PRELUDE (a time for silent reflection)

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN: 551 BLUE                                 Rise Up Ye Saints of God

Rise up, ye saints of God! Have done with lesser things, give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kings.

 Rise up, ye saints of God! His kingdom tarries long: Lord, bring the day of truth and love and end the night of wrong.

 Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where his feet have trod; and quickened by the Spirit’s power, rise up, ye saints of God!

THE WORD OF GOD

SIGN OF THE CROSS

People        ☩ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Celebrant   Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.

People       Glory to God for ever and ever.

Beloved God, as we approach your Presence, guide and stir us with your Holy Spirit, that we may become one body, one spirit in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

SONG OF PRAISE #410 BLUE

Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven, v 4

Angels, help us to adore him; ye behold him face to face; sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Celebrant             The Lord be with you.

People                And also with you.

Celebrant             Let us pray.

O God, you are the rock of strength of all who put their trust in you. Mercifully accept our prayers, because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you. Give us the help of your grace, so that in keeping your commandments, we may please you both in will and deed. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Reader        The Word of the Lord.

People         Thanks be to God.

A Reading from Deuteronomy                                 13:15–20

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Reader        Let us read together from Psalm 119                    v 1-8

Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.

O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances.

I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

HYMN #635 BLUE                             If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee

 If thou but trust in God to guide thee, and hope in him through all thy ways, he’ll give thee strength whate’er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God’s unchanging love builds on a rock that nought can move.

 Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving; so do thine own part faithfully, and trust his word, though undeserving; thou yet shall find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need the soul that trusted him indeed.

 THE GOSPEL                                                 Matthew 5:21–37

Celebrant  The holy gospel according to Matthew

People       Glory to you, O Lord.

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at someone with lust has already committed adultery with them in their heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces a spouse, let them give their spouse a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces, except on the ground of unchastity, causes them to commit adultery; and whoever marries someone divorced commits adultery.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Celebrant    The Gospel of the Lord.

People         Praise to you, Lord Christ.

SERMON                                                                                                          Pastor Neil

THE NICENE CREED (please stand)

 We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

 We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Celebrant

In calling forth creation from the void, God, you revealed yourself in human form. You manifest your concern for your whole universe. Hear the world’s needs, as we bring the matters of our hearts before you.

Leader

Pour out your life-giving Spirit on your holy church throughout the world and equip its members to boldly proclaim their common faith and your bountiful blessings across the earth. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let your Spirit move over our unruly time and heal its people broken in spirit and body. Bring peace to a weary and struggling world. Protect Mother Earth from human neglect. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Burn out all that is evil in us; consecrate us for holy service and empower us to work toward the salvation of the world. Give us energy and insight for the mission. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Renew the faith of all those who call you Lord, so that we may devote ourselves to worship, teaching, and prayer—all to reveal your grace, mercy, and healing to a fragile humanity. Give noble purpose to our secular leaders, and a desire to do justice in the land and in the world. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Be with those who are dying and ill, and their families and loved ones. Bless the pastoral ministries of this congregation. Safeguard immigrants and refugees. Provide solace and healing to those beleaguered by hurricanes, floods, and fires, and any other human and personal calamities. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We especially pray for those we name now… (please add your petitions). Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

 Celebrant

Holy, holy, holy God: fill us with strength and courage, discernment and compassion, that we may be your instruments of justice, witness, and love in this world; that it may be on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Let us confess our sins to God. (Silence may be kept.)

Celebrant and People

God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

Celebrant

Almighty God have mercy on you ☩, forgive you all your sins

through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

THE PEACE

Celebrant    The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People         And also with you.

(Please greet one another in the name of the Lord.)

OFFERTORY SENTENCE

Celebrant    Let us with gladness present the offerings and gifts of our life and labor to the Lord. (Please be seated.)

HYMN #348 RED                              Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling, v 1, 2, 4

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Refrain: Come home, come home; you who are weary, come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me? (Refrain)

 O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me. (Refrain)

Celebrant

Please stand as you are able.

PRESENTATION HYMN #135 BLUE    Songs of Thankfulness

 Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise, manifested by the star to the sages from afar; branch of royal David’s stem in thy birth at Bethlehem; anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

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 our thanks and praise.

Celebrant will chant:

It is truly right to glorify you, Father, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and forever. Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance.

Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we sing:

SANCTUS S-130 BLUE

 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.

In these latter days, God leaned toward the earth and spoke to us by a Son, Jesus the Beloved. Born of our sister Mary and the Holy Spirit, guarded by our brother Joseph with fatherly care, Jesus came among us as a helpless babe, cradled beside the beasts and warmed by their breath—human, as we are, in need of human love.

Kings bowed down before him, bringing gifts; emperors were troubled by his reign—this Child in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. This Word of God was made flesh and dwelt amongst us, and his flesh and blood were given to us, in his final gift of grace. As a servant, Jesus emptied himself of might upon the cross, and as the risen Anointed One is enthroned at God’s right hand to bring mercy and justice to all the earth at the end of days.

And thus so, Jesus in the night in which he was handed over, took bread and gave thanks. He broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body given for you.

After supper, he took the cup, again gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

ACCLAMATION OF FAITH (said together)

We now obey your Son’s command. We recall his blessed passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension; and we look for the coming of his Kingdom.

We remember then, his suffering and death, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to the heavenly throne. With patience and steadfast hope, we await the day of his coming, when the wolf shall live with the lamb; when the righteous shall flourish, and there shall be an abundance of peace; and when he shall share with us the great and promised feast.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, upon your redeemed and holy people, ☩ and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that we may bear fruit worthy of repentance. Bless us to abound in hope, be filled with all joy and peace in believing, and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.

People        Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

THE LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

PRE-COMMUNION ANTHEM                                            S-164

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer, redeemer of the world: give us your peace, give us your peace.

 Celebrant   The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

WELCOME TO THE TABLE

All are welcome to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, without exception. The usher will direct you when to come forward (those in the back of the room come first). Cup your hands together to receive the bread and when the wine is offered, either dip your wafer in the wine or assist the chalice bearer to guide the cup to your lips. Alternately, you may cross your hands over your chest to indicate you wish a blessing from the priest. The elements will be brought to those who are unable to come forward.

COMMUNION MUSIC

THE THANKSGIVING            

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.

THE BLESSING

Sisters and brothers, we go out into the world in peace, as part of God’s beloved community. May God help us all to be of good courage, hold on to what is good, return to no one an evil for an evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, aid the suffering, do justice and hope, honor all people, and let our gentleness be known by everyone. May God, who raised our Lord Jesus from death, lift us up and restore us to wholeness. And may God bless us all, ☩ in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Amen.

HYMN #365 BLUE             Come Thou Almighty King, v 1-3

Come, thou almighty King, help us thy Name to sing, help us to praise, Father whose love unknown all things created own, build in our hearts thy throne, Ancient of Days.

Come, thou incarnate Word, by heaven and earth adored; our prayer attend; come, and thy people bless, come, give thy word success; stablish thy righteousness, Savior and friend.

Come, holy Comforter, thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour: thou, who almighty art, now rule in every heart, and ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power.

THE DISMISSAL

 Celebrant    Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, alleluia, alleluia!

People         Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

 POSTLUDE