, where he took, blessed, broke, and gave bread and wine as sacraments of his body and blood. We begin the Great Thanksgiving with the Sursum corda, meaning “Lift up your hearts.”
THE S URSUM CORDA
Please stand as you are able
May God
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
God of all power, Source and Sustainer 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: shining light and enfolding dark; the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, 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 the capacity for memory, reason, and skill. You made us the stewards of your 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 eternal Word, born of your servant Mary, to fulfill your Law, opening 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, apostles, 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:
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.
On the night he was betrayed Jesus 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, Jesus 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 all 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 Christ’s death and resurrection as we await the day of his coming.
The Celebrant continues
Therefore, O God, we who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. Sanctify us also, and 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. God of our ancestors; Redeemer and Mother of Israel; 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.
Accept these prayers and praises, Almighty God, 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.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to 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 Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept. The Hymnal 1982; #S169
Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation
The Gifts of God for the People of God. and may add Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
Anyone who seeks God and a deeper life in Christ is welcome at the altar rail, and all baptized Christians are invited to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Please come forward to the altar rail and kneel or stand with an upturned palm to receive the host. (All bread at St. John’s is gluten-free and vegan.) To receive the wine, you may either drink from the chalice or intinct (dip) your host in the intinction chalice that is offered. If you prefer to receive a blessing instead, please indicate your choice by crossing your hands over your chest.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord Wonder, Love & Praise; #810
Loving God, We give you thanks For restoring us in your image And nourishing us with spiritual food In the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth
A people forgiven, healed, renewed; That we may proclaim your love to the world And continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Deacon or Celebrant says Bow down before the Lord. Please kneel or stand as you are able Grant, Almighty God, that your people may recognize their weakness and put their whole trust in your strength, so that they may rejoice for ever in the protection of your loving providence; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Now let us all with one accord
The Hymnal 1982; #147
The priest dismisses the people, and the people respond Thanks be to God. [Alleluia! Alleluia!]
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR PRESENCE WITH US TODAY HAS BEEN A BLESSING.
If you have seen or heard something this morning that speaks to you wherever you are on your spiritual journey, please share it with others this week.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you want to learn more about St. John’s or the Episcopal Church, call us at 304.525.9105 or see Fr. Greg, Vivian, our Parish Life Director, or any of our lay leaders following this service or at Coffee Hour downstairs in Tyler Hall.
The Rt. Rev. Matthew D. Cowden, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of WV
The Rev. R. Gregory Pennington, Rector • The Rev. Klára Kovács, Priest
Vivian Kost, Parish Life Director
Dr. David Castleberry, Music Director • Sara Lee, Organist
Vestry
Susan Tusing, Senior Warden • Jim Vassar, Junior Warden
Jerry Coleman, Clerk • Pat Hooten, Treasurer (non-voting)
Ryan Cameron Rachael Peckham
Barbara Becker Cottrill
Carrie-Meghan Quick-Blanco
Susan Dean Nathan Thomas
Pete Michael Emeritus Webb
Becky Wood
3000 Washington Blvd. Huntington, WV 25705
304.525.9105
www.stjohnshuntingtonwv.org www.facebook.com/stjohnshuntington
Inquiries: Parishlifedir@stjohnshuntingtonwv.org or Rector@stjohnshuntingtonwv.org
