The First Sunday After Pentecost, May 26, 2024

The people of St. Titus’ Episcopal Church in Durham, NC are delighted to worship with you this Sunday. 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.

Prelude                      

The Bidding Prayer                                                                           BCP p. 833

Almighty God, who poursout on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship youin spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Processional Hymn      This is the Day!                                                     L-219

The Opening Acclamation                                                                            EOW, p.50

Celebrant     Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.

People         Glory to God for ever and ever.

The 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 / Glory to God                                                  L-243

The Celebrant then continues

Celebrant         God be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant         Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

First Reading                                                                        Isaiah 6:1-8                                                                  

Reader            A reading from the Book of Isaiah                                        

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

People Thanks be to God.

The Psalm      29        Afferte Domino                                                

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.

9 And in the temple of the Lord *
all are crying, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *
the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Second Reading                                                           Romans 8:12-17

Reader A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans                    

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

People Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn       Come by Here (Kumbahya)                                 L-162

The Gospel                                                                                                               John 3:1-17

Then, all standing as able, the Celebrant reads the Gospel, first saying

Celebrant         The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to John.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Celebrant         The Gospel of our Savior.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon                                                              The Rev. Valerie J. Mayo            

We will maintain a brief silence to allow for reflection.

The Nicene Creed   [Please stand as you are able]                                             EOW, p.53

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.

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

Leader

Intoxicate us with visions and dreams that will align us with you. Jolt us from our inertia into action. Come into our lives with power.

            Come Holy Spirit, and stay with us.

Transform our melancholy into joy, worry into peace, and despair into hope. We pray for healing for those who suffer from any distress or illness. Come into our lives with healing. We pray especially for

Our Wade Chestnut Memorial Chapel and St. Titus’ parishioners; for our Topsail Beach family and community members.

            Come Holy Spirit, and stay with us.

Work your ways in this world, and direct the leaders of the nations to embrace peace and justice.

            Come Holy Spirit, and stay with us.

Shape our weary and wounded souls into souls on fire for God’s mission.

            Come Holy Spirit, and stay with us.

For whom or what else shall we pray for today?

                                                © Church Publishing Incorporated

The Concluding Collect                                                       BCP, p.395

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

The Confession                                                          EOW, p.56

Celebrant

Let us confess our sins to God.

Silence may be kept.

Celebrant and People

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.

The Absolution                                                          EOW, p.20

Celebrant

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.

The Peace                                                                  EOW, p.56

Celebrant         The peace of Christ be always with you.

 People             And also with you.

Celebrant         Let us share the peace with one another.

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

The Words of Welcome and Thanks                                   St. Titus’Vestry Member

Holy Communion  (Eucharistic Prayer 3)                                                            EOW, pp.62-65

The Offertory

The Offertory Sentence                                                              Ephesians 5:2

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.

The Offertory Selection             Witness                                            by Hall Johnson

        Morgan Burgess, Soprano Soloist                             

The Great Thanksgiving (standing)

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 our thanks and praise.

Celebrant

All thanks and praise are yours at all times and in all places, our true and loving God; through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things. You laid the foundations of the world and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb; You brought forth all creatures of the earth and gave breath to humankind.

For with your co-eternal Son and Holy Spirit, you are one God, one Lord, in Trinity of Persons and in Unity of Being; and we celebrate the one and equal glory of you, O Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing, all you create is a sign of hope for our journey; And so as the morning stars sing your praises we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy:

Holy, Holy, Holy                                                                                                    LEVAS-255   Holy, holy, holy, holy,  holy Lord God of hosts,  heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes  in the name of the Lord, of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues

Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all, your Word has never been silent; you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations, you delivered them from bondage and led them to a land of promise. Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human, to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign and give himself for us, a fragrant offering.

Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, you have freed us from sin, brought us into your life, reconciled us to you, and restored us to the glory you intend for us.

We thank you that on the night before he died for us Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, gave it to his friends and said: “Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said: “Drink this, all of you: this cup is the new Covenant in my Blood, poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

And so, remembering all that was done for us: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension, longing for Christ’s coming in glory, and presenting to you these gifts your earth has formed and human hands have made, we acclaim you, O Christ:

Celebrant and People

Dying, you destroyed our death.

Rising, you restored our life.

Christ Jesus, come in glory!

The Celebrant continues

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ. Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power, may be a people of hope, justice and love.

Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ, and in the fullness of time gather us with all your people into the joy of our true eternal home.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we worship you our God and Creator in voices of unending praise.

Celebrant and People  

Blessed are you now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer   (sung)                                                                        L-264

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                                                  EOW, p.69

Celebrant         We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ.

People We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The Fraction Anthem                       Christ our Passover                        W-865

Celebrant

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 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.

The Bread and cup are given to the communicants with these words:

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Amen.

Celebrant         All are welcome to the Lord’s table. Won’t you come?

The Communion Hymns      Let Us Break Bread Together                                      L-152

                             Lord I Have Seen Thy Salvation                                    L-153   

The Post-Communion Prayer                                                                                EOW, p. 69

Celebrant               Together, let us pray.

God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Corporate Blessing                                                                  EOW, p. 70

The Celebrant says

The Wisdom of God

the Love of God

and the Grace of God

strengthen you

to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,

in the name of the Holy Trinity . Aman.

The Recessional Hymn         He’s Got the Whole World in his Hand                           L-217

The Dismissal                                                                        

Celebrant         Let us go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

People Thanks be to God.

St. Titus’ and the Chestnut Chapel family will jointly sponsor a Coffee Hour following the service.

Rev. Valerie Mayo, the Vestry, and the people of St. Titus offer thanks to the dedicated coordinators and members of Chestnut Chapel for your gracious invitation to be with you on Trinity Sunday, along with a very special thanks to the Brotherhood of St. Titus’ and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina for supporting and sponsoring this opportunity. 

Serving Today: May 26	11:00 a.m.
Celebrant	The Rev. Valerie J. Mayo
Lay Eucharistic Ministers	Robyn Furges
First Lesson	Spike Yancy
Psalm	Robyn Furges
Second Lesson	Keith Bishop
Intercessor	Lew Myers
Ushers	Dwight Peebles and Ken Valentine

St. Titus’ Episcopal Church, 400 Moline St., Durham, NC 27707, http://www.sttitusdurham.org