| The Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Bulletin
Prelude Celtic Fiddle and Guitar -- Jeff Trippe and Maggie Robinson
Welcome The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, Bishop of Maine
Opening Hymn: The Choir of St. Bartholomew's Church, Yarmouth
O Worship the King all glorious above (verses 1-3)
Opening Acclamation: The Rev. Sara Gavit
Presider: Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
People: Glory to God for ever and ever.
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:29-31
Song of Praise (Ms. Judy Angsten)
A Canticle from Julian of Norwich
(adapted from Julian of Norwich, The St. Helena Breviary)
You, O Christ, are the One:
the might and goodness of fatherhood.
You are the One: the wisdom and kindness of motherhood.
You, O Christ, are the One: the light and grace of all blessed love;
you are Trinity; you are Unity.
You, O Christ, are the One:
the high sovereign goodness of all manner of things.
You are the One who makes us to love;
you are the One who makes us to long.
You, O Christ, are the One: the endless fulfilling of all our true desires.
The Collect of the Day: The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh
Presider: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider: Let us pray. O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: Genesis 29:15-28 (Mr. Theodore Fletcher, Esq.)
Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed." So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" Laban said, "This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years." Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
Psalm 128 (Mr. Michael P. Gleason, SMSgt (Ret) USAF)
The St. Helena Psalter
1 Happy are they all who fear God, * and who follow in God's ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor; * happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, * your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4 They who fear God * shall thus indeed be blest.
5 May God bless you from Zion, * and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children's children; * may peace be upon Israel.
The Second Lesson: Romans 8:26-39 (Ms. Patty Colhoun)
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 -- The Rev. Mary Lee Wile
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Jesus put before the crowds another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
The Sermon: The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, Bishop of Maine
Affirmation of Faith
Iona Abbey Morning Prayer (The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh)
With the whole church:
We affirm
That we are made in God's image,
Befriended by Christ, empowered by the Spirit.
With people everywhere:
We affirm
God's goodness at the heart of humanity,
Planted more deeply than all this is wrong.
With all creation:
We celebrate
The miracle and wonder of life;
The unfolding purposes of God,
Forever at work in ourselves and in the world.
Prayers of the People Julia and Robert Walkling
Prayers for Racial Reconciliation and Justice, adapted.
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music 2018
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
God of love, we pray for your church:
For Michael, our Presiding Bishop;
Thomas, our bishop; and for all who seek you.
Equip us with compassion and love,
to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world.
God of love,
Receive our prayers for the church.
God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world:
for our leaders, that they would serve the common good.
Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred,
and unite the human family in bonds of love.
God of freedom,
Receive our prayers for the world.
God of justice, we pray for all of your creation entrusted to our care.
May we protect the earth and all its resources and creatures,
and preserve your legacy of beauty and abundance.
God of justice,
Receive our prayers for the earth.
God of peace, we pray for our communities:
Kindle in every heart a desire for equality, respect, and opportunity for all.
Give us courage to strive for justice and peace among all people.
God of peace,
Receive our prayers for our communities.
God of mercy, we pray for all in any kind of need or trouble:
For all of the human family.
For refugees and prisoners;
for those who are sick or suffering,
for all held down by prejudice or injustice.
Awaken in us compassion and humility of spirit,
as we seek and serve Christ in all persons.
God of mercy,
Receive our prayers for all who are in need.
God of grace, we pray for those who have died;
For the faithful in every generation,
Strengthen us to proclaim your Good News, by word and example,
and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light.
God of grace,
Receive our prayers for those who have died.
Concluding Collect: The Rev. Katie Holicky
Written by The Rev. Stephen Muncie
Wake us, O God, so that the sin of racism is purged from this land; break down the barriers that oppress black and indegnious people and all people of color; strengthen our resolve to work personally for justice; deliver us from complacency, indifference, and a return to the status quo; protect all who protest and all who are commissioned to protect and to serve; heal our addiction to privilege and power; and lead us, by your grace, to build your new community of love; we ask this in the name of Jesus, our brother. Amen.
The Confession: The Rev. Sara Gavit, Common Worship, Church of England
Presider: God is love and we are God's children.
There is no room for fear in love. We love because God loved us first. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Silence
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, O God of our salvation. Amen.
The Absolution: The Rev. Sara Gavit
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace: Ms. Patty Colhoun, leading the sharing of Peace from across the diocese
Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Music: The 23rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother)
The Choir of Bobby McFerrin, Transcribed by Dan Stolper St. Bartholomew's
Church, Yarmouth
Permission to stream music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-722473. All rights reserved. Hymn permission used by Rite Song a one time use reprint license for congregational use.
The Great Thanksgiving: © 2016, The Rev. Dr. Nina R. Pooley
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Yarmouth, ME
Presider: God be with you. The Rev. Dr. Nina Pooley
People: And also with you.
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to our God.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Holy One.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
All thanks and praise are yours, our true and loving God; you are the strength and goodness of fatherhood, you are the wisdom and love of motherhood; you are light and grace and blessed love. You are Trinity, you are Unity.
With so much of this life beyond our control, often overwhelmed by anxiety and grief, we gather around your table to remember that there is nothing the powers of this world can bring, nothing in our present lives, nor in whatever the future may hold, there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from your love.
You, O God, are nearer to us than our own soul, for you are the ground in whom our soul stands. So will we bless you as long as we live, and lift our voices in praise as we say/sing:
Sanctus
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.
Gracious One, before you made us, you loved us. And when our sin turns us away from you and causes us pain, in your love and mercy you assure us that all shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
Out of love for us you sent your Son, Jesus, to live and die as one of us, to teach and heal, to feed those who were hungry, to embrace the outcasts. Through his life you showed us the depth of your reconciling love for the world. Through his death and resurrection, you overcame death forever and gave to us everlasting life.
The Rev. Katie Holicky
On their last night together, Jesus gathered his friends around the table. He took the bread, gave you thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, "Take, eat. This is my body, given for you."
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, "Drink this all of you. This is my blood, the cup of God's new covenant with you and with all, the promise of life everlasting. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
The love of Christ restores and transforms us; and we rejoice in our salvation:
We open our hearts to love one another as he loved us;
We remember how he died and rose again to live now in us.
Together with Christ, we offer you these gifts, and ourselves, our souls and bodies. Send your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon this bread and this wine, that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ. Empowered by your Spirit, may we do justice, and love kindness and walk with you all our days; until at last, we are gathered home, and our hearts may rest in you.
With all your people, past, present and yet to come, we give you thanks and praise, through the Son and in the Spirit, in every moment of our lives, now and forever. AMEN.
The Lord's Prayer (Mr. Benjamin Cooke & Ms. Sylvia Cooke)
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
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 Fraction: The Rev. Katie Holicky
We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ
We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.
The Invitation: The Rev. Katie Holicky
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion: Mr. Benjamin Cooke By St. Alphonsus de Liguori, 1696-1787, adapted for congregational use)
Let us pray.
Jesus, we believe that you are truly present in the blessed sacrament of the altar. We love you above all things and long for you in our souls. While we cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually in our hearts. We embrace you and unite ourselves entirely to you. Never permit us to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer: A Prayer of St. Francis (The Rev. Dr. Nina Pooley)
Let us pray: Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
The Blessing: The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, Bishop of Maine
Life is short
and we do not have much time
to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us,
so be swift to love and make haste to be kind.
Be assured that God is infinitely more concerned
with the promise of our future
than the mistakes of our past.
And now, may the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with this day and forevermore.
Dismissal: The Rev. Mary Lee Wile
Now go into the world in peace, and there serve justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God and with all our neighbors. Thanks be to God.
Closing Hymn The Choir and Congregation of St. Bartholomew's Church, Yarmouth
Come, thou fount of every blessing, (verses 2-3)
Permission to stream music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-722473. All rights reserved. Hymn permission used by Rite Song a one-time use reprint license for congregational use. + + + + + + + + +
Participants from across the Episcopal Diocese of Maine:
The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, Bishop of Maine
Ms. Judy Angsten, Parish Administrator, Trinity Episcopal Church, Lewiston
Ms. Patty Colhoun, Senior Warden, St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Boothbay Harbor
Mr. Benjamin Cooke, Postulant, St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Newcastle
Ms. Sylvia Cooke, Member, St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Newcastle
Mr. Bruce Fithian, Organist and Choirmaster, The Episcopal Church of St. Mary, Falmouth
Mr. Theodore Fletcher, Esq., Junior Warden, St. Andrew & St. John Episcopal Church Southwest Harbor, Maine
The Rev. Sara Gavit, Rector, St Anne's Episcopal Church, Calais
Mr. Michael P. Gleason, SMSgt (Ret) USAF, St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, Brewer
The Rev. Katie Holicky, Assistant Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick
The Rev. Dr. Nina Pooley, Rector, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Yarmouth
The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Shambaugh, Dean, The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland
Robert and Julia Walkling, Members, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick
The Rev. Mary Lee Wile, Deacon, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick
Musicians:
Mr. John Corrie, Music Director and Organist, and the St. Bartholomew's Choir
Mr. Jeff Trippe and Ms. Maggie Robinson, Celtic Musicians (recorded live, March 8, 2020
at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church - used with permission).
Production Team:
Liturgy Designer: The Rev. Dr. Nina Pooley, Rector, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Yarmouth
Project Manager: Ms. Katie Clark, Director of Communications, Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Video Editor: Mr. Mark Spahr, Consultant for Social Media, Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Additional video: Mr. Ken Pooley, Visual Artist, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Yarmouth
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