Celtic Evensong and Communion 2 September :00 pm

Transcription

1 Celtic Evensong and Communion 2 September :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 silence all devices Opening Music Meditation Sunday River Waltz Celtic Tune Opening Meditation What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear. Dag Hammarskjöld Please stand Affirmation (said by all) We believe in God, who loves us and wants us to love each other. This is our God. We believe in Jesus Christ, 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.

2 Opening Hymn Gather Us In New Celtic Tune Evening Prayer Guide us waking, O God, and guard us sleeping, that awake, we may watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in peace. Please be seated 2

3 The Reading Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, Listen now to the Word of God. When the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? He said to them, Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. Then he called the crowd again and said to them, Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. Lector People Reflection For the Word of God in Scripture, for the Word of God among us, and for the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God. Two minutes of silence follows. Paige Nalipinski Music for Meditation The Lark in the Clear Air Celtic Tune Prayers for Ourselves and Others Leader Son of God, in the light of faith, we offer our prayers: People May we follow closely your lead. Leader People Leader People Leader People Leader For all who face the darkness with fear this night, redeem our fears with hope and confidence. (In the silence that follows, send prayers to those in fear this night, considering who you may know that needs courage) For all the places in this world that yearn for new life, Grant the light of your saving grace. (In the silence that follows, send prayers to those places with strife this night, considering who you may know that needs peace) Hear us, teach us, restore us, and may your light shine in our hearts and in all the world. Let us now hold before God our neighbors who are in need, sickness, danger or despair. 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. 3

4 Light Prayers From now until the end of the service, you are invited to come to the Lady Altar and light a candle and kneel at the rail for prayers. The laying on of hands is also offered at the healing station near the door at the back of the Chapel. Please feel free to move about as the Spirit leads you. Music during Prayers Inisheer Celtic Tune Hymn during Prayers As We Gather at your Table New Celtic Tune 4

5 The Grace May the grace of the night s stillness be ours, the grace of the moon s guidance be ours, the grace of the heaven s vastness be ours to renew our souls in sleep until the angels of light awaken us. Amen. The Peace The Holy Communion 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. Celebrant O God of mystery and promise, you invite us to discover you in the intimate places of ourselves and our lives. You invite us to discover you within the complexities of our humanity, in passionate and tender loving, in struggle and pain, in confusion and unknowing, in flashes of insight and wisdom. You also call us beyond ourselves to places of imagination, beyond the silent stars, in the deep rhythms of the ocean, in the unending cycles of day and night, seasons of life and death. With saints and ancestors, with the seas and earth and sky, with animals and birds, with our friends and those unknown to us, with all creation we join in the song of your unending glory: Sanctus Celebrant We praise you that in Jesus you make known to us the wonder and richness of our humanity. We give thanks for his life-giving love, for his healing touch, for his vulnerability and for his gentleness. Before he gave up his life, he shared his humanity, his flesh and blood with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it and gave it to them saying: All Celebrant All This is my own body given for you. Do this to remember me. So too after they had eaten, he took wine, gave thanks for it and gave it to them saying: This is my blood, poured out in love for you. Do this to remember me. 5

6 Celebrant All So we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Celebrant Holy and gracious God, present with us now, send in kindness your Holy Spirit to settle on this bread and wine and fill them with the fullness of Jesus. As we eat and drink these bodily things, make us one body, food for the world, one blood to be poured out for the life of all. Touch us with your gentle creativity and fire us with longing for the new age of justice and peace. We ask this through Jesus who gave his body that we might be one and his blood that we might find new life. 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 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. Concluding Prayer All Jesus, you revealed yourself to the world so that all people might look to you and be saved: May we, who have received you as you are revealed in the breaking of bread, know the wholeness you bring. Be our light in the darkness that we may not stumble, and lift us up again if we fall; and may we bring this light into the world. Amen. 6

7 Concluding Hymn God we thank you for your people New Celtic Tune Concluding Blessing Celebrant May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment. May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. Dismissal Celebrant All Go in peace, resting in the love of God. Thanks be to God. Concluding Meditation The Harp that once through Tara's Halls Celtic Tune May God s blessings be upon you and all whom you love. Please leave quietly. 7

