8:45 A.M. and 11:15 A.M.

The Third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 6B

The Holy Eucharist in Social Distance for the Common Good

The Reverend Canon Lauren R. Holder, Celebrant

The Reverend Canon George M. Maxwell, Jr., Preacher

Grace and peace to you! We are the Body of Christ, connected spiritually and emotionally, and visually, even when we cannot gather together in person. Prepared in social distance for the common good, this liturgy honors the patterns of our tradition and is intended to facilitate our continued common prayer, as we share spiritual communion.

Voluntary

Allegro moderato e maestoso in C Major

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

The Welcome

THE WORD OF GOD

The Opening Hymn: 525

music: Aurelia, Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) words: Samuel John Stone (1839-1900)

The Opening Acclamation

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

All: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

The 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 in excelsis

S 280, Robert Powell

The Collect of the Day: Proper 6

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

Lector: A Reading from The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

We are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Lector: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

The Sequence: Hymn 589

music: Walden, Jane Manton Marshall (1924-2019) words: John Cawood (1775-1852), alt.

The Holy Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon: Canon Maxwell

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 Prayers of the People

We offer the concerns of our lives, with the congregation responding, “Hear our prayer.” Join us today and throughout the week in praying for all of those on our parish prayer list, found after “Parish Notices.”

Celebrant: God of faithfulness and compassion, we offer the concerns of our lives and the world as we pray, “God of mercy; hear our prayer.” Intercessor: We pray for the church throughout the world. Within the Anglican Communion of Churches, we pray today for The Church of Nigeria. Within the Episcopal Church, we pray for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; for the Diocese of Atlanta; and for Robert, our Bishop. Within this Cathedral parish, we pray for our ministry of the day, The Cathedral Thrift House Board & Volunteers. We pray for the newly baptized: Edwin Whitner Miller God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for those who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world. We pray for Joe, our President; for the Congress and the Courts; for Brian, our Governor; and for Keisha, our Mayor. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for justice and peace, for goodwill among nations, and for the well-being of all people. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for those who are in danger, sorrow, sickness, or any kind of trouble; and for those who minister to them. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for all those on our prayer list, including those with new or immediate concerns: Alex Mercer We offer our own prayers and intercessions. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We give you thanks for the many blessings of this life. We pray in thanksgiving for the birth of Emma Caroline Crabtree, daughter of Erin and Bruce Crabtree, IV and granddaughter of Sarah and Sean Murphy and of B.J. and Bruce Crabtree, III. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom. We pray for: Donald William Conrad, Sr. God of mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession

Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

All: 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 Absolution

Celebrant: 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

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All: And also with you.

The Parish Notices

Those for whom prayers have been requested:

For Immediate Needs: Alex Mercer Long Term Prayers: R. Huntley Allen, Penny Barnett, Edgar & Judith Beach, Perry Benton, Virginia Bicksler, Heather Clark, Sharon Crews, Lynne D’Huyvetter, Terry Dornbush, Sarah duBignon, Deborah Ellington, Dan Elson, Ruth Fuqua, Douglas Grey, Rebecca Harris, Jane Jones, Louise Kan, Lisa Krysiak, Jill Mahaffey, Carol McDonald, Kathy McLean, Glenn Miller, Ashley Minear, Royce Mitchell, Susan Myers, Charlie Neal, Linus Nickel, Marian Palmore, Beth Pitzer, Garry Pryor, Rowland Radford, Rubye & Wayne Reid, Agnes Elizabeth Robertson, Nora Robillard, Louis “Skip” Schueddig, Linda Stallcup, Sarah Szymke, Tommy Truesdale, Ron Wallace, Elleanor Wilson, Faye Van Winkle For Family & Friends: Lisa Bachman, Bettina Bass, Bella Bond, David Bond, Darrell Boyette, Pam Breedlove, Andrew Clark, Marie Corrigan, Ava Corroon, Marg Denny, Carleton Fuller, Patricia Plummer Glowatsky, Jean Hand, Cadel Ingraham, Lilliana Isola, Stephen Jones, Robin Kemp, Rita Lewis, Pete Livezey, Lauren Makhlouf, Pat Martin, Michelle Maxwell, Betsy Moore, Steven Norman, The Reynolds Family, Courtney Rosenthal, Juan Carlos Sandoval, James Sands, Paul Sturtz, Tina Susco, Yvonne Tate, Pierson Thames, Wayne Thurman, Olive Toy, Roger Traylor, Whit A. Wright, Karen Young, Hollis Youngner

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Offertory

At the time of the offertory, as the choir offers the gift of music in the Offertory Anthem, you may offer whatever you have to God. Each of us has something to offer, and every one of those offerings is accepted by God. In a few minutes, when the celebrant prays the Eucharistic Prayer, God blesses all those offerings, wherever they are today. If you would like to make a financial offering to the ministry of the Cathedral, you may do so by visiting: cathedralATL.org/contribute.

The Offertory Anthem

music: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Geistliches Lied words: Paul Flemming (1609-1640), transl. Dale Adelmann

Lass dich nur nichts nicht dauren Let nothing ever hold you mit Trauren, sei stille! in sorrow; be still. Wie Gott es fügt, As God desires it, so sei vergnügt mein Wille. so shall my will find contentment. Was willst du heute sorgen Why do you worry today auf morgen? Der Eine about tomorrow? The One who steht allem für, cares for all, der gibt auch dir das Deine. He will also give you what is yours. Sei nur in allem Handel In all of your doings, simply do ohn’ Wandel, steh’ feste! not waver; Stand firm! was Gott beschleusst, What God decides, das ist und heist das Beste. Amen! that is, and is known to be, what is best. Amen!

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer B, The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 367

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God 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.

For you are the source of light and life; you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

The Sanctus and Benedictus

S 129, Robert Powell

Celebrant: 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,

All: We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

Celebrant: 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 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 Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

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

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Communion

During these next moments of meditation, wherever you are, please receive whatever gifts God makes available to you, in whatever form God makes available to you. We share spiritual communion today.

The Meditation Music

music: Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), adapt. Alan Lewis, Almighty God, your Word is cast like seed upon the ground words: John Cawood (1775-1852), alt.

Almighty God, your word is cast like seed upon the ground, Now let the dew of heav’n descent and righteous fruits abound. Let not our selfishness and hate this holy seed remove, But give it root in every place to bring forth fruits of love. Let not the world’s deceitful cares the rising plants destroy, But let it yield a hundred-fold the fruits of peace and joy.

The Postcommunion Prayer

Celebrant: Let us pray.

All: Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing

The Closing Hymn: 534

music: Purpose, Martin Fallas Shaw (1875-1958) words: Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)

The Dismissal

Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Voluntary

Toccata XIV in G major

Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667)

All music is reprinted by permission under ONE LICENSE (license number A-717455). Music from The Hymnal 1982 © Church Publishing, Inc., unless noted otherwise below: Hymn 534 music by permission of Oxford University Press. Hymn 589 music © 1983 Jane M. Marshall. Hymn S-129 © Church Pension Fund. Hymn S-280 © Church Pension Fund.