THE WORD OF THE LORD
Opening Acclamation

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

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. 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 Gloria (said in unison)   
Glory to God in the highest,

    and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
    we worship you, we give you thanks,
    we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
    have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
    receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
    Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
    in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

The Collect of the Day
Presider   The Lord be with you.

People       And also with you.

Presider   Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; 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 34:1-12                                               
A Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy: 

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.        

 

The Word of the Lord.                                         

People   Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17  (responsively, by half verse)                                     

1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.

3 You turn us back to the dust and say, *
“Go back, O child of earth.”

4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
and like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep us away like a dream; *
we fade away suddenly like the grass.

6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
in the evening it is dried up and withered.

13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
be gracious to your servants.

14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.

16 Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.

17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.

 

The Second Lesson:  1 Thessalonians 2:1-8                                                  
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians:           

 

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. 

 

The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

 

The Gospel Acclamation

 

The Holy Gospel    Matthew 22:34-46

Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

 

Gospeller      The Gospel of the Lord.                        

People           Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

The Sermon                                                           Rev. Anne

You can listen to Anne’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.

 

The Prayers of the People  

 

Intercessor     For the sake of all that is needed by Earth, its people, and our churches, let us pray, saying, Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For people of faith in every land, in every religion, and in every home. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For the church of Christ, especially Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Susan, Jennifer and Porter, our Bishops; Fran, Anne, Susan, Walter, Joy, Mary, and Nicole, our staff; Stacy, our seminarian; Grace—Kilmarnock, Westover—Charles City, St. James, Mt. Vernon—Alexandria; and Ascension Church in Beraud, Haiti. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For world leaders, peacekeepers, diplomats, and government workers. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For trees and plants, creatures large and small, for pets and working animals, for oceans, winds, and soil. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For farmers in this harvest time, for those who fish and hunt, for those who ship and store what is gathered, and for those who cook and serve. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For children, teachers, and parents, in these days when school cannot be held in person. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For all else the church is concerned with on this day, especially those who have asked for our prayers: Walter, Ethan, Dick, David, Chris, Andrei, Jane, Thomas, Kait, Johnny, Emma, Cheryl, Julie, Caroline, George, David, Anne, and Philippa those suffering from COVID 19. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For those who have died, and those who will die today. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. Pause for intercessions. Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For all the blessings of this life and especially for Becky Ventorini, Bruce Berlage, 

David Forbes, Katie Ryder, Fred Young, Glen Letham as they celebrate their birthdays this week, for Cindy & Brad Hargroves, and Cleta & Ray Raymond as they mark an anniversary this week, and those thanksgivings you would name. Pause for intercessions.
Holy God,

People     hear our prayer.

 

Intercessor     For all that we have not named but which you know, O Lord, we trust that you will hear our prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

 

Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (pp. 212-213). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.

 

Intercessor     We pray for our upcoming election: Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(from The Book of Common Prayer, page 822)

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.

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 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
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.