The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania September 12, 2021 10:00 A.M.

Welcome to St. Peter’s! The Vestry has affirmed that until further notice, masks are required to be worn before, during, and after services held in the church. Masks will be provided to all those who need one. For those who do not wish to wear a mask, we encourage you to continue to view the services online. Please continue to socially distance with your neighbors before, during and after worship. The restrooms in the chapel hallway are available for use during the service. Thank you.

Gathering In Joy Prelude: Renaissance

Raymond Lowther St. Peter’s Bell Choir

Opening Hymn: 8, Morning has broken

The Opening Acclamation Celebrant: People: Celebrant: People: Celebrant: People:

Jesus said, Let the little children come to me. We come, each of us a child of God. Jesus said, Do not stop them. We come to remove obstacles before children. Jesus said, It is to such as these that the reign of God belongs. We come to recognize that each child is already part of God’s realm. 3

Celebrant: Jesus said, Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the reign of God as a little child will never enter it. People: We come to worship with the trust and vulnerability and dependence of a child. Celebrant: Come, let us worship the living God. Prayer of the Day Almighty and everlasting God, you have blessed us with the care and nurture of children and called us all, young and old alike, to be a blessing in our world. In Christ who came to bring good news to the poor and welcomed the children, you have revealed your intention for justice and compassion. Prosper now the work of our hands that we may faithfully serve you by lifting up the next generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Listening for God’s Word The First Reading - Genesis 1:1-13, 29-31 In the beginning, God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared. God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning Day One. God spoke: “Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!” God made sky. He separated the water under sky from the water above sky. And there it was: he named sky the Heavens; It was evening, it was morning - Day Two. God spoke: “Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!” And there it was. God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good. God spoke: “Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, Every sort of fruit-bearing tree.” And there it was. Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning - Day Three. . . Then God said, “I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.” And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning - Day Six. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 139:1-5; 12-17 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.

How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

BCP 794

Gospel Hymn: 602, Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love

The Gospel Reading - Mark 10:13-16 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark Response: Glory to you, Lord Christ. The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. The Gospel of the Lord. Response: Praise to you, Lord Christ. The Sermon

The Rev. Emily Richards

Affirmation of Faith Celebrant: Let us declare our faith in God: People: We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayers of the People With all our hearts, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing.” For the body of Christ, that we welcome every child as you welcomed children, and that we bring good news to all, we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing. For our nation and our leaders, give them wisdom and courage to change what is wrong and see that until all children are well, none of us is well, we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing. In a world where children hunger and starve, where they get sick, where they suffer from natural disasters, help us protect and defend them, we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing. For all those who are sick and suffering, remembering all on our parish prayer list, especially, Amy, Carrie, Emily, Donald, Lillian, Pat, Rhonda, Karen, Missy, Debbie, Frances, Katie, Bob, Art, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Ruth, all those suffering from COVID-19, and all those we name now (PAUSE), we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing. On this day as we begin a new program year, may our own children come to know more deeply God’s love for them, we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing.

For all who have died, especially all those who died from Covid, and all those we name now…(PAUSE)… we pray to the Lord, Lord, bless us that we may be a blessing. The priest concludes with a prayer. Lord Jesus, you welcomed children into your midst with joy and spoke sternly to those who wanted to send them away. Help us to take time with children for your sake and not to resent their presence but make them feel welcome and loved in this community and throughout our neighborhoods; for the sake of your holy name. Amen. Honoring Helen Collins The Peace Please remain in your pews for this exchange. Greet one another with a wave and words of peace. Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.

Celebrating Holy Communion Presentation Hymn: 654, Day by day (sing 3 times)

The Great Thanksgiving Prayer B BCP 367 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: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: 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. 9

The Celebrant continues 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 gave 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, Celebrant and People We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; The Celebrant continues 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 gifts 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 Peter and Philip 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 forever. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Lord’s Prayer

BCP 364

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 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. 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 Back to School Blessings Closing Hymn: 412, Earth and all stars (vv. 1, 5, & 6; see page 14) 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  Masking, social distancing and all other Covid protocols will remain in place. Due to the rise of the Delta variant, the vestry will review our guidelines in September and make necessary adjustments.  Worship Outdoors: Begins TODAY. In September and October we will worship outdoors on the driveway and Rectory lawn, weather permitting. Chairs will be set up on the driveway. Feel free to bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and let’s enjoy worship and fellowship together. Masks and social distancing will be required. These services will continue to be live-streamed.  Office Hours: The office will have limited hours next week as Patty is on vacation. Emily will be in the office Tuesday - Thursday morning only. If you have a pastoral need, please contact Emily on her cell at 215-385-6888.  Starting September 19, there will be pick-up choir rehearsals at 9:00 a.m. We will do warm-ups, hymn singing, and also learn a choral anthem to be sung during communion. Music will be distributed a week prior during church service and/or online link. Open to all congregation members and all voice parts. Please come and join us!  Support for Afghan Refugees: Bethany Christian Services is one of our local agencies who will be helping to resettle Afghans in our area. Through the Community Partnerships Cmtee. we will be sending them a gift supporting 3 refugee families. If you would like to contribute to this gift, please send your donation to St. Peter’s with Afghan Refugee Support in the memo line of your check or use our secure online giving portal on our website.  Calling All Teens: If you or your teenagers would like to help Helen with the fun events after church, Laurel with Godly Play, or Emily with our outdoor worship this fall, we'd love to have you! We welcome your gifts. Please get in touch with one of us.

 Save the Date: Sept. 13: Evening prayer returns at 5:30 PM on Mondays & Fridays. Sept. 19: Godly Play and Pick Up Choir begins! Alex Stevers-Radtke Eagle Scout recognition Sept. 26: UTO Ingathering Oct. 3: St. Francis Celebration & Blessing of the Animals Oct. 23: Fall Rummage Sale The Dismissal Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God Worship Ministers Acolyte: Jamie Gill Lector: Stephanie Gill Intercessor: Joani Harkinson Usher: Peter Gottemoller Musicians: Kathy, Meredith & Tim Flaherty All copyright licensing for music during this service through: OneLicense.net License #A-719834 and LicenSing License # 620603.

Closing Hymn: 412, Earth and all stars