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 God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

 

 

The First Lesson: Revelation 7:9-17                                             A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they are before the throne of God,

and worship him day and night within his temple,

and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;

the sun will not strike them,

nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  

      

The Word of the Lord.                                         

People   Thanks be to God.

 

 

Psalm 34:1-10, 22                         

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

2 I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.

3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.

5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.

6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, 
and he will deliver them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.

22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.

 

 

The Second Lesson:  1 John 3:1-3                                           A Reading from the First Letter of John.                             
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

 

The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

 

The Gospel Acclamation

 

The Holy Gospel     Matthew 5:1-12

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

 

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the   kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 

Gospeller      The Gospel of the Lord.                        

People           Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

The Sermon                                                           Rev. Fran

You can listen to Fran’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,

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.

 

The Prayers of the People, Form II                                                                              

The Prayers of the People is a time for us all to share our prayers with one another as we lift them together to God. In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own prayers, either silently or aloud.

Let us pray for God’s people throughout the world; for Michael, our presiding bishop; Susan, Jennifer, and Porter, our bishops, Fran, Anne, Susan, Walter, Joy, Mary and Nicole, our staff, Stacy, our Seminarian; and for all the baptized ministers of St. Thomas.  We pray for the churches  in our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: for Christ Church Cunningham Parish—Millwood, All Saints, Sharon Chapel—Alexandria;  for Ascension Church in Beraud, Haiti; and  for all other ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.

Silence.

Let us pray for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. We pray for Donald, our President, Ralph, our Governor, and for all civic leaders as they strive to fulfill the duties that are entrusted to them. We pray for our upcoming election this week. Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

 

Let us pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We ask your prayers for Walter, Ethan, Dick, David, Chris, Andrei, Jane, Thomas, Kait, Johnny, Emma, Cheryl, Julie, Caroline, George, David, Anne, Philippa, and Bob, those suffering from COVID 19, and for those on your intercessory prayer list. Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

Let us pray for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him.
Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Silence

Let us pray for the departed who have died since last All Saints Day: Richard Henninger, Kevin McCook, Bobbi Letham, Stacy Cashman Kornegay, and Gail Galloway.  

We pray also for our beloved friends and family who died since last All Saints Day: Peggy Flannigan, Jorn Justenson, Steve Fodrie, Cal & Nancy Larson, Janice Younger, Vanessa Swank, Bettie Crigler, Eric Wolf, Fred Lees, Martha Fergusson, Margot Cornwell, Carol Johnston, Joe Kelly, Joan Mayo, Mary Moton, Rita Beckham, Mitzi Arena, Nadia Fergusson and also for all COVID-19 victims.

Pray for those who have died.

Silence

Let us offer other petitions and thanksgivings: 
Silence.

Members of the congregation are invited to lift up their petitions and thanksgivings silently or aloud.

We celebrate with Emily, Allison, Noha, Betsy, and Dolly on their birthdays this week.
And we give thanksgiving for Nancy & Charlie Stringfellow as they mark their wedding anniversary this week. 

Silence

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored especially St. Thomas  whom we remember today. Let us pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Silence

 

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.

 

Virtual Altar of Remembrance

 

Blessing of Bricks in Walkway of Love

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.

 

Stewardship Speakers

 

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.