November 7, 2021 | 9:15 a.m. | All Saints’ Day
The Word of God
Opening Hymn For all the saints
1 For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!
2 Thou was their rock, their fortress and their might; thou, Lord, their Captain in the well- fought fight; thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light. Alleluia, Alleluia!
3 O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia!
4 O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Opening Acclamation
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God. Glory to God for ever and ever.
The Collect for Purity (together)
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.
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, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you. And also with you. 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.
The First Reading Revelation 21:1-6a
I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 24 (in unison)
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, * the world and all who dwell therein. For it is he who founded it upon the seas * and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep. “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? ” * and who can stand in his holy place?” “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, * who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud. They shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and a just reward from the God of their salvation.” Such is the generation of those who seek him, * of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in. “Who is this King of glory?” * “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.” Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in. “Who is he, this King of glory?” * “The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
The Gospel Acclamation In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice! Look to God, do not be afraid;
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near; lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
The Gospel John 11:32-44
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Cathy Boyd
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
As we recall the blessed ones who have gone before us, let us offer prayers to God who adorns the poor with victory.
With the angels and archangels and the spirits of the blessed. Lord, have mercy.
With Mary, mother of Jesus and bearer of God. Lord, have mercy.
With the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs. Lord, have mercy.
With all the saints, witnesses to the gospel. Lord, have mercy.
For Susan, our bishop, and Cathy and Lisa, our priests, for this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place. Lord, have mercy.
For all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and the suffering, the hungry and the thirsty, the poor and the meek, and all who are persecuted. Lord, have mercy.
For our ancestors and all who have gone before us in faith. Lord, have mercy.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as Christ loves us. . We pray for David, the Caruso family, Bill, the Chalakani family, George and Andre, the Pallister family, Jeff, Jim, Christina, Bobby, for the children of St. Vincent’s School, Haiti, and for an end to the pandemic. We pray for the dying and those who have died, and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom. Lord, have mercy.
Please add your own intentions, silently or aloud.
Lifting our voices with all creation, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Martin, and all the saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ. To you, O Lord.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for the triumph of Christ in the lives of your saints. Receive the prayers we offer this day and help us to run our course with faith, that we may swiftly come to your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin
God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.
Absolution
The Peace & Announcements
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
The Holy Communion
The Offertory
The Offering of Gifts Take, O take
Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and live in me.
The Great Thanksgiving Enriching Our Worship, Prayer 3
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
All thanks and praise are yours at all times and in all places, our true and loving God; through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things. You laid the foundations of the world and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb; You brought forth all creatures of the earth and gave breath to humankind. Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing, all you create is a sign of hope for our journey; and so as the morning stars sing your praises we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of 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. Hosanna in the highest.
Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all, your Word has never been silent; you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations, you delivered them from bondage and led them to a land of promise. Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human, to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign and give himself for us, a fragrant offering. Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, you have freed us from sin, brought us into your life, reconciled us to you, and restored us to the glory you intend for us.
We thank you that on the night before he died for us Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, gave it to his friends and said: “Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said: “Drink this, all of you: this cup is the new Covenant in my Blood, poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” And so, remembering all that was done for us: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension, longing for Christ’s coming in glory, and presenting to you these gifts your earth has formed and human hands have made, we acclaim you, O Christ:
Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life. Christ Jesus, come in glory!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ. Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power, may be a people of hope, justice and love. Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ, and in the fullness of time gather us with blessed Martin and all your people into the joy of our true eternal home.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we worship you our God and Creator in voices of unending praise. Blessed are you now and for ever. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer (contemporary words)
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
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Communion Hymn Blest are they
1 Blest are they, the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blest are they, full of sorrow; they shall be consoled.
Refrain: Rejoice & be glad. Blessed are you; holy are you. Rejoice and be glad. Yours is the Kingdom of God.
2 Blest are they, the lowly ones; they shall inherit the earth.
Blest are they, who hunger and thirst; they shall have their fill. Refrain
3 Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.
Blest are they, the pure of heart; they shall see God. Refrain
4 Blest are they who seek peace; they are the children of God.
Blest are they who suffer in faith; the glory of God is theirs. Refrain
5 Blest are you who suffer hate all because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom; shine for all to see. Refrain
The Post-Communion Prayer
Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing
The Closing Hymn I sing a song of the saints of God
1 I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God–and I mean, God helping, to be one too.
2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and his love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake, the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least why I shouldn’t be one too.
3 They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.
The Dismissal
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.
“Alleluia, alleluia” is only said during Easter season.
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in celebration of Brady Wright’s baptism.
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