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Holy Eucharist Rite II
June 25, 2023 8:30 am & 10:30 am
Please join the worship by following the liturgy (program) in this bulletin. We encourage you to use the time before worship to pray and invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to keep you centered and focused on what God may be saying to you. After worship, we invite you to pray for God’s strength to help you face and meet the demands of the world from this moment and in the days to come.
Organ Prelude: Variations on Wondrous Love (Hymn 439) Samuel Barber
Opening Hymn: I love thy kingdom, Lord Hymnal 1982 #524
The Opening Acclamation BCP Page 355
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity BCP page 355
The Celebrant then continues
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 LEVAS II #243
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, Refrain
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. Refrain
Collect of the Day BCP page 228
The celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; 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 21:8-21
Reader A reading from the book of Genesis
The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 Inclina, Domine
1 Bow down your ear, O LORD, and answer me, *
for I am poor and in misery.
2 Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *
save your servant who puts his trust in you.
3 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for you are my God; *
I call upon you all the day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, *
for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, *
and great is your love toward all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, *
and attend to the voice of my supplications.
7 In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *
for you will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, O LORD, *
nor anything like your works.
9 All nations you have made will come and worship you, O LORD, *
and glorify your Name.
10 For you are great;
you do wondrous things; *
and you alone are God.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *
give your strength to your servant;
and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *
because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Second Reading Romans 6:1b-11
Reader A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans
Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn Take up your cross, the Savior said Hymnal 1982 #675
Then, all standing as able, the Deacon reads the Gospel, first saying
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Gospel Matthew 10:24-39
Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
After the Gospel the deacon says
The Gospel of the Lord
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs
We will maintain a brief silence to allow for reflection.
The Nicene Creed BCP page 358
[Please stand as you are able.]
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 intercessor says,
Children of God, praise the Lord! Our God is faithful and hears our prayers, so let us pray,
“In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.”
To the baptized, O God, grant newness of life. Strengthen us to follow in the footsteps of your Son.
Silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.
To the nations of the earth, O God of hosts, grant freedom and peace. Deliver the lives of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
Silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.
To your created order, O God, grant your help. May the waters, soil, and air be made clean and healthy again.
You are invited to add your thanksgivings, followed by silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.
To this city, O God, grant your deliverance. Set us free from violence and destruction. Make safe our streets.
Silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.
To those who feel the deep about to swallow them, O God, grant your salvation. In your great compassion, turn to all those in need.
We pray especially for: Tyna, Dennis, Marjorie, Ama, Dorothy, Lawrence, Ann, Murphy, Karen, Derek, Walter, Vivian, Danita, Lionell, Vincent, Howard, Sydney, Carol, Robert, Barton, Beverly, Harmon, Cedric, Allen, Damon, Chuck, Pam, and Denise.
We pray for all those who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries during the month of June.
You are invited to add your petitions, followed by silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help.
To the dead, O God, grant life eternal with Christ. May all those who have been baptized into the death of Christ be united with him in his resurrection.
Silence
In your great mercy, O God,
Answer us with your unfailing help
A Prayer to End Gun Violence
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Turn us from the worship of power. Give us courage to confront our false gods and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence.
Help us rise above our dread that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate
for change. For your dream of a world where children are safe and all of us live together
without fear, Loving God, make us instruments of your peace. Amen.
A Prayer for a Rector Search
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Concluding Collect
The Celebrant says,
Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask, help us to ask what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Confession BCP page 360
Deacon Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
silence
Deacon 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 Absolution BCP page 360
The celebrant 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 Minister 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. Ps 96:8
Offertory Hymn: I have decided to follow Jesus LEVAS #136
The Great Thanksgiving (Eucharistic Prayer A) BCP page 361
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:
LEVAS II #255 [sung at 10:30 am]
Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord, 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 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.”
The Memorial Acclamation
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.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
The Lord’s Prayer BCP page 364
The Celebrant says
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
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The Priest invites the people to Communion
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.
Administration of Communion
At the time of communion, you are invited to come forward and receive the bread and wine. The priest will place a wafer in your hand. You may then receive wine either by direct consumption from a chalice (Common Cup), or you may give the wafer to the Eucharistic minister who will dip the wafer in the wine and place the wafer on your tongue. You may also still come forward to receive a blessing. Simply cross your arms over your chest before the priest for the blessing. After receiving communion or a blessing, you may return to your seat.
Communion Hymn Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love Hymnal 1982 #602
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.
Post-communion Prayer BCP page 365
The Celebrant says
Let us pray.
The celebrant and people say together
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 BCP page 366
The Celebrant says
Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Comfort the afflicted. Be patient with all, but make no peace with oppression. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
Recessional Hymn This is the Day! LEVAS #219
The Dismissal BCP page 36
Deacon Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Organ Postlude: Trumpet Tune in D Major David N. Johnson
Announcements
Rev Alicia is away this morning, attending a family event. Thank you, Fr. Greg, and Fr. David, for covering while she is away. For any pastoral emergencies, such as serious hospitalizations, last rites, and deaths, contact Deacon Sarah and Rev. Alicia.
