The 8th Sunday after Pentecost: Modified Holy Communion Service Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 10:00 am

Opening Hymn Vs 1, 2, 3

Welcome and Opening Sentence

Celebrant Alleluia. Christ is risen! People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Collect for Purity (All say 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.

Collect of the Day

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 1 Kings 3:5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of

your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:129-136 (responsively by whole verse)

Your decrees are wonderful; *therefore I obey them with all my heart.

When your word goes forth it gives light; *it gives understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant; *I long for your commandments.

Turn to me in mercy, *as you always do to those who love your Name.

Steady my footsteps in your word; *let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Rescue me from those who oppress me, *and I will keep your commandments.

Let your countenance shine upon your servant *and teach me your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears, *because people do not keep your law.

The Second Lesson Romans 8:26-39

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. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn ( all join in singing)

The Gospel Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People: Glory to you, Lord Christ. 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.”

Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon The Rev. Dr. Libby Gibson Catania An affirmation of Faith (all say together)

You, O God, are supreme and holy. You create our world and give us life. Your purpose overarches everything we do. You have always been with us. You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, good beyond all measure. You came to us before we came to you. You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again. You are with us now. You are God. You, O God, are Holy Spirit. You empower us to be your gospel in the world. You reconcile and heal; you overcome death. You are our God. We worship you.

Prayers of the People Bidding: Teach me your way, O Lord. Response: And I will walk in your truth.

Please join us in praying for: Brittany Anthony, Richard Allen, Claire Anderson, Robert Anderson, Kathryn Anschutz, Philip Armstrong, Jordon Ashwood, Dottie Averna, John Damon, Tino DiGiovanni, Bill Babcock, Don Barton, Eric Blackburn, Jill Blum, Michelle Bond, Ken Bradbury, Meg Broadhurst, Marcia Brown, Jonie Buckley, Carol Call, Byrd Cassibry, Ellen Chechile, Joanna Chechile, Madge Clark, Nancy Connor, Eddie Crowley, Alexis Daniuk and Tony Botticello, Caroline Eaddy, Susan Dewey, Cherrie Dubois, Bill and Paula Connolly, Dick Cryan, Beatrice Endocott, James & Ellen Falway, Vanessa & Matt Flannes, Stan Flynn, Carol Gatto, Cindy Giovaniello, Beth Goodrich, Beartrice Greenwood, Gregory Greenwood, Laney Hamblett, Ken Harper, Mary Hickey, Sallie Irwin, ‘Red’ Jalbert, Sue Jilson, Nathan Jones, Rich Kerminski, Deborah Kearns, Fred Kraics, David Lapham, Art Laughton, Karen LeBlanc, Tessa LeBlanc, Joan LeMarbre, Martha Lewis, Bev Lieberman, Kate Lonergan, Amy Loudemilk, Jim Lovell, Bill Low, Chris Low, Vic Mankiewicz, Hub Mathewson, Jesse Mueller, Liz Mumford, Dauna Musick, David Nawrocki, Sue Nash, Maria Nelson, Sean Norton, B.L. Owens, Cally Outwin, Marian Painter, Robert Parker, Marta Pleiter, Jan Quaritius, Jim Quarto, Carol Quinley, Kimberly Richards, Pat and Don Ritchie, Peg Rose, Brooks Smith, John Stackhouse, Ruthie Sundberg, Lauren Stanley, Joe & Alice Sweeney, Sherry Tarpinian, Stephen Wilkinson, Neil Fletcher Wilson, Kim Wolfe, Linda Wolfe, Raymond Wright Jr., and for: Alexandra, Allen, Anne-Marie, Clif, Cory, David, Don, Debbie, Ed & Irish, Elizabeth, Gary, Greer, Jake, Jan, Jane, Janet, Jerrie, Jess, Kate, Kathey, Kim, Kristin, Izzy, Laura, Madeleine, Margaret, Melissa, Murray, Nickie, Pat, Patti, Phyllis, Rebecca, Ruth, Sara, Siena, Sue, Ted, Terry, Tony, Winnie & Don. Please join us in praying for professionals on the front line: Jennifer Babcock, Michelle Babcock, Chris Flynn, Rebecca Graziano, Andy Huther, Bill Huther, Katie Huther, Kelcie & Kenneth Knowles, David Mason, Tom McKean, Rosa Ramirez-Mendez, Diane Munsell,

Kimberly Schoener, Jeff Spillane, Jonathan Stackhouse, Kari Steinetz, Kelsey Rezendes, Mary Tempesta, Beatrix Walters, Wendy Young, Brian, Shawn.

Confession and Absolution (In unison)

Almighty God, Source of all that is, Giver of every good gift: You create all people in your image and call us to love one another as you love us. We confess that we have failed to honor you in the great diversity of the human family. We have desired to live in freedom, while building walls between ourselves and others. We have longed to be known and accepted for who we are, while making judgements of others based on the color of skin, or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience. We have tried to love our neighbors individually while yet benefitting from systems that hold those same neighbors in oppression. Forgive us, Holy God. Give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people. Strengthen us for the work of reconciliation rooted in love. Restore us in your image, to be beloved community, united in our diversity, even as you are one with Christ and the Spirit, Holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.

Modified Holy Communion

Celebrant: The Spirit of God be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Lift your hearts to heaven People: Where Christ in glory reigns. Celebrant: Let us give thanks to God. People: It is right to offer thanks and praise.

Gracious and Everlasting One, it is right and good, always and everywhere to give thanks to you — even the places where we are scattered right now. We give you thanks for calling forth creation and blending dust with your breath in the emergence of life. We bless you for the covenants you have made with your people, for our ancestors in the faith, and the ways that you call us into community with all people everywhere.

We praise you, for the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and for the way of compassion, justice, and communion he lived and taught. Therefore with saints and martyrs, apostles and prophets, with all the redeemed, joyfully we praise you and say:

Holy, holy, holy: God of mercy, giver of life; earth and sea and sky and all that lives, declare your presence and your glory. We remember, Blessed One, that when the risk of arrest and execution became clear, Jesus asked his disciples to prepare a borrowed room where they could eat together, and give thanks, and prepare. When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Until we can gather our weary bodies in this place again, until we can share among us the same food and drink, until we can breathe the same air, and look into each other’s eyes, and pass the peace of your Son Jesus among these bodies you have created as good, and perhaps sense your beloved kingdom coming near, may your Holy Spirit hover, and brood like a mother hen, over each and every table, every meal where we wait. May that tender Spirit reach into all the quiet corners of loneliness and worry, reminding us of the deeper, wider communion in which all things dwell with you. May that Spirit keep us hungry for community, for the just and compassionate world you seek; may it keep us awake and expectant, looking always for your kingdom coming near. Now together let us pray as Jesus taught us: The Lord’s Prayer (said in unison) We pray for your church, that it may rise up in the face of this crisis and embody the ministry of Jesus once again, bringing healing, bringing justice, reaching out to those who are alone. We pray for other faith communities as well, for the ways that they are responding with compassion and care, and we pray for those of no faith, who are also loved dearly by you. Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto you. Amen, and let all the people say “Amen.”

A moment of silence is observed

A General Thanksgiving (Officiant and People pray together)

God, you are our beginning and you will be our end; we are made in your image and likeness. We praise and thank you for this day. This is the day on which you created light and saw that it was good. This is the day in whose early morning light we discovered the tomb was empty, and encountered Christ, the world’s true light. This is the day you have made; we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Eternal God, grant to us this day and every day such readiness and delight in following Christ, that whether our lives are short or long we shall have lived abundantly.

Closing Hymn vs 1,3,4

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