8 Participants Celebrant Musicians Opening and Lesson Reflection Prayers Assisting at Communion Greeter The Reverend Debbie Phillips Ryan Patten, Eric Wagner, Debbie Phillips Kathleen Tone Paige Nalipinski Priscilla Lemons Priscilla Lemons Tom Lemons 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. Please see anyone of the participants listed above if interested. Our Prayers are Offered for Connie White, Barbara Stone, Cheryl McDonough, Eric Wagner, Natalie Ann Young, Carmine Maimone, Lenny Cawley, James Ashton, Gary Young, Kristen and Family, Barbara Hawlena, Helen Watson-Felt, Cindy Rhodes, Ronald Birchmore, Edna Ashton, Eugene and Gerry Lockard, Diane Rowand Burns, Rick Marks, Helen Harris, Ingrid Fox, Jim Kilroy, Grace I., Lange Family, Felton May, Tom Lemons, Kathleen Tone, Rufus and Florine Felder, Christopher Patzke, Kim Shaw, Leo Murphy, P. Dennis Family, Denise Fox and Family, Sara, Pettus Hickman, Bryon English, Ruby Hill s Family, Faith Aroko s 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, 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, 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, Eric, Kathleen Hoff, Nancy Pearce, Pezzulo Family, the Pelletiere Family, K. Joyce and Family, Joanne Ryan-Walsh, Anne Busteed, Angela Carter, the Salem Public Schools, and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please put their name on the prayer poster in the lobby. 8

9 Visitor Information Welcome to those of you here for the first time. All are welcome by God to the heavenly banquet. The Episcopal Church offers the sacraments to anyone baptized in any denomination who, through prayer and thoughtful consideration, desires them. Please come to the communion rail to receive the bread and wine, whether you are an Episcopalian or not, or to receive a blessing. We are a self-supporting congregation,. Everyone is welcome to come as you are to our services, especially the Celtic Service. However, if you would like to make a gift tonight, there is a basket on your way out. If you would like to make a pledge, (a commitment for the year), please take a pledge card found on the table at the door, fill it out and place it in the plate. Any amount to support this important ministry is greatly appreciated. Today s collection will support our ministries to the community. Gluten free? The bread offered at the Celtic service is gluten-free, baked by the priest. Debbie, the priest, will be available after the service to answer any questions you might have. Please let her know how your thoughts about tonight s service. Please sign the guestbook at the entrance of the church! Learn more at and sign up for our weekly newsletter by clicking on the Grace Notes image and Subscribe. Interested in Bible Study? If you are interested in Bible Study, please let Debbie know on your way out the door tonight. Also, let her know when would be the best times for Bible Study. 9

10 The Way of Love GO: Cross boundaries, listen deeply and live like Jesus. Jesus said to them, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. John 20:21 Send them into the world in witness to your love. Book of Common Prayer, 306 As Jesus went to the highways and byways, he sends us beyond our circles and comfort, to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with our lips and with our lives. We go to listen with humility and to join God in healing a hurting world. We go to become Beloved Community, a people reconciled in love with God and one another. For Discernment and Reflection - To what new places or communities is the Spirit sending you to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God? - How will you build into your life a commitment to cross boundaries, listen carefully, and take part in healing and reconciling what is broken in this world? - With whom will you share in the commitment to go forth as a reconciler and healer? 10

11 School Partnership Update Although the Bowditch School has closed, we continue our partnership with the rising 8th grade scholars now attending the Collins Middle School and the Saltonstall School. This is the final year of our commitment to these particular students, but we will continue being partners with the school system after this program ends. Our students start school on Wednesday, and there are two ways we are assisting them. The first is that we have collected monies to help them afford the school supplies needed for the opening of school. We will continue to accept monies today and next week. Here is the other way: the Interim Principal of the Collins Middle School, Matt Condon, has invited our Rector to come to the all day faculty meeting on Tuesday. After breakfast, where she will be introduced to the faculty and staff who will interact with our scholars, she will be invited to give a presentation to the entire school about our partnership and ways we can all engage to ensure the success of these wonderful kids. Let Debbie know of any stories you might have that she can include in her presentation. We want to make this final year the best year ever for our scholars. Consider what talent and time you have to contribute this year so that they may thrive. 11

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 Larry Kamp Director of Music Tom and Karen Tucker Property Stewards Hugh MacKay and Joanne Moar Vergers Tom Gaither Joanne Moar Peggy Carter Willand Mathew Antoniello Vestry Senior Warden Junior Warden Clerk Treasurer Michelle Aroko, Jonathan Bailly, Melissa Barnes, Jane Eskeland, Christopher Patzke, Jason Stonehouse Members of Vestry 12