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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.
Opening Hymn: When morning gilds the skies Hymnal #427
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 [spoken without refrain at 8:30 am, sung at 10:30 am 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 God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Reading Exodus 34:29-35
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God.
1 The Lord is King;
let the people tremble; *
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; *
he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
he is the Holy One.
4 “O mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity; *
you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”]
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and fall down before his footstool; *
he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
you were a God who forgave them,
yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
and worship him upon his holy hill; *
for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
Reader A Reading from the Second Letter of Peter
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn Fairest Lord Jesus Hymnal #383
Then, all standing as able, the Deacon reads the Gospel, first saying
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
After the Gospel the Deacon says
The Gospel of the Lord
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon Bishop Scott Benhase
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
Friends, God our Savior is our refuge! So let us pray to God, saying, “Incline your ear to us; hear our words.”
God our Savior, show us your face. Satisfy your Church in your presence. Reveal to us your ways so that we might walk in the light of your truth.
Silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
O God, your eyes are fixed on justice. We pray for all victims of war and violence and famine. Give heed to the cries of those in need throughout the world.
Silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
God of abundance, you have blessed the earth to bring forth plenty. May we recognize the abundance in our own lives, so that those with little may also have their fill.
Silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
O God, have compassion on the people of our region. Show us your marvelous loving kindness so that trust in your goodness might replace our fears.
Silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
God of blessings, we call upon you, for you answer us in our need. We pray this day for all those desperate for your blessing. Moved by compassion, heal the sick and suffering ones we hold in our hearts this day.
We pray especially for: Tyna, Dennis, Marjorie, Ama, Dorothy, Lawrence, Ann, Murphy, Karen, Derek, Walter, Vivian, Danita, Lionell, Vincent, Howard, Sydney, Carol, Robert, Beverly, Harmon, Cedric, Allen, Damon, Chuck, Pam, and Denise.
The congregation is invited to add their petitions and thanksgivings, followed by silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
God our vindicator, justify the dead through the mercy of your Messiah. We pray in the fullness of time, they may awake, beholding your likeness.
The congregation is invited to add their petitions, followed by silence.
Incline your ear to us;
Hear our words.
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
Deacon Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
silence
Deacon and People BCP page 360
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: The Lord is my light LEVAS II, #58
Words and Music by Lillian Bouknight; arranged by Paul Gainer. Copyright 1980 Savgos Music, Inc. International Copyright secured. Used with permission under OneLicense#A-727550. All rights reserved.
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:
| Sanctus [spoken at 8:30 am] 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. | 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 (spoken at 8:30 am, sung at 10:30 am) BCP page 364
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 Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless Hymnal #343
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
The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. Amen.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.
The Lord God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the holy and undivided Trinity, guard you, save you, and bring you to that heavenly City, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen
Recessional Hymn God of grace and God of glory Hymnal #594
The Dismissal BCP page 36
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Announcements
We are pleased to have with us this Sunday the Right Reverend Scott Anson Benhase. In 2010, Bishop Benhase was consecrated the 10th Bishop of Georgia. Prior to his consecration, he served as Rector of St Alban’s Parish, Washington, DC. Before that call, he served parishes in Durham; Charlottesville, VA; East Cleveland, OH; and Indianapolis, IN.
Bishop Benhase was born and raised along the Ohio River. He went to DePauw University to play football and came out with a vocation to the priesthood in 1979. After a year as a missionary in Honduras, he went to Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating in 1983. While serving in East Cleveland, he received his master’s degree in non-profit leadership. In 2009, he earned his doctorate from his alma mater, Virginia Theological Seminary.
He met his wife Kelly, a native of Tallahassee, during their college years when they served together on the staff of the Appalachia Service Project in the Pine Mountains of southeastern Kentucky. They were married in 1984.
Semi-retired, Bishop Benhase served as part-time Vicar of an African American and Latino mission, St Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Oxford, NC from 2020 to 2023. Kelly is a retired lecturer in English composition at Georgia Southern University.
They have three adult children: John is a Chef & Restaurant Developer in Savannah, GA, Charley lives in Washington, DC and is in software management, and Mary Grace, who also lives in D.C., directs programs for a major non-profit whose focus is ending childhood hunger in America.
St. Titus’ Parish Office is staffed from 8:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., Monday – Thursday. Please call us at 919-682-5504 if you need to reach the Rector or the Parish Administrator.
Please consider hosting a Coffee Hour immediately following each service at St. Titus’. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. It’s a way to provide refreshment and fellowship for our parishioners and guests! Sign up in the notebook in the Narthex of the church.
The Fall 2023 edition of Forward Day by Day, Daily Devotions for Disciples, is availablein the church Narthex. If you need a copy mailed to you, please email st.titussecretary@gmail.com or call the church at 919-682-5504. Please specify whether you’d like the pocket-size or the large print edition.
Rector Search Update: The rector search committee has completed the vetting process under the guidelines of the Office of Transition Ministry and the NC Diocese. We submitted a name to the vestry on July 16th. The vestry will have an opportunity for a discernment meeting before we call a vote. After, our Senior Warden Cheryl Myers, Bishop Sam, and the vestry will work on a contract of mutual ministry. Once that process is completed, we will be prepared to make an announcement to the congregation in August. Thank you for your support and we ask that you continue to pray for our new priest.
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. Information will be for St. Titus’ internal use only so will be kept confidential.
There are several ways you can submit your information:
1. Send it in an email to the parish administrator at st.titussecretary@gmail.com.
2. Mail it to the church office at 400 Moline St., Durham, NC 27707.
3. Fill out the information when you come to church on Sunday (forms will be available).
4. Go to the announcement on our website sttitusdurham.org, fill out and submit online.
Support St. Titus’: If you would like to support our ministries you can make an online donation by visiting our homepage: sttitusdurham.org. You can also mail or hand-deliver a check to St. Titus’ at 400 Moline St., Durham, NC, 27707. Thank you.
Stay in Touch: To sign up to receive weekly email announcements from St. Titus’, email the parish administrator at st.titussecretary@gmail.com.
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. 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.
St. Titus' Episcopal Church 