Celtic Meditations Pentecost 8: Sabbath Rest 30 July :00 pm

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1 Celtic Meditations Pentecost 8: Sabbath Rest 30 July :00 pm We are so happy you are here. We come from many places to be together for a little while. Each of us brings our own experience and traditions to this gathering. So here in this place, let us take time together to encounter the holy. Please remember to silence all devices Opening Musical Meditation Resignation New Celtic Tune Opening Meditation Blessing and rest, delight in everything Sustained by your strong love and richly blest, This is the gift you give, the day you bring Blessing and rest. This is indeed the gladness of the best, From first lines in the east where linnets sing, To where the last light lingers in the west, You lift the cares to which I used to cling, As you yourself descend to be my guest And show me how to find in everything Blessing and rest. Malcolm Guite, Sabbath Opening Hymn #488 in Hymnal 1982 Be thou my vision Celtic Tune Evening Prayer O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. Please be seated - -

2 The Reading Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 Lector Listen now for the Word of God. 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. Silence Lector People For the Word of God in Scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God. During the silence, let the reading speak to you Reflection Nat Binney Two minutes of silence follows. Music for Meditation Baptism Celtic Tune Affirmation We believe in God, who loves us and wants us to love each other. This is our God. We believe in Jesus, who cared for children and held them in his arms. He wanted a world where everyone could live together in peace. This is Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who keeps working with us until everything is good and true. This is the Holy Spirit. We can be the church, which reminds people of God because we love each other. This we believe. Amen

3 Prayers for Ourselves and Others Leader As we end our day, People Give us your peace. Leader As we finish the work you have given us to do, People Give us your peace. Leader For all places of need in this world, People Give us your peace. Leader In trusting you, O God, to care for your children, People Give us your peace. Leader As we seek wholeness, People Give us your peace. Leader Please offer the prayers of your heart, either silently or aloud. Leader Jesus says, Come to me you who are troubled and I will give you rest. So come, you who are broken in body or in spirit, you who are torn by relationships and doubt, you who feel deeply within yourselves the divisions of the world. Come, for Jesus invites us to bring our brokenness. From now until the end of the service, you are invited to come for light prayers and healing. There are votive candles at the Lady Altar and at the table near the back. Please feel free to move about as the Spirit leads you. Music during Prayers Planxty Burke Celtic Tune Please stand and join in the singing of the hymn found on the next page - 3 -

4 Hymn during Prayers The songs of all our praise belong Celtic Tune The Grace Holy Creator, help me to embrace life with open arms and to share your good gifts with gladness and generosity. Amen. The Peace The peace of our Lord be with you. All And also with you. Please feel free to exchange the peace in any way you feel comfortable

5 Eucharistic Prayer Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you Celebrant Lift up your hearts People We lift them to the Lord Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God People It is right to give God thanks and praise. The Holy Communion Celebrant 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. Sanctus 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 sing: Celebrant 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. Celebrant 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

6 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. Celebrant So we proclaim the mystery of faith: All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Celebrant 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 peo ple 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 all your people into the joy of our true eternal home. With him, and through him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be to you, O God, all honor and glory forever. AMEN. The Lord s Prayer The Breaking of the Bread Thomas Pavlechko The Invitation Celebrant This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is made ready for those who love him and for those who want to love him more. So come, you who have much faith and you who have little, You who have been here often, and you who have not been here long, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, because it is the Lord who invites you. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here. Communion All are invited to come and feast at God s table. You may receive the bread in your hand, and if you wish, drink from the cup

7 Concluding Prayer All 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. Concluding Hymn Brother, sister let me serve you Celtic Tune Concluding Blessing Celebrant May this new night of rest repair the wear of time, restore your vision of a deeper light, heal the wounds of disappointments, and restore youth of heart for the adventure that awaits you tomorrow; and may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

