Come 4th Sunday!
Third Sunday after Epiphany St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania January 22, 2023 10:00 A.M.
About Come 4th Sunday
Come 4th Sunday. It’s a time when we come forth in new ways to celebrate being the Body of Christ.
Children come forth to read Scripture and lead prayer, and to get a better look at what’s going on.
Families come forth to take on new roles. New members come forth for a blessing.
We all come forth to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and all we go forth as his disciples –with God’s help.
The Scripture translations are from the resource God’sWord,myVoice,by Lyn Zill Briggs, ChurchPublishing:2015.They are written in a way that is easy for young readers to proclaim and understand.
Our opening prayers are from the supplemental liturgical materials in Enriching Our Worship 1.
Our Eucharistic Prayer is the Alternative Great Thanksgiving For Use With Children B from the New Zealand Prayer Book.
Our choir will lead us in songs that are simple to sing but full of meaning.
And you can even color the front page of the leaflet. Crayons are available in the basket in the narthex. All ages welcome.
Overall, this is a great opportunity to ask yourself, how can I come forth to serve Jesus in new ways this year?
Try our new soft space for families with infants and toddlers The new beige rug at the front of church marks our new "soft space" for families with young children. The soft space is a place for infants through pre-school-aged children and their families to get a closer look at the action of the liturgy while engaging with soft toys, soft activities like coloring, and the use of soft voices all around. Wiggles are welcome, and there's also easy access to side aisles if parents need a direct route to calming areas and bathrooms in the back vestibule of the church. As always, families are welcome to sit where they feel most comfortable. The hope is that this new space will offer a welcoming option that allows for crawling, movement, and engagement without being separated from the action of the liturgy. Let us know how it works. We'll pilot it through the winter and spring, and assess how well it works.
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Gathering in Joy
Prelude: Prelude in Classic Style Gordon Young
Opening Hymn: WOV 752, Here I Am, Lord
The Opening Acclamation EOW 1
Presider: Blessed be our God People: For ever and ever. Amen.
ThePresidersaystothepeople Presider: God be with you. People: And also with you. Presider: Let us pray.
Collect of the Day Dear God, you graced the first apostles to help Jesus proclaim the Good News of your love And you especially blessed our patron Saint Peter with the gifts of following and leading. Help us to be a strong community built on the rock of our faith so that we may follow in Peter’s footsteps and serve you with all our heart. Amen.
Listening for God’s Word
A Reading from the Book of Isaiah [9:1-4]
There used to be a cloud over your heads. But no more. You are now living in a place of sunshine. You used to be walking in the dark, not knowing where you were going. But now there is a light in the darkness. God has given us much more joy than we ever expected. No longer do we feel like oxen pulling someone else’s wagon.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 27:1. 5-13
God’s light shines in my life and makes it worth living. I don’t need to be afraid of anything. I rely on God. No one scares me.
I have only one thing to ask of you, God: Can I live with you forever?
To see God’s beautiful face and to live with God would be awesome. God always keeps me safe when I know I’m in trouble. He takes me to a safe place that no one knows about; when the flood waters come, God picks me up and puts me high upon a rock. When my face is drooping, he lifts up my head in front of those who make fun of me.
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I have only one thing to ask of you, God: Can I live with you forever?
Because God does these things for me, I couldn’t be any happier.
I can’t stop singing and making music, which praises God. Listen to me God. And then answer me.
I heard you whisper to my heart, “Come find me.” And that’s what I’m doing, looking for you.
I have only one thing to ask of you, God: Can I live with you forever?
So don’t hide from me, God. Don’t turn the other way when I come. You have always helped me. So don’t leave me now, because I am counting on you.
I have only one thing to ask of you, God: Can I live with you forever?
The Epistle - A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians [1:10-18]
This is Paul speaking: I want you to do something for me, brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus – get along with each other! Pay attention to things that really matter, not little things that you disagree about. You should be moving in the same direction as each other. Some of Chloe’s people told me you’ve been arguing with each other, just like brothers and sisters do. Stop it.
Some of you say, “I’m with Paul,” or others say, “Well, Apollos is better than Paul, so I’m going with him. Or Cephas or Jesus.” Have we divided Jesus up? Did Paul die on a cross for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Now I’m glad I didn’t baptize any of you (except Crispus and Gaius), so that none of you can say, “Ha-ha, I was baptized by Paul and you weren’t.”
Oh yeah, I also baptized Stephanas’s household. But I don’t think I baptized anyone else. Jesus didn’t send me out to do baptisms but to tell people the Good News. Not so they could be blown away by my fancy words, or thinking, and take power away from what God has done in Jesus. God’s message about the cross and Jesus just sounds stupid to those who don’t get it, but to those of us who hold on to the cross and Jesus, it is God’s awesome power.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Hymn: WOV 612, Halle, Halle, Hallelujah
The Gospel – Matthew [4:12-23]
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you, Lord Christ.
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Jesus heard that his cousin John had been arrested. He left his hometown Nazareth and moved to Capernaum by the sea, just like the prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would. Jesus used to go around sometimes and say. “You’d better change your ways, because God’s kingdom is closer to you than you know.” He was walking on the seashore one day and he saw two fishermen throwing their nets into the sea. They were brothers, named Peter and Andrew. Jesus said to them, “If you come follow me, I’ll show you how to gather people instead of fish. And they did! They dropped their fishing nets right then and there and followed Jesus. Then they saw two fishermen who were mending their nets (because they got torn all the time). These brothers were named James and John, and their father was named Zebedee. Jesus issued the same challenge to them, and they dropped their nets, left their father, and followed Jesus, too.
