Holy Eucharist for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 19, 2021, 10:30 AM (Livestreamed and In-person) Service

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
September 19, 2021, 10:30 a.m.

Welcome to St. Titus’ Episcopal Church

We’re glad you’re here! For the safety of all in attendance, you are required to wear a mask throughout the service, with the exception of a few seconds when you put the host into your mouth. Lectors are permitted to remove their masks while reading, as is the preacher.
Remember that no gathering can be completely safe. The COVID vaccine remains your best protection against contracting COVID-19. If you are able to be vaccinated, we urge you to do so.

* * *

Today we are remembering Blessed Alexander Crummell

Prelude

Welcome

Opening Hymn: Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy vv. 1, 4; Hymnal 1982 #482

1 Lord of all hopefulness,
Lord of all joy,
whose trust ever childlike,
no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking,
and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
at the break of the day.

4 Lord of all gentleness,
Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment,
whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping,
and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord,
at the end of the day.

The Celebrant says,
Blessed be God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Gloria

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 Celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Collect in Honor of the Reverend Alexander Crummell

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Alexander Crummell, whom you called to teach the Gospel to those who were far off and those who were near. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading Proverbs 31:10-31

Reader: A Reading from Proverbs

10 A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from far away.

15 She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her servant-girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.

22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.

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

Psalm 1
Beatus vir qui non abiit

1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.

4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Second Reading James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Reader: A Reading from James

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

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

Sequence Hymn: Lord, I want to be a Christian vv. 1, 5 LEVAS II #138

1 Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart,
in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart,
in my heart,
in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.

5 Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart,
in my heart;
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart,
in my heart,
in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.

Gospel Mark 9:30-37

The Deacon says
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

After the Gospel the Deacon says
The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon The Reverend Mawethu Ncaca

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

The Celebrant says
Gracious God, you fill us with faith and courage to confront the world’s injustice and to carry your abundant love to all the world: Hear us as we pray, saying: We give thanks to God in prayer; fill us with your Spirit.

Litanist: Raise up evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, who will preach the Gospel to those who are far off and to those who are near, and bring the unsearchable riches of Christ to all people.

We give thanks to God in prayer;
fill us with your Spirit.

Direct the counsel and knowledge of all leaders, Almighty One, that they may confront injustice and racism with words and acts of wisdom and compassion. We give thanks to God in prayer; fill us with your Spirit. Visit with your healing power all who live in places of thorns and threat, violence and racism, the rocky soil and scorched earth of poverty and injustice: Sow your seeds of love into the soil of good hearts, that the earth may bring forth an abundant harvest of justice and truth.

We give thanks to God in prayer;
fill us with your Spirit.

Revive our souls, O Gracious One, and fill our communities with perseverance and enduring faith, that with warm, emotional and impulsive energy we may reclaim neighborhoods in kindness and in peace.

We give thanks to God in prayer;
fill us with your Spirit.

Into your abundant heart, O God, we offer the cares of our hearts as we pray in intercession, especially for ____________________.

[You may add your own intercessions at this time.]

Hear our glad shouts of thanksgiving and praise as we bring to you the gratitude of our souls, especially for _________________________.

[You may add your own thanksgivings at this time.]

We entrust into your eternal love all who have died, especially ________________.

We give thanks to God in prayer;
fill us with your Spirit.

Celebrant: Loving and gracious Father, you called your faithful servant Alexander Crummell to bring leadership and hope to your Church through the gifts and spirit of the African race: Fill us with your Spirit, that we may continue the work, building institutions and relationships of justice, truth, and reconciling peace, through Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon or Celebrant says,
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

The Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Welcome and Announcements

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer A

The people remain standing. The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest, faces them and sings or says
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

For by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a new people in Jesus Christ our Lord, to show forth your glory in all the world.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Celebrant and People:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The people stand or kneel.

Then the Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or to lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Savior Christ has taught us we are bold to say,

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 Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

A period of silence is kept.

Then may be sung or said
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation
The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The deacons will bring the consecrated bread to you at your seats. You may remove your mask briefly to consume the consecrated bread.

Due to COVID precautions, we are not sharing the cup at this time. The consecrated wine will be returned to the earth.

For those of you who are participating in this celebration of Holy Eucharist from a different location, we invite you to pray with these words during the distribution of the holy sacrament:

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

After Communion, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.

Celebrant and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

The Celebrant says
The peace of God, that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.

Closing Hymn: Lead me, guide me LEVAS II #194

Refrain:
Lead me, guide me, along the way;
For if you lead me, I cannot stray;
Lord, let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me.

1 I am weak and I need thy strength and power
to help me over my weakest hour;
Help me through the darkness thy face to see,
Lead me, O Lord, lead me. [Refrain]

2 Help me tread in the paths of righteousness;
be my aid when satan and sin oppress;
I am putting all my trust in thee.
Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me. [Refrain]

3 I am lost, if you take your hand from me,
I am blind, without thy light to see;
Lord, just always let me thy servant be,
Lead me, Oh Lord, lead me. [Refrain]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We welcome Lyn Francisco as our supply organist today.

By now you know that the 9:00 am service has moved to 8:30 am. The 10:30 am service time will not change. What has changed is that the service will no longer be exclusively online. You are able to register to attend in person if you wish. If you choose to attend in person, please remember that you will need to wear a mask covering both your nose and mouth at all times that you are inside the church building. We ask that you not attend in person if you feel unwell or display any COVID symptoms. Please help us keep St. Titus’ safe for all. You may register for in-person services on the St. Titus’ website.

Intergenerational Christian Formation: Catechist Donna Smith will lead a study on Christianity – Our Jewish Roots & Heritage on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am until 10:20 am. The program is for both youth (10 years and older) and adults. The study will begin on September 19. Registration is required. You may register by following the registration link in the weekly email, or by emailing Rev. Yancy or Jack, our administrative assistant. We will need to limit the number of participants, so please register quickly. Please see Donna Smith or Rev. Stephanie with any questions.

Support St. Titus’: If you would like to support our ministries you can make an online donation here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YQQT/home . Or you can mail or hand-deliver a check to St. Titus’ at 400 Moline St., Durham, NC, 27707. Thank you!

Stay in Touch: To receive weekly email announcements from St. Titus’, email Jack at st.titussecretary@gmail.com or sign up by following this link: http://eepurl.com/htIWIr .
Subscribe to weekly updates from the Diocese of North Carolina by following this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/QCPKOTo .

ALEXANDER CRUMMELL
PRIEST, MISSIONARY, EDUCATOR (10 SEP 1898)

Alexander Crummell was born in New York City in 1819, and wished to study for the priesthood, but received many rebuffs because he was black. He was ordained in the Diocese of Massachusets in 1844, when he was 25 years old, but was excluded from a meeting of priests of the diocese, and decided to go to England. After graduating from Cambridge, he went to Liberia, an African country founded under American auspices for the repatriation of freed slaves. Crummell hoped to see established in Liberia a black Christian republic, combining the best of European and African culture, and led by a Western-educated black bishop. He visited the United States and urged blacks to join him in Liberia and and swell the ranks of the church there. His work in Liberia ran into opposition and indifference, and he returned to the United States, where he undertook the founding and strengthening of urban black congregations that would provide worship, education, and social services for their communities. When some bishops proposed a separate missionary district for black parishes, he organized a group, now known as the Union of Black Episcopalians, to fight the proposal.
by James Kiefer

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Alex_Crummell.htm