October 31, 2021 | 9:15 a.m. | 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

The Word of God

Opening Hymn     The King of glory comes    

Refrain:    The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.  Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

1    Who is the King of glory; what shall we call him? He is Immanuel, the promised of ages.   Refrain

2    In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people, curing their illness.   Refrain

3    He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation; he took upon himself the sin of the nations.   Refrain

4    He conquered sin and death; he truly has risen. And he will share with us his heavenly kingdom.   Refrain

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 and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Reading     Hebrews 9:11-14

When Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:1-8  (in unison)

Happy are they whose way is blameless, * who walk in the law of the Lord! Happy are they who observe his decrees * and seek him with all their hearts! Who never do any wrong, * but always walk in his ways. You laid down your commandments, * that we should fully keep them. Oh, that my ways were made so direct * that I might keep your statutes! Then I should not be put to shame, * when I regard all your commandments. I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, * when I have learned your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes; * do not utterly forsake me.

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     Mark 12:28-34

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.  Glory to you, Lord Christ.

One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

The Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon                                                                                                             The Rev. Lisa Green  

      A period of silence follows the sermon.

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

      Let us call upon God through Jesus Christ our high priest, who offered his blood for the sins of all.

      For this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place.  Lord, have mercy.

      For all peoples and their leaders, and for justice and equity in the world.  Lord, have mercy.

      For good weather, abundant fruits of the earth, and peaceful times.  Lord, have mercy.

      For the sick and the suffering, travelers and prisoners, and the dying and dead.  Lord, have mercy.

      For our families and neighbors and for all the people of our city.  Lord, have mercy.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and loveone another as Christ loves us.  We pray for the Bill, the Chalakani Family, George and Andre, the Pallister family, Jeff, Jim, Christina, Bobby, Courtney and Brad, Ben and Suzanne, Carol, Diane, Bob, Joan, 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 Blessed Martin and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, let us  offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ. To you, O Lord.

God of Israel, who set forth your commandments for all your children, hear the prayers we offer this day and purify our consciences to worship the living God; 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     Let us be bread

Refrain:     Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord, broken and shared, life for the world.
      Let us be wine, love freely poured.  Let us be one in the Lord.

     1    I am the bread of life, broken for all. Eat now and hunger no more.   Refrain

     2    You are my friends if you keep my commands, no longer servants but friends.   Refrain

     3    See how my people have nothing to eat. Give them the bread that is you.   Refrain

     4    As God has loved me so I have loved you.  Go and live on in my love.   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     Love divine, all loves excelling

      1     Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down,

            fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.

            Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;

            visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.

2    Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.

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 in thanksgiving for Jim’s successful surgery by his loving wife, Sue.

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