The Last Sunday after the Epiphany Commemoration of Blessed Absalom Jones
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania February 14, 2021 10:00 A.M.
Gathering In Joy Prelude: “Simeon” from Weinachtlieder
Peter Cornelius Dave Mosteller, baritone solo
Opening Hymn: 137, O wondrous type! O vision fair (vv. 1-4)
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The Opening Acclamation BCP 355 Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen. Collect for Purity 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. The Gloria Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, 3
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. The Celebrant says to the people The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Let us pray. Collect of the Day Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Listening for God’s Word The First Reading - Isaiah 42:5-9 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 126
BCP 782
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. 3 Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 4
4 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed. 5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev. 6 Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy. 7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
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Gospel Hymn: Voices Found 164, The church is wherever God’s people are
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The Gospel – John 15:12-15 Before the Gospel the people respond: Glory to you, Lord Christ. Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." After the Gospel the people respond: Praise to you, Lord Christ. The Sermon
The Rev. Emily Richards
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. 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. 7
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. Prayers of the People for Epiphany
by The Standing Liturgical Commission’s Racial Justice Resources
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1 You who by the leading of a star, guided the Magi to the brightness of the Holy Child of Bethlehem, lead us to the light of revelation, that we may value and honor the varied gifts of all members of the Beloved Community. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who framed the brightness of the first light in creation, dispel the arrogance, animosity, and anger that shatter the unity of your holy Church. Fill your faithful people with the radiant light of truth. We especially pray for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Daniel, our Bishop, Silvestre, Bishop of Guatemala, Emily and Laura, our clergy, Sacramento and Juan, our Companion clergy in Guatemala and each one of us in our vocation and ministry. In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Anglican Church of Canada. In our companion Diocese of Guatemala, we pray for Mision Oquen, The Rev. Jorge Gómez. In our own diocese, we pray for Youth Ministry. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who delivered your people from the misery of bondage in slavery to the land of promise, set us free from enslavement to division, disunity, and distrust in our public life and labor. Illumine those in authority with the light of vision. We pray for those in public office throughout this land and for those of us who call them to responsibility and accountability, that together, we may hold a clear vision of justice and compassion. We pray for the healing of our divisions. Silence 8
Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who patterned the stars and called the sun into being, who appointed the moon and chartered the cosmos, pattern the hearts of people everywhere to see in each other the beauty of the universe and the splendor of creation, that divisions of race, class, gender, and ethnicity may be recreated into one common humanity. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who shower comfort and hope to the lowest, the lost, and the least, shower the light of compassion on the sick, the sorrowful, and the suffering, especially all those suffering from COVID. For all on our prayer list especially remembering Emily, Bill, Pat, Lynn, Mark, Benita, Tim, Debbie, Frances, Katie, Bob, Art, Doris, Warren, Kathy, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Kate, Ruth, and for all those we name now… Help us to be your compassion and hope in the world. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who welcome into the brilliant light of eternity those who have died, welcome those whose lives have been cut short by violence, warfare, and strife, those who have died from COVID and all we name now… Shine the light of hope. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. You who delight in the complexity and splendor of creation, help us to delight in the diversity of this earth, our island home. Inspire your people to care for all you have made. Silence Christ, be our light Shine in our hearts. The Celebrant offers this concluding prayer. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find us ever burning with the light of love, the spirit of truth, and the wellspring of hope. Amen.
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The Confession and Absolution
by The Standing Liturgical Commission’s Racial Justice Resources
The Celebrant says Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept. Almighty God, Source of all that is, Giver of every good gift: You create all people in your image and call us to love one another as you love us. We confess that we have failed to honor you in the great diversity of the human family. We have desired to live in freedom, while building walls between ourselves and others. We have longed to be known and accepted for who we are, while making judgements of others based on the color of skin, or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience. We have tried to love our neighbors individually while yet benefitting from systems that hold those same neighbors in oppression. Forgive us, Holy God. Give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people. Strengthen us for the work of reconciliation rooted in love. Restore us in your image, to be beloved community, united in our diversity, even as you are one with Christ and the Spirit, Holy and undivided Trinity, now and forever. Amen. The Celebrant continues 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. Acolyte Commissioning and Recognition The Peace Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.
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Celebrating Holy Communion Presentation Hymn: 135, Songs of thankfulness and praise (see on following page)
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The Great Thanksgiving
from Enriching Our Worship
Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Lift 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 our thanks and praise. Celebrant: We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God, source of life abundant. From before time you made ready the creation. Your Spirit moved over the deep and brought all things into being: sun, moon, and stars; earth, winds, and waters; and every living thing. You made us in your image, and taught us to walk in your ways. But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away; and yet, as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us. Time and again you called us to live in the fullness of your love. And so this day we join with Saints and Angels in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity, lifting our voices to magnify you as we say: 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. The Celebrant continues Glory and honor and praise to you, holy and living God. To deliver us from the power of sin and death and to reveal the riches of your grace, you looked with favor upon Mary, your willing servant, that she might conceive and bear a son, Jesus the holy child of God. Living among us, Jesus loved us. He broke bread with outcasts and sinners, healed the sick, and proclaimed good news to the poor. He yearned to draw all the world to himself yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love. Then, the time came for him to complete upon the cross the sacrifice of his life, and to be glorified by you. On the night before he died for us, Jesus was at table with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again, he gave thanks to you, gave it to them, and said: “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Celebrant and People
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We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; The Celebrant continues Now gathered at your table, O God of all creation, and remembering Christ, crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come, we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice. Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ. Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation, the Body of Christ given for the world you have made. In the fullness of time bring us, with Absalom, Philip and Peter and all your saints, from every tribe and language and people and nation, to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, The Lord’s Prayer
BCP 364
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. The Breaking of the Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread. A period of silence is kept. Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia. 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. 13
The Communion of the People Communion Music The Post-Communion Prayer during a Time of Separation Priest and people together Lord of the Feast, we thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.
Sending Out The Blessing Burying of the Alleluia Banner Closing Hymn: 599, Lift every voice and sing (on pages 15-16) Birthday & Anniversary Prayer BCP 830 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. Announcements The Dismissal The people respond: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Postlude
Opportunities for Prayer and Study in Lent Click on this link to learn more! stpetersglenside.org/lenten-resources
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Closing Hymn: Lift every voice and sing
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