Jesus walked all around Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and telling about God’s goodness and how to live God’s way, and curing people of all kinds of sickness.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Nicene Creed BCP 358
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.
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The Sermon The Rev. Barbara Ballenger
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
Reader: Our response for the Prayers of the People is: Help us to love with your love.
Dear Lord, hear our prayer. We pray for people everywhere: All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for our community, country and world. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for all who gather as your Church. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for the earth and all your good gifts. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for all who are suffering from storms, floods, and fires. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for those who are sick or lonely, and need kindness and care. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for those who need your saving grace. All: Help us to love with your love.
We pray for the needs deep within our hearts. We pray for all who have died and all who miss them.
Dear Lord, hear our prayer. And bless your people everywhere.
Confession of Sin EOW 1
Presider: Let us confess our sins to God.
God of all mercy, We confess that we have sinned against you, Opposing your will in our lives. We have denied the goodness in each other,
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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.
Presider: 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
Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.
Celebrating Holy Communion
Presentation Hymn: WOV 784, You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore
The Great Thanksgiving, New Zealand Prayer Book
Presider: The Lord is here. People: God’s Spirit is with us. Presider: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to offer thanks and praise.
Presider: God, you made us, and the world and everything in it. All the good we see comes from you. You have always loved us but people have not always loved you. You sent Jesus to show us how to live and to bring us back to you again. He died for us on the cross so that through your Spirit we can all be your people.
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Offertory Anthem: Draw Us In the Spirit’s Tether Harold Friedell St. Peter’s Choir
And so with thanks we praise you saying
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Presider: We are here because on the night before he died Jesus shared a meal with his friends. There he took some bread and gave thanks to you, God. He broke it into pieces, and gave it to them. “This is my body,” he said, “Do this, and know that I am with you.”
Later, he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to you. He shared it with them, and said “This is my blood, which brings new life. Do this, and know that I am with you.”
And so, remembering Jesus, who died, was raised to new life by you, and is alive forever, we are glad to share that life and live in him,
And proclaim the mystery of our faith Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come in glory.
Presider: Send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and wine can be for us the body and blood of Jesus, and through this food give us strength to live as your people.
Help us to care for your world and for each other in the way that Jesus showed us. Until he comes again, with all your people in every time and every land we worship you in songs of everlasting praise.
Blessing, honour and glory be yours, Here and everywhere, Now and forever. Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
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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.
The Breaking of the Bread
ThePresiderbreakstheconsecratedbread.Aperiodofsilenceiskept.
Presider: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia. Presider: The Gifts of God for the People of God.
The Communion of the People
364
Communion Music: Meditation on Finlandia Arr. Franklin Ritter
The Post-Communion Prayer Presiderandpeopletogether
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.
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BCP
Sending Out
The Blessing
Litany of Welcome
Priest Dear people of God, I invite your prayers for the saving presence of Jesus in this world, Assembly Christ is risen!
Priest In this Church, Assembly Christ is risen!
Priest In this community, Assembly Christ is risen!
Priest In the hearts of all faithful people, Assembly Christ is risen!
Priest We pray especially today in thanksgiving as we welcome Bryan and Douglas Pneuma, and Addie Johnson into the body of Christ in this place.
Priest Do you desire to join St. Peter’s Church?
NewMembers I (we) do.
Assembly We welcome you with open hearts.
Priest We welcome you and pledge to be a community for you.
Assembly We offer you our gifts, our care and concern, our hope and our faith, our brokenness and frailty.
Priest We welcome you, trusting in Christ because we know our imperfections all too well.
Assembly We will rejoice together, mourn together, learn together, grow together, take risks together, make mistakes together and forgive one another.
Priest We welcome the gifts and needs that you bring, and rejoice that you make us stronger and more complete in Christ.
Assembly Thanks be to God!
Priest We welcome you knowing that you will change who we are.
Assembly Thanks be to God.
Priest May God bless our new life together, and lead us in new pathways, in the hallowed name of God, we pray.
Assembly AMEN.
Prayer for People in Monastic Life
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Birthday & Anniversary Prayer
O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace; and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Additional Announcements:
Next Sunday our Annual Meeting is after the service and will include lunch in the Parish Hall. Please plan to attend and cast your vote! Our nominees for Vestry are Meredith Flaherty, Amy Neske, and Douglas Pneuma.
The Closing Hymn: LEVAS 221, This Little Light of Mine
The Dismissal
Presider: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia! People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
Postlude: Rondeau from Sinfonies De Fanfares
Jean Joseph Mouret Worship Ministers
Presider & Preacher: TheRev.BarbaraBallenger
Acolyte: SebastienGuillotin,HarperMoore,JerryMoore Lectors: HenryBennecoff,KatieMonserrat,GraysonTorpey Intercessor: LanaFabijonas Counter: JeanneRobson Eucharistic Minister: JeannéHannum,AudreyKipphut, AmyMichener-Wall Ushers: BillBacon,JohnSanford VestrySteward:DavidKipphut Altar Guild: DonnaKulp Fellowship: Wendy&BobHartung Organist: KathyFlaherty Choir Director: TimFlaherty Tech Team: MikeLevin,PJLinke,JamesMoore
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BCP 830
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ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 654 N. Easton Road Glenside, PA 19038-4310 (215) 887-1765
E-mail: stpeter654@gmail.com Website: www.stpetersglenside.org
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