HOLY EUCHARIST FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, August 7, 2022 – 8:30 & 10:30AM

St. Titus’ Episcopal Church

400 Moline Street, Durham, NC 27707

st.titusepiscopal@gmail.com

(919) 682-5504

WELCOME TO ST. TITUS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Whether you are here for the first time or your family has been part of St. Titus’ for generations, whether you’re here in person or watching online, the Holy Spirit has brought you to this place. We’re glad you’re here! Our Mission and Vision Statements are printed below. You can learn more about this faith community on our website, sttitusdurham.org. Our interim rector, Rev. Alicia or our deacon, Rev. Sarah, would be happy to talk with you about who we are and what we do at St. Titus’. We invite you to join us on our journey of faith.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

St. Titus’ is a diverse and growing community committed to walking with Christ by serving others, pursuing justice and welcoming all.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

God dreams for St. Titus’ to be sacred ground where all of God’s children experience the unconditional love of Jesus. In faithful response, we will offer Spirit-filled worship where people from diverse backgrounds encounter God. As an inter-generational community, we will deepen our faith through sharing scripture, Christian tradition and our own experience. We will be open and authentic with one another, and respond to the needs of our neighbors with compassion and creativity. Our passion for God’s justice and peace will compel us to become agents for social, political, and economic transformation. St. Titus’ will be Beloved Community.

Serving Today, August 7, 2022

Celebrant: The Reverend David Stanford   

Preacher: The Reverend Dr. Althea Alton

First Lesson: Lew Myers (8:30) Kendall Vanderslice (10:30)

Epistle: Mike Woodard (8:30)

Ushers: Marguerite & Dwight Peebles

____________________

THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Prelude   

Processional Hymn      How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord #636  The Hymnal 1982

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

People                          And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

The Celebrant says

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.

Glory to God [spoken without refrain at 8:30 am; sung at 10:30 am]

                                                                   #243 LEVAS II

Refrain:

          Glory, Glory, hallelujah,

          Lord we praise your Holy name,

          Glory, Glory hallelujah,

          Lord we praise your Holy name

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 for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading                Genesis 15:1-6

Reader                          A reading from the Book of Genesis

The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Reader                          The Word of the Lord

People                          Thanks be to God

Psalm 33:12-22          Exultate, justi

Reader                          A reading from the Book of Psalms

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.

14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.

16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,

19 To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.

Second Reading           Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Reader                          A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old– and Sarah herself was barren– because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Reader                          The Word of the Lord

People                          Thanks be to God

Sequence Hymn          Jesus, all my gladness   #701 The Hymnal 1982

Gospel                           Luke 12:32-40

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

People                          Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

People                                    Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon                                  The Rev. Dr. Althea Alton

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                                                                                             

Form I
Deacon or other leader

With all our heart and with all our mind,

let us pray to the Lord, saying,

“Lord, have mercy.”

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God,

and for the salvation of our souls,

let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world,

for the welfare of the Holy Church of God,

and for the unity of all peoples,

let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop Sam and Anne,

and for all the clergy and people,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations,

and for all in authority,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this city of Durham, for every city

and community, and for those who live in them,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For seasonable weather, and for an

abundance of the fruits of the earth,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us,

and for the wisdom and will to conserve it,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel on land, on water,

or in the air,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm,

for the widowed and orphans,

and for the sick and the suffering,

let us pray to the Lord.

I ask your prayers for:

Ama, Dorothy, Greg, Lawrence, Rose, Ann, Murphy, Karen, Derek, Walter, Mary, Vivian, Danita, Lionell, Vincent, Howard, Sydney, Carol, Robert, Beverly, Scott

[You may add your own petitions here]

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed,

for the unemployed and the destitute,

for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection,

and for all the departed,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses,

let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope,

without suffering and without reproach,

let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us,

O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of St. Titus’ and all of the saints,

let us commend ourselves, and one another,

and all our life, to Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord our God.

Silence

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect

Lord, hear the prayers of thy people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence

The Deacon says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. [The people may stand or kneel.]

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 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 Holy Communion

Offertory Sentence    

Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into his courts. Psalm 96:8                                                      

Offertory Hymn           I Want to be Ready                                  #7 LEVAS II

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer A

Celebrant                      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.

Celebrant

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

For you are the source of light and life, you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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:

Sanctus (spoken at 8:30 a.m.)

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.            

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.

On the night before he died for us, 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 saint 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 forever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer [Spoken at 8:30, sung at 10:30]

The People and Celebrant

And now, 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

A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant   Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Communion Hymns      Lord, I Have Seen Thy Salvation                           #153 LEVAS II

                   Break thou the bread of life                                 #146 LEVAS II

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion for those watching by Live-stream     

Post-communion Prayer

The celebrant says

Let us pray.

The People and Celebrant

Almighty and ever living God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

The Blessing

The Celebrant says

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you, and remain with you always.  Amen

Recessional

                                     

Deacon                         Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People Thanks be to God.