THE WORD OF THE LORD
Prelude “Für Alina” by Arvo Pärt
Opening Acclamation
Presider Blessed are you, holy and living One.
People You come to your people and set them free. 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.
Gathering hymn Heal me hands of Jesus
Wonder, Love & Praise #773
The Collect of the Day
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: (Deuteronomy 18:15-20): The First Reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy
Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 111
The Psalm appointed for today is this portion of Psalm 111. We will read it responsively by half verse.
1 Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, *
in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the deeds of the Lord! *
they are studied by all who delight in them.
3 His work is full of majesty and splendor, *
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He gives food to those who fear him; *
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works *
in giving them the lands of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *
all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, *
because they are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever; *
holy and awesome is his Name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; *
those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
his praise endures for ever.
The Second Lesson is from First Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:1-13):
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Greeting A Celtic Alleluia
The Holy Gospel Mark 1:21-28
Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ
Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon Ms. Natalie Perl Regan
You can listen to Natalie’s sermon 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: 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
Let us pray for the needs of the world, saying,
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For the healing of Earth and all its creatures;
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For the church’s willingness to cast out demons in its midst, for congregations that are in turmoil, for the healing of divisions between the followers of Christ Jesus.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.
We pray for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Susan, Jennifer and Porter, our Bishops; Fran, Susan, Walter, Joy, Natalie, Mary, and Nicole, our staff and Stacy, our seminarian. In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Fredericksburg Region churches: Aquia—Stafford, Christ, — Spotsylvania; Church of the Messiah—Fredericksburg; Hanover with Brunswick Parish – Emmanuel and King George—King George; St. Asaph’s, Bowling Green, St. George’s—Fredericksburg; St. Mary’s—Colonial Beach; St. Paul’s—Owens, King George; St. Peter’s— Port Royal; Trinity—Fredericksburg and for Ascension Church in
Beraud, Haiti. We pray…
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For leaders of nations, for those who have great wealth, for those who have too much power, for those who have destructive weapons, and for those who have none; For Joe, our President, and Ralph, our Governor…
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For those who are victims of others’ idolatry, for children who have no one to listen to their cries for food and shelter, for parents who cannot answer the needs of their children, for peacemakers and diplomats, for those who give through charities, and for those who use the law to make policies for the greater good;
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For all who are in pain and in need of care, especially Walter, Susan, Andrei, Ethan, Emma, Johnny, Thomas, Julie, Caroline, David, Anne, Cher & David, Martha, Lucy, Chris, Sean, Nate, and Jack, those with COVID-19, and for those we name now aloud or silently [pause]…
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For those who have passed on from this life, and for those who mourn them, especially Juan Mendoza and for those we name now aloud or silently [pause]…
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
For the wisdom to fear you rightly, the power to withstand changes in our own lives that bring us closer to you, for the ability to give thanks for the people who have brought us to this time— our ancestors, teachers, pastors, and the martyrs of every age;
We thank you for all the blessings of this life, including Annelise Shannon and Ella Jacob on their birthdays this week, for all marking an anniversary, and for those blessings you would name [pause]
Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
Into your hands we commend all those for whom we pray and those it would be easy to forget. We ask your blessing on all your people, that we may come at last to the truth around your banquet table that has no end; through Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long, Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1. Westminster John Knox Press, 2014, by Natalie Perl Regan
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.
Commissioning of and Prayer for the New Vestry Members
Presider: Bruce, Jeff, and Mary Lee,
May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen you, that in this, and in all things, you may do God’s will in the service of the kingdom of his Christ. Amen.
In the name of this congregation I commend you to this work, and pledge you our prayers, encouragement, and support.
Let us pray.
Almighty God look with favor upon these persons who have reaffirmed their commitment to follow Christ and to serve in Christ’s name. Give them courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world, and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin
Presider Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. A time of silence.
All 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.
Absolution
Presider 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.
Offertory Sentence
Presider Walk in love, as Christ loves us, and gave himself an offering and a sacrifice to God.
During this unprecedented time, giving is crucial to ou
r health and viability. Please consider this a time of reflection and an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing ministries of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Contributions can be mailed to the church office (8991 Brook Road, McLean, VA 22102 ) or given online here. Thank you!
Offertory Hymn My faith looks up to thee
LEVAS, #88, vs 1 & 2
The Lord’s Prayer
Presider
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray.
Presider and People
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.
The Peace
Presider The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Blessing
Be of good courage, never be afraid
Because God who created you, Is always with you
And loves you fiercely.
And may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Be upon you and remain with you always. AMEN.
The Dismissal
Presider Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
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