Many thanks to Anne Parks, our supply organist this morning.
Important information from the St. Titus’ Vestry: Please mark your calendars for Sunday, July 9. There will be only one service that day at 9:30, followed by an important Parish Meeting. Again, we will only have one service at 9:30 am. The meeting will immediately follow the service.
A Word of Gratitude to the many good folks who helped with the Pauli Murray Service and reception, and to everyone who contributed to that special event. What a Spirit-filled time of worship, fellowship, and joy! Everything came together beautifully, and we just want to thank everyone who was involved.
The Union of Black Episcopalians will hold its 55th Annual Business Meeting and Conference in Montgomery, Alabama from July 24 – July 26, 2023. The theme is So Flows Our River: NIA – Purpose, IMANI – Faith, and UMOJA – Unity. Registration is open. You may log onto the website to learn more: ube.org. Rev. Alicia Alexis from St. Titus will be attending this conference.
Clergy Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, June 28 – June 29, 2023. The Clergy Conference aims to provide collegial interaction from those who work together as members of the same diocese. This is also a time for prayer, getting updates, connecting with old and new colleagues, strengthening relationships, and some down time to enjoy the beauty of the area/fellowship.
Deacon Sarah and Rev. Alicia Alexis will be attending the Conference in Winston-Salem. For any pastoral emergencies, you may contact us. I ask your prayers for Sarah and me, and all clergy of the Diocese as we carry out the work of God’s church here on earth.
Rector Search Update: The Rector Search Committee completed two weeks of interviews with some very qualified and exciting priests. We are now in the process of inviting one or two of those candidates to meet in person. If all goes as planned, we will be prepared to recommend a name to be the next Rector of St. Titus Episcopal Church to the vestry at the next meeting on July 16th. Please continue to remember our new priest in your prayers. Thank you for your support of our committee. God bless you!
Gun Violence Prevention: Season of Pentecost
In his Pentecost Sunday sermon, Canon Greg Jacobs announced that the Episcopal Peace Fellowship has declared that the entire season of Pentecost (May 28-December 3) will be devoted to efforts to prevent gun violence in our communities. (A link to his sermon is available on our website, sttitusdurham.org.)
Recognizing gun violence as a crisis threatening our entire nation, the bishops of our diocese issued a pastoral letter declaring:
“More than ever before, it seems we are responding almost weekly to news of another mass shooting. Anytime violence happens anywhere, at a church or other house of worship, a school, a grocery store, a concert, we feel the pain, the horror and the outrage in a deep and personal way. A steady drumbeat of gun violence is unfolding with increasing frequency, an alarming and consistent threat to personal and public safety.
We cannot allow the volume and frequency of these events to leave us feeling numb and powerless…It is time to step outside our comfort zone. It is time to put our thoughts and prayers into action. It is time to bear witness in the public square that our country’s tolerance of inaction to this violence is itself a form of collusion with such violence. This is our call as followers of Jesus. This is what it means to become a disciple, making a difference.”
– from the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter (June 26, 2022)
As a first step, a diocesan Taskforce on Gun Violence Prevention has been convened to promote education, action, and advocacy in our congregations in the wake of this public health epidemic. Heeding the call of the Holy Spirit, St. Titus’ will seek to promote awareness and empower our members to become actively engaged in reducing, preventing, and ultimately ending gun violence in our community.
As an outward and visible sign of our commitment, we now have orange ribbons available at church and we ask our parishioners to wear them throughout the Pentecost season. The color orange has been adopted by the gun violence prevention movement as it is the color used by hunters to prevent themselves and others.
In the following weeks and months, we will provide educational resources to promote awareness of gun violence as well as resources to equip St. Titus’ members to take effective action in our community and to advocate for meaningful change in our gun laws. St. Titus’ has long promoted efforts to protect and enrich the lives of our children. Gun violence has put our children at unimaginable risk. We must do all that we can to assure them of a future where they can be safe and secure.
A Request from St. Titus’ Communications Committee: As we prepare for the coming of a new rector, we would like to have an updated database of St. Titus’ parishioners that contains current, accurate information. We need your participation to make this happen.
Please provide the following information for each person in your household or family: name, address, phone number(s), email, birthday, anniversary if applicable. At this stage, the information will be for St. Titus’ internal use only so will be kept confidential.
There are several ways you can submit your information:
Sign up for The Titusian, St. Titus’ monthly newsletter, on the St. Titus’ homepage: sttitusdurham.org, or by emailing the parish administrator.
Have you been to St. Titus’ Webpage lately? Come visit at sttitusdurham.org. You’ll find information about worship, ministries, our history, and opportunities to serve. St. Titus’ website parish calendar, viewable on the site, is being regularly updated now and includes St. Titus’ services and other happenings. If you have an event or meeting to schedule on the calendar, or an announcement you would like to post on the St. Titus’ website, please contact the parish administrator at st.titussecretary@gmail.com. And don’t forget to visit our Facebook page too! (You do not have to have a Facebook account to stop by.)
St. Titus' Episcopal Church 