The Holy Eucharist The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 23, :00 a.m.

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1 The Holy Eucharist The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 23, :00 a.m. The people of Holy Comforter joyfully welcome you to this historic church. We are happy that you are here, and we hope you will find your worship today meaningful and inspiring. If you are looking for a church to call your own, we hope you will consider our parish. At the root of all we do is our desire to live out the Great Commandment of Jesus Christ: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Holy Comforter has made a difference in our lives, and we believe it can do the same for you.! WELCOME THE WORD OF GOD THE OPENING ACCLAMATION AND PRAYER Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. 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. HYMN OF PRAISE BCP, Page 356 THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST People The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2 THE LESSON Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon: The ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his company. For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from Hades Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God s child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected. Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM 54 (read responsively) Lector Save me, O God, by your Name; * in your might, defend my cause. People Hear my prayer, O God; * give ear to the words of my mouth. For the arrogant have risen up against me, and the ruthless have sought my life, * those who have no regard for God. Behold, God is my helper; * it is the Lord who sustains my life.

3 Render evil to those who spy on me; * in your faithfulness, destroy them. I will offer you a freewill sacrifice * and praise your Name, O Lord, for it is good. For you have rescued me from every trouble, * and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes. THE GOSPEL Mark 9:30-37 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you, Lord Christ. Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again. But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, What were you arguing about on the way? But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ. THE SERMON The Rev. Greg Brown THE NICENE CREED (please stand) BCP, Page 358 THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Deacon With all our heart, and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord. (please kneel or stand) Intercessor Father, we pray for the unity of your holy Church; That we all may be one. Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you; That your Name may be glorified throughout the world. We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons, especially Michael, our Presiding Bishop; for Sam and Anne, our bishops; and for our clergy; That they may be bold and faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

4 We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; That there may be justice, peace, and mercy on the earth. Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; That our words and actions may find favor in your sight. Have compassion, O Lord, on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; That they may be delivered from pain, loneliness, and distress. Give to all departed souls eternal rest in you; Let light and peace shine upon them. We rejoice for the saints who have entered into your presence; May we also come to know the glories of your heavenly kingdom. Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. Silence. Deacon We give thanks for all of the blessings of our lives, especially for N., and all blessings we name now, silently and aloud. We pray for all those in any need, especially for N., and all those we now name now, silently and aloud. We pray for those who have died and those who mourn them, especially for N.; and for all souls we name now, silently and aloud. The adds a concluding Collect. THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION (please kneel) BCP, Page 360 THE PEACE The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you. Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord. ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFERTORY THE HOLY COMMUNION PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS People All things come of thee, O Lord; and of thine own have we given thee.

5 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER A BCP, Page 361 INVITATION TO THE EUCHARIST The heart of our worship as Episcopalians is the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. We experience the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in this ancient sharing of bread and wine. Everyone is invited to come forward during Holy Communion. All Christians, of every age and any denomination, are invited to partake of the bread and wine. Those not wishing to receive communion this day are offered a blessing in God s holy name. At the altar rail, you may kneel or stand, whichever connects you closer to God. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher, and ministers will be honored to come to you in your pew. To receive the bread, lay your hands together, palms upward; the bread will be placed in your open palm. Gluten-free bread is available at the altar; simply turn your hands over (palms down). To receive the wine, guide the chalice to your lips. If you prefer intinction--where the bread is dipped into the wine--you may leave the bread in your open palm. The chalice bearer will gently dip your bread into the wine and place it in your mouth. Or you may perform this intinction yourself. To receive the blessing, simply cross your arms across your chest. However you participate today, know this: you are welcome. It is Christ himself who invites you to meet him here. THE SENDING OUT OF EUCHARISTIC VISITORS (when needed) In order that all may receive Holy Eucharist (N) will take communion to (N) today. All In the name of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ s Body and Blood. We who are many are one body because we all share one bread, one cup. Amen. POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER AND BLESSING All Let us pray. (please stand or kneel) Eternal God, heavenly Father you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen. DISMISSAL At the dismissal, all respond, Thanks be to God.

6 HOLY COMFORTER PRAYERS THIS WEEK (SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2018) Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) CURRENT PRAYERS Of thanks for birthdays 9/23 Bill Merlo, Jaxson Franks; 9/24 Martha Soto, David Stewart, Lee Cox; 9/25 Greg Frye; 9/26 Bob Murphy, Julian Hoffman, Charlie Jenkins, Ethan Doan; 9/29 Tesh Ramey, Eloise Binns, John Binns, Ellie Feely, Timothy Whitmire for anniversaries 9/26 Mary & John Kane; 9/27 Tom & Brenda Cooke; 9/28 Donna Harmon & Karen Wilson; 9/29 Beth Hardin & Geoff McLaughlin, Mary Lindsay & Jason Evans, Carlos Gaviria & Paola Carmona The altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the 70th birthday of Greg Spriggs by Denise Spriggs and family. Of support for parishioners Holli Adams for family and friends JW Johnston, Ed Green, Bill Robertson, Chuck and Leslie Plowden, Rey Cordero, Ben White, Eva Lee For those who have died Joe Nunn, Richard Dulin, Dean Bartlett, Helen Kelly ON-GOING PRAYERS Of support for Vicky Adkins, Debbie Bates, Chuck Couch, David, Sue Davis, Jada Diaz, Glen Diebold, Jean Gunn, Connie Guthery, Peggy Gurley, Chadwick Ham, James Hunt, Miriam Mimi Hunter, Finley Jampole, Margaret Langley, Allegra Liana, Tracy Lilly, Sarah Mayfield, Charles McDuffie, Suzette McLain, Mitchell, Walt Norman, Shareef Raines, Amy Samonds, James Smith, Linda Shuping Smith, Harold Spears, Billie Stutts, Emily Townsend, Jane Van Bibber, Celeste Wall, Jim Webb, Karen Wilson for military service Barrett Bogus, Colin Clark, Stephen DenBoer, Allen Guthery, Michael Soto, Chris WarHawk FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH Our bishops, clergy, vestry, and staff; La Escuelita Weekday School, Trinity Episcopal School, and Palisades Episcopal School; Cooperative Christian Ministry of UNC Charlotte, Central Piedmont, and Johnson & Wales; the Churches of Park Road (Avondale Presbyterian, Sedgefield United Methodist, St. Luke s Lutheran, St. Ann Catholic, Park Road Baptist); Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte; our companion dioceses of Botswana and Costa Rica, and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The prayer list is refreshed every Thursday morning; contact the Membership Coordinator (membership@holycomfortercharlotte.org) to add or remove a name. To keep our list current, current prayers automatically rotate off after three weeks, and on-going prayers are updated twice yearly in Advent and on Pentecost. Please contact the church office, , to inform us of upcoming surgeries or anytime you or a member of the parish is admitted to the hospital.

7 For after-hours, emergency pastoral care call