Service Leaflet - November 1, 2020 (Homeless Requiem)

Requiem Eucharist For Persons Who Have Died while Homeless in the Past Year

7:00 p.m.

The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler,

Celebrant Rebecca “Bec” Cranford, Preacher

The Voluntary

There is a Happy Land from Sacred Sounds (1977)

George Shearing (1919-2011)

THE WORD OF GOD

The Opening Hymn: 657

music: Hyfrydol, Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887) words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

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 Collects

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray. Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: accept our prayers on behalf of your children who have died while homeless and grant them an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, now and forever. Amen.

The Lesson: Revelation 7:9-17

Lector: A Reading from The Revelation to John.

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? “I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows. “ Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Lector: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 23

Anglican chant: C. Hylton Stewart BCP, p. 476

The Lord is my shepherd; * therefore can I lack nothing.

He shall feed me in a green pasture, * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

He shall convert my soul, * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; * thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

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

All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon: Rebecca “Bec” Cranford

The Prayers of the People

Celebrant: In hope, we pray to you, O Lord, saying “God of mercy and justice, hear our prayer.” Intercessor: We pray for all people who do not have adequate shelter in which to live and raise their families, and for those who have no shelter at all. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for those who are sick because they do not have access to safe, sanitary, and affordable housing. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for those who have been incarcerated and for the communities who welcome them upon release. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray that those who live in safe, secure, and comfortable shelter will see their homes with humble gratitude and be inspired to improve access for all people. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for those agencies, ministries, and individuals who are working to relieve the conditions of poverty and homelessness in this city. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray, O Lord, for the courage to strive for justice and peace among all people, and for the grace to respect the dignity of every human being. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray that we may learn to serve you by working together, on behalf of your children who are in need. May the work we do be an expression of our faith and a witness to the love you have for all people. God of mercy and justice, All: Hear our prayer. Celebrant: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of all humankind: Grant that we may share the divine life of the one who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Peace

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

All greet one another in the name of the Lord.

The Announcements and the Blessing of the Service Providers

THE HOLY COMMUNION

At the time of the Offertory, 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.

The Offertory

During the Offertory Anthem, light a candle or hold a hand over your heart in remembrance of those who have died while homeless in the past year.

The Offertory Anthem

music & words: Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah Sung by Atlanta Homeward Choir, Directed by Donal Noonan.

The Great Thanksgiving

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 our thanks and praise.

The Celebrant continues

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:

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one 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.”

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 your mercy, remember your children departed this life but alive to you in your Son Jesus Christ. Remember...

[here the names of the dead are read prayerfully, with the tolling of the bells].

In the fullness of time bring us, with these your servants and with 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.

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 of the People

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: Hymn 593

music & words: Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993), arr. by Arnold Sevier, Precious Lord Sung by the Schola of the Cathedral of St Philip, directed by Dale Adelmann

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light, Take my hand, Lord, and lead me home. When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near, When my life is almost gone, At the river, Lord, I stand, Guide my feet and hold my hand: Take my hand, Lord, and lead me home.

The Postcommunion Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing

The Closing Hymn: 599

music: Lift Every Voice, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) words: James Weldon Johnson (1871-1930)

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies; let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us; sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on, till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died; yet, with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which our parents sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered; we have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; thou who hast by thy might led us into the light; keep us for ever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee; lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; shadowed beneath thy hand may we for ever stand, true to our God, true to our native land.

The Dismissal

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

All: Thanks be to God.

The Voluntary

Toccata on “How Firm a Foundation”

Claude Murphree (1906-1958)

Participants in this Service

Celebrant: The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler, Dean, The Cathedral of St. Philip Preacher: Rebecca “Bec” Cranford, Gateway Center Lectors: Kimberly Parker (Central Outreach and Advocacy Center) Intercessor: Jen Monahan (Church of The Common Ground) Necrology readers: Voices from across Atlanta

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 599 words & music © 1921 Edward B. Marks Music Co.