8:00 Service May 14, 2023: Sixth Sunday of Easter
Our Mission Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, a welcoming and diverse community seeking to walk in the way of Jesus and to reveal Christ’s reconciling love in our city, nation, and world.
Pandemic Precautions Continue: Up-to-date vaccination is required for everyone eligible. Windows are open. In the spirit of protecting the most vulnerable members of the congregation, we ask that you attempt to distance, especially if asked. We ask that all members of the congregation respect others’ choices about masking. Please refrain from coming to church if you are sick or experiencing any new symptoms.
Communion: All are welcome to receive. When it comes time, please follow the directions of the ushers. Walk past the chalice bearer to return to your pew from the other side. If you would like to receive wine you may either “sip” or hand your wafer to the chalice bearer, who will “intinct” (dip) for you. If you would prefer not to receive, simply cross your arms across your chest and the minister will give you a blessing. Gluten free wafers are available, on request from the minister.
Donations: We welcome donations to support the work of Holy Communion, whether a payment on a pledge or simply an offering. You can also text GIVE to (833) 864-5384 or give any time on our website holycommunion.net/give
Accessibility: Our entrances have auto-open buttons, and our elevator is ADA compliant. Both the downstairs restrooms and one of the upstairs restrooms are accessible. Priority seating is provided for caretakers of small children and those with mobility needs. If you have any questions about signage, please ask an usher. Hearing assistance devices are available from the welcome table. Just ask an usher.
Get Involved: If you begin by filling out a “Connect Card” by hitting “Next Steps” on the button on any page. You can also use the Connect Cards in the pews to update your information, request prayers, or to ask a question. Turn them in to the wooden offering box in the entryway.
The congregation is invited to say the words together in bold. If you are worshiping with us from home, to prepare for worship, you may want to place a candle or two in the place where you worship, to light during the opening prayer.
A priest welcomes the congregation. If you are new to us, consider filling out our “get connected” form, let us get to know you better.
Opening Acclamation
Please rise in body or spirit
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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.
Song of Praise A Song of Jerusalem Our Mother Isaