
Streaming live at: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnshuntington https://www.youtube.com/@StJohnsEpiscopalWV/streams

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. Come and Grow in Love and community with St. John’s!
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.
HARMONY HOUSE LUNCH SCHEDULE
ON MONDAYS, WE MEET IN FRONT OF HARMONY HOUSE ON 4TH AVENUE AT 10:50
3/24: TRINITY LEADS
3/30: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN WILL SERVE
AN INVITATION FROM ST. TIMOTHY-IN-THE-VALLEY
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON MONDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 6:30 P M FOR A SPECIAL SERVICE AS WE OBSERVE THE FEAST OF OSCAR ROMEO THIS MEANINGFUL SERVICE WILL INCLUDE A SERMON BY CANON JORDAN TRUMBLE AND A SPECIAL EUCHARISTIC LITURGY ALL ARE WELCOME AS WE GATHER IN FAITH AND REFLECTION. ST. TIMOTHY-IN-THE-VALLEY EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 3434 TEAYS VALLEY ROAD, HURRICANE, WV 25526. YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK’S EUPDATE.
BOOK STUDY
ON FIVE WEDNESDAY EVENINGS DURING LENT, WE ARE DISCUSSING “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.
First Lesson: Rachael Peckham
Psalm: David Castleberry
Epistle: Susan Tusing
Prayers of the People: Susan Tusing
Verger: Chuck Andrus
Chalice: Jerry Coleman
Greeters: Barbara Cottrill & Susan Dean
Altar Guild: Team 3
First Lesson: Natasha Vance
Psalm: David Castleberry
Epistle: Jerry Coleman
Prayers of the People: Jerry Coleman
Verger: Chuck Andrus
Chalice: Barbara Ladner
Greeters: Susan & John Hash
Altar Guild: Team 1
COFFEE
3/23: Mark Semanco
3/30: Sponsor needed
Sponsors needed for April
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.
Sunday Mornings, from 9 - 9:45 a.m. in the second floor library. We are reading and discussing the Evelyn Underhill book, Practical Mysticism.
Wednesday Evenings, from 6 – 7:15 p.m. in Tyler Hall. We are reading The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin.
You may also join this session via Zoom at 6:15
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.
Come, we that love the Lord
The Hymnal 1982; #392
The Penitential Order includes an acclamation and the confession of sin and absolution. It is commonly used to open the Liturgy on Sundays in Lent.
The people standing, the Celebrant says Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins; All His mercy endures for ever.
Thomas Cranmer introduced the Decalogue (Tens Words, or Ten Commandments) in the 1552 Prayer Book. The English translation of the Kyrie ”Lord, have mercy upon us” in the congregational response. Please kneel or stand as you are able.
Hear the commandments of God to his people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me.
You shall not make for yourself any idol.
You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not commit murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
Continued on page 6
You shall not be a false witness.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The Celebrant may read the following sentence
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14,16
The Deacon or Celebrant then says Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept. Minister and People
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.
The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says 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.
Please stand as you are able
The Hymnal 1982; S102
The Trisagion, which means ‘Thrice Holy’ in Greek, is repeated three times in succession. It is an ancient church hymn, first mentioned at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
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, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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 Exodus 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 Word of the Lord
All Thanks be to God.
1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I / seek you; * my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there / is no water.
2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your / holy place, * that I might behold your power / and your glory.
3 For your loving-kindness is better than life / itself; * my lips / shall give you praise.
4 So will I bless you as long as / I live * and lift up my / hands in your Name.
5 My soul is content, as with marrow and / fatness, * and my mouth praises you / with joyful lips,
6 When I remember you upon / my bed, * and meditate on you in / the night watches.
7 For you have been my / helper, * and under the shadow of your wings / I will rejoice.
8 My soul clings / to you; * your right / hand holds me fast.
The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twentythree thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. The Word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
Before thy throne, O God, we knell The Hymnal 1982; #575
The Holy Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Luke
All Glory to you, Lord Christ
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
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.
We pray for ourselves and particularly on behalf of others. In our prayers, we pray for the Universal Church, the nation and all who govern, the welfare of the world, the concerns of our community of faith, including those who are in need or suffer, and for the departed and those who mourn. We are reminded in prayer that we are part of a larger fellowship, the Church – the Body of Christ. We hope you will use these prayers as a part of your daily prayer life.
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. In our Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for Megan, Owen, Gabriel, Chuck, and all Clergy Spouses and Families, that they may not only support the work of Fr. Greg, Mtr. Klára, and all our Clergy, but may they also feel supported in all that they do.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Silence
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.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to you in prayer this day all men, women, and children who suffer because they have no shelter, those who sleep in our streets and public spaces, who have nowhere safe to lay their heads. Grant them warmth, safety, and caring neighbors to ease their burden.
Silence
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.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially Markai, who is hospitalized, and all those on our long term prayer list; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
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.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. 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)
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
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.”
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.
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.
O food to pilgrims given The Hymnal 1982; #309
The Service continues with the Post Communion Prayer on page 20
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
Look mercifully on this your family, Almighty God, that by your great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Take up your cross
The Hymnal 1982; #344
The priest dismisses the people, and the people respond Thanks be to God.
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.
Sunday Mornings from 9 - 9:45 a.m.
Book Study on Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill Held in the Second Floor Library
Wednesday Evenings from 6 – 7:15 p.m.
A light Supper of Soup and Bread followed by A Book Study on The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin Held in Tyler Hall You may also join via ZOOM at 6:15
Palm Sunday, April 13
8 & 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s
Maundy Thursday, April 17
Noon at Trinity Episcopal Church
7:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Good Friday, April 18
Noon at St. John’s Episcopal Church
7:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church
Holy Saturday, April 19
9:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church
Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church followed by the First Toast of Easter Reception in Tyler Hall
Easter Sunday, April 20
at St. John’s
More details to come soon
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