St. Paul s Episcopal Church Epiphany 3 ~ Jan. 27, 2019 276 Church Street, Montrose, PA 18801, 570-278-2954 stpaulsmontrose@epix.net http://stpaulschurchmontrose.org https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsmontrose Sunday Worship: 10:00AM Office Hours: 8:15am until 1:00pm Monday Thursday Serving Montrose and surrounding communities With God s Love through Jesus Christ Since 1831 ~ 1 ~
Welcome to St. Paul's, Montrose, PA. We are so thankful that you are worshipping with us on this day. We have served Montrose and surrounding communities with God's love through Jesus Christ since 1831; and invite you to join with us in this long tradition of service. Please accept our hospitality; any member can assist you to our Coffee Hour in the Parish House following the worship service. Thank you for joining us this day. We invite you to come again and, with God's love, be a part of St. Paul's. OUR VISION: To be a community of faith that shares the transforming love of God with all people through Jesus Christ our Lord. OUR MISSION: To proclaim God s love by word and example and to seek Christ in one another. The Holy Eucharist Announcements The Prelude Fairest Lord Jesus, based on the Crusaders' Hymn, arr. David Hegerty The Gathering Hymn How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! Hymn 533 THE WORD OF GOD Celebrant: People: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins His mercy endures forever. The Gloria S 280 The Collect of the Day BCP page 215 The First Lesson Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 All the people of Israel gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with ~ 2 ~
understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Reader: People: The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God The Response: Please respond by the half-verse to our reading of Psalm 19 found on page 606 in your prayer book. Reader: Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen! The Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that ~ 3 ~
would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. Reader: People: The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God The Sequence Hymn O Christ, the Word Incarnate Hymn 632 v 1-2 The Gospel Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke People: Glory to you Lord Christ Luke 4:14-21 Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where ~ 4 ~
he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Celebrant: People: The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ The Homily The Nicene Creed BCP page 358 JOSEPH AND ESTHER RENEWAL OF WEDDING VOWS Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hymn 657 v 1, 2 Joseph and Esther Come to the front of the altar, with Joseph on the Priest s Left Hand and Esther at his right hand. All stand, and the Celebrant addresses the congregation as follows: Friends in Christ, we are gathered together with Joseph and Esther, who have come today to give thanks to God for his blessing upon their marriage, and to reaffirm their marriage covenant. The Celebrant then asks the man Joseph, do you here, in the presence of God and of this congregation, renew the promises you made when you bound yourself to Esther in holy matrimony? ~ 5 ~
The Man answers I do. The Celebrant then asks the woman Esther, do you here, in the presence of God and of this congregation, renew the promises you made when you bound yourself to Joseph in holy matrimony? The Woman answers I do. The Husband and Wife, kneeling or standing, say together We thank you, most gracious God, for consecrating our marriage in Christ s Name and presence. Lead us further in companionship with each other and with you. Give us grace to live together in love and fidelity, with care for one another. Strengthen us all our days, and bring us to that holy table where, with those we love, we will feast for ever in our heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Celebrant then blesses them, saying May God the Father, who at creation ordained that man and woman become one flesh, keep you one. Amen May God the Son, who adorned this manner of life by his first miracle, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, be present with you always. Amen May God the Holy Spirit, who has given you the will to persevere in your love and in your covenant with each other, strengthen your bond. Amen ~ 6 ~
And may God the Holy Trinity, the source of all unity, bless you this day and for ever. Amen Hymn Love Divine, all Loves Excelling Hymn 657 v 3 The Prayers of the People Baptized into one body, let us pray for those who are members of the body of Christ, and for all the human family, saying, For the Church, remembering especially Michael our Presiding Bishop and Kevin our bishop, that we who are one in Christ, yet richly diverse in gifts and ministries, may reach out in compassion and love to all God s people, let us pray to the Lord. Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on the people of St. Paul s as we anticipate and prepare for the person you will raise up for us to be the next rector of our parish. May we receive a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries, let us pray to the Lord. For this Parish family, that we who hear God s word and are fed at God s table may find joy and strength for life's journey, let us pray to the Lord. For nations grieved by conflict, and people everywhere who live in fear of violence and oppression, that God will open new paths for peace and justice, let us pray to the Lord. For the President and Congress, that the Spirit will guide them to new understanding of the issues before them and help them find new ways to move forward for the good of all, let us pray to the Lord. ~ 7 ~
For those who have lost jobs or income, for the homeless and the hungry, for those who have no healthcare, and all those for whom we ought to pray Margaret, Brad, Kathy, Joe, Esther, Charlotte, Alice, Jean, Charlotte, Esther, Jeanette, Jeanne, Bart, Steve, Kristina, Richard, Martha, Andrew, Gaby, Carol.; that the healing and comforting love of God will be made known to them through family, friends, and the Christian community, let us pray to the Lord. For all those suffering from addictions, that they may desire a clean and sober life, and find the resources for their bodies, minds and spirits that will allow them to do so; for all those who love someone who is addicted, that comfort and support be provided in their journeys; for all in the healing community assisting recovery, that the Holy Spirit will refresh and strengthen them; for ourselves, that we share the power of God's healing and transforming love with all touched by this addictions epidemic; for St. Paul's that a spirit of unity in witness and action will be among us. Merciful God, accept the fervent prayers of your people, let us pray to the Lord. For those who have died, remembering especially Jane Chandler.., that in God s kingdom they may know the fulfillment of all that they believed on earth, let us pray to the Lord. Lifting our voices with all creation, with Mary the God-bear and all the saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ. To you, O Lord our God. Celebrant: God of all peoples, hear the prayers of your servants and let the Spirit that anointed Jesus send us forth to proclaim your freedom and favor. We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ, in the power of the Spirit, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever. AMEN. ~ 8 ~
Confession and Absolution BCP page 360 The Peace HOLY COMMUNION The Offertory Your love, O God, has called us here, text by Russell Schulz-Widmar Choir The Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow Hymn 380, v3 The Eucharistic Prayer A BCP page 361 The Sanctus S124 The Lord s Prayer The Breaking of the Bread The Fraction Anthem S161 The Communion Everyone is invited to the Lord s Table to receive the Sacrament or a Blessing. Please cross your arms over your chest if you wish to receive a Blessing. The Hymn during Communion One bread, one body LEVAS 151 The Post Communion Prayer BCP page 365 The Blessing The Parting Hymn Spread, O spread, thou mighty word Hymn 530 v 1-3 The Dismissal The Postlude Now Raise Your Song on High, Saint-Saens arr. by Todd Crandall Altar Flowers this week are In Memory of Loved Ones. ~ 9 ~
Our Ministers Today: Presider and Preacher: The Rev. John Wagner Organist & Choir Director: Catherine Hammons Altar Guild: Mary & Ben Zalewski Announcements: Camera & Broadcast: Al Leigh & Andrew Wurth Acolyte: Benjamin Zalewski or Sean Eckert Counters: Tom Undercoffler & David Calby Chalice Bearer: Jerry Sock Lector: Stephanie Calby Intercessor: Nancy Dooling Greeter/Usher: Sandy Seeger & Marsha Jones Hospitality: Barbara & Tom Undercoffler Vestry: Lynne Graham, Sr. Warden lbgraham52@gmail.com Vickie Calby, Jr. Warden calby53@gmail.com Karen Blye-McAbee, Clerk of Vestry kbwolfson@hotmail.com Sean Eckert seaneckert44@gmail.com Martha Kupscznk marthakupscznk@gmail.com Sandra Seeger sseeger@endlesscare.org Maggie Sock magmcgee50@gmail.com Thomas Undercoffler tunderco@frontiernet.net ~ 10 ~