THE WORD OF THE LORD
                                                                                            

Opening Acclamation

Celebrant       Alleluia. Christ is risen
People           The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

 

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       “Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord                                 From Blue Hymnal, 178, vs. 1 

 

 

The Collect of the Day 

Celebrant       The Lord be with you.

People            And also with you.

Celebrant        Let us pray.

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

  

The Lessons

 

The First Lesson:  Acts 17:22-31                                                                                                        

A Reading from the Book Acts:

Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we too are his offspring.’

Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”  The Word of the Lord.                              

People     Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm 66:7-18 (responsively, by half verse)

7 Bless our God, you peoples; *
make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8 Who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.

9 For you, O God, have proved us; *
you have tried us just as silver is tried.

10 You brought us into the snare; *
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.

11 You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water; *
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

12 I will enter your house with burnt-offerings
and will pay you my vows, *
which I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.

13 I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
with the smoke of rams; *
I will give you oxen and goats.

14 Come and listen, all you who fear God, *
and I will tell you what he has done for me.

15 I called out to him with my mouth, *
and his praise was on my tongue.

16 If I had found evil in my heart, *
the Lord would not have heard me;

17 But in truth God has heard me; *
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

18 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *
nor withheld his love from me.

 

The Second Lesson: 1 Peter 3:13-22                                                                                                                                           

A Reading from the Book of First Peter:

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you– not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. The Word of the Lord.                                               

People      Thanks be to God.

 

 

Gospel Acclamation             “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia”                                From the Blue Hymnal 208

 

 

 

The Holy Gospel           John 14:15-21

Gospeller       The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People           Glory to you, Lord Christ

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Gospeller       The Gospel of the Lord.

People           Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

The Sermon            Rev. Fran

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:
    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                                                                                     

Intercessor   Let us give thanks to God who listens and gives heed to our prayers.

People    We praise and we bless you, our true and loving God.

 

Intercessor   We pray for all who search for you: may they find their way in you. Bless us with lips that sing your praise and lives that tell the stories of all that you have done for us. Open our eyes to find you among us as we share your love with others: [A time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor    We pray for the church, especially for our Bishops Susan and Jennifer, for our staff Fran, Anne, Susan, Walter, Joy, Mary, and Nicole, and for our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer in this time of social distancing we pray for: St. James’ (Richmond), St. Stephen’s (Richmond), Christ, Lucketts (Leesburg); for Ascension Church in Beraud, Haiti and those whom you would name: [A time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor   We pray for all who are oppressed by governments or institutions: for those whose voices are not heard or believed, those with no one on their side. Bless us with a joy for justice and the strength to persevere as we work toward your coming realm: [A time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor   We pray for all who hunger, and those who worry each day how they will care for their families. Bless us all with meaningful work and fill us with good things, as we love and care for each other and find our sustenance in you: [A time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor    For the sick and those in need, and for any who are oppressed by wounds of the soul, for Mitzi, Ethan, Bp. Susan, Declan, Dick, Sally, Guy, Marco, David, Chris, Gail, Andrei, Jane, Thomas, Chris, Stephanie, Ally, Kait, Johnny, Emma, and for those suffering from COVID-19, and those that you would name: [a time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor   We pray for all who suffer the violence and scars of war, for all soldiers and their families, and all who live and serve in war-torn places. Give them courage in the face of fear; in times of trouble, do not let their feet slip. Bless us with your vision of peace, for you have made us one family by giving life and breath to all: [A time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor     We also give thanks for the blessings of this life, for Brendan, Jeson, and Chuck celebrating their birthdays today, Jack, Jacob, Marc and Matthew who will celebrate theirs during the week; and for Donna & Bruce on their wedding anniversary today, and for Mary Lee & Rick, Nici & Toby, Susan & Edward, and Kristi & Clark on their anniversaries this week, and those blessings you would name: [a time of silence]. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor   We remember before you all who have died, and pray for all who will die today, for victims of the COVID-19 virus; and those whom you would name: [A time of silence], that they may know your peace. Lord in your mercy,

People    receive our prayer.

 

Intercessor:  Bless us with the gift of faith, that we may know you and love you, and enjoy life eternal shared with you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People     Amen.

 

Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Pentecost (pp. 153-155). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition, adapted by The Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith.

 

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.

 

 

Offertory Hymn    “Precious Lord, take my hand” , vv. 1-2                                              From Wonder, Love & Praise, 800 

 

During this unprecedented time, giving is crucial to our 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!

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Officiant      The Lord be with you.

People         And also with you.

Officiant      Let us pray.

 

Officiant 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

Celebrant       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.

 

 

Closing Hymn         “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus”, v. 1                                                                            From the Blue Hymnal, 460

The Dismissal

Celebrant       Let us go forth in the name of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia!
People                 Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!

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