St Thomas Episcopal Church of McLean, VA » Worship At Home – Feast of St. Francis of Assissi

THE WORD OF THE LORD
Opening Acclamation

Presider Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And blessed be God’s holy Name for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Purity

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.

The Collect for the Feast of St. Francis:

Presider The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Presider Let us pray.

Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reader A reading from the prophet Jeremiah: [Jeremiah 22:13-16]

Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages; who says, “I will build myself a spacious house with large upper rooms, and who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar, and painting it with vermilion. Are you a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?” says the Lord.

Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

Psalm 148:7-14 Laudate Dominum 7Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

10Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

11Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

12Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

13Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah!

The New Testament Lesson

Reader A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians: [Galatians 6:14-18]

May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Lesson

Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew [Matthew 11:25-30]

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Homily Rev. Fran

Rev. Fran’s Sermon will be posted here.

The Nicene Creed

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,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who 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.

The Prayers of the People

Intercessor I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; especially Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Susan, Jennifer and Porter, our Bishops; Fran, Anne, Susan, Walter, Joy, Mary, and Nicole, our staff; Stacy, our seminarian; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Christchurch School—Christchurch, St. Francis–Manakin-Sabot, and Emmanuel—Alexandria; for Ascension Church in Beraud, Haiti; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church.

Pause for Intercessions

Intercessor I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We pray for Walter, Ethan, Bishop Susan, Dick, David, Chris, Andrei, Jane, Thomas, Kait, Johnny, Emma, Cheryl, Julie, Caroline, George, David, Anne, Steve, and Evan, and for those suffering from COVID-19. Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Pause for Intercessions

Intercessor I ask your prayers for the departed, for those who have died today, and for those beloved you would name. Pray for those who have died.

Pause for Intercessions

Intercessor I ask your prayers of thanksgiving for Louise Armitage on her birthday today, Laura Barlow as she celebrates hers this week, for Julie and Andrew Walter and Claudia and Scott Johnston as they mark their wedding anniversaries, and for those thanksgivings you would name, either silently or aloud.

Pause for Intercessions

Intercessor Together let us pray for St Thomas Church.

All Almighty God, by your Spirit the whole body of your Church is governed and sanctified, hear our prayer for St Thomas, build in us a renewed vision of your Church; shape our life according to your will; empower us with the gifts to make us one that together we may grow as a church in the spiritual strength of community and reach out to include all people in Christ’s love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Litany for Creation and All Creatures

Intercessor Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,

All Have mercy on us.

Intercessor Holy and Mighty, Redeemer of the world,

All Have mercy on us.

Intercessor Holy Immortal One, Sanctifier of the faithful,

All Have mercy on us.

Intercessor Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, One God,

All Have mercy on us.

Intercessor Grant that all your creatures may thank and serve you;