8 Dismissal Celebrant All Go in peace, resting in the heart of the Holy One Thanks be to God. Concluding Meditation The Rocky Road to Dublin Celtic Tune May God s blessings be upon you and all whom you love. Please leave quietly. Participants Celebrant Musicians Opening and Lesson Reflection Prayers of the People Assisting at God s Table Greeter Debbie Phillips Ryan Patten, keyboard, Debbie Phillips, flute Eric Wagner, guitar Joanne Moar Nat Binney Paige Nalipinski Paige Nalipinski Joanne Moar If you would like to be a part of this sacred time, we welcome readers, musicians, greeters and those to assist with setup, the healing station and communion. There is a signup sheet near the healing station for those who would like to give a reflection. No prior experience necessary; just an openness to the sacred around you. Our Prayers are offered for The baptism of Chloe Alexandra Hanley, Cindy Rhodes, Ronald Birchmore, Edna Ashton, Eugene Lockard, Rick Marks, Helen Harris, Fred and Ingrid Fox, Jim Kilroy, Grace I., Lange Family, Felton May, Debbie Marchand, Cameron Wicker, Tom Lemons, Kathleen Tone, Rufus and Florine Felder, Christopher Patzke, Amanda Lily, Kim Shaw, Leo Murphy, P. Dennis Family, Denise Fox and Family, Sara and Dann, Pettus Hickman, Bryon English, Ruby and Al Hill, Ayo Ogunbor, the Motherwell-Clooney family, Jane and David Knight, Alexandra D., Gerry and Barbara Porter, Kathy Crotty, Giffy Russell, G. Oliver Papps, David Latinik, Helen Rice; Sr. Jane SFN, The Madden Family, David, Joe L Heureux, George and Sue Erickson, Pauline Grady, Tom, Pauline Zwicker, Vivien Forbes, Colin, Suzanne MacNeil, Karen Tucker, Sally Coleman, Don, Jeanne Parler, Frank, Jeff Bowie, Elisabeth Thomas, Cindy Carr, Ross Dolloff, Fran Nalipinski, The Tache Family, Blair and family, Jeff and family, John Mason, Susan Warren, Camilo Notario, Jr., Esmunda Notario, Tom D., Stephen Duff, Rick Rizoli, Ashley Galvin, Mary K., the Castiello Children, Linda and Patrick Grant, Glenn Murer, Carpenter Family, Patricia McDuffe, Beatrice Jideofor, Rachel Davis, Dr. Elizabeth Prout, Albert Engelken, Harry Davis, The ADAPT protesters, Kori Rodriguez, Mary Manning, Pat Carr, Love, Nate, Phoebe and family, Andrew Rossi, Joanna Morse, Virginia Steadman, Lisa J., Nancy Moore, Sarah Fialho, Patrick O'Donoghue, Kathleen Hoff, Nancy Pearce, Pezzulo Family, the Pelletiere Family, K. Joyce and Family, Joanne Ryan-Walsh, Joanne Moar, Anne Busteed, the Salem Public Schools, especially the Nathaniel Bowditch School

9 Weekend Grocery Program Throughout the summer, Salem is offering free meals again to everyone 18 and younger at a number of sites in the City. One of these sites is the Library across the street. We, at Grace Church, are concerned about food sources for those families over the weekend. So on the Fridays during the weeks that lunch will be offered at the library, we will invite families to come to Grace Church for bags of groceries. In these grocery bags will be a recipe card for a healthy meal, such as a casserole, that will provide two meals for a family of four. All the ingredients for these recipes will be included in the bags. There will be other fresh produce included as well. Paige Nalipinski is the team leader for this project. Why not give her a call (or ) and see how you can help in some way? We need people to help bag the groceries each Friday and others to be present to hand them out from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. If you have menu ideas, send them along too. Jesus calls us to "feed my sheep." Here is a very little thing we can do that will make a big impact. Children s Abundant Life Garden Did you know that the children of Grace Church grow vegetables each year to provide food to the hungry? The garden is going great this year! Check out their tomatoes! They had a bumper crop of radishes to start the season and now they are very busy with a variety of crops. Please keep these very generous farmers in your prayers as they give all that they have to the glory of God

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11 Prayers for the Beginning and Ending of Sabbath from The Society of St. John the Evangelist Gracious God, you have sanctified days of rest for all your people and have called us to bear witness before the world to the graciousness and wisdom of the Sabbath. Be with us now as we lay aside our work; hallow our rest, our recreation and our leisure, and bring us to the new week refreshed and restored in body, mind and spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus, in whom we find our true rest and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. God of all creation, we thank you for the gift of our Sabbath rest; keep company with us as we take up our work again, and help us to know that, even in the midst of busy lives, our hearts rest in you; we ask these things in the name of Jesus, who is himself our True Sabbath, and who abides with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. The Garden of Life If you look out front, you see that our children have been working on their Abundant Life Garden Project. In faith, they have planted seeds that will sprout and grow into the vegetables that they will tend to with God. When these vegetables ripen, our children will then harvest them and proudly give 100% of their produce to those who hunger. Your Vestry chose this year to follow our children s lead and prepare for an Abundant Life Garden of our own. In faith, we will give our own seed money that, with God s help, will grow into an abundant harvest. The first fruits of this garden will go to eliminating our almost $90,000 assessment debt to the Diocese. After this has been paid, we will continue to give to the Garden of Life for our future endeavors of grace. In the Church, you will see a big flower pot with gardening gloves. As you make your decision about how you will provide your generous support, take a seed packet (brown paper bag), write down your commitment and put it into the basket. Then, take a pair of gardening gloves for your own use as a reminder that working together, hand in glove, we can build a strong future for God s work at Grace Church

12 Grace Episcopal Church A parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry Presiding Bishop The Right Reverend Alan M. Gates Bishop Diocesan The Right Reverend Gayle E. Harris Bishop Suffragan The Reverend Deborah A. Phillips Rector Ryan Patten Director of Music Tom and Karen Tucker Property Stewards Hugh MacKay and Joanne Moar Vergers Vestry Joanne Moar Senior Warden David Ashton Junior Warden Peggy Carter Willand Clerk Jesse Angeley Treasurer Jonathan Davis Assistant Treasurer Jonathan Bailly, Jane Eskeland, Tom Gaither Members of Vestry Christopher Patzke, Jason Stonehouse, Caroline Watson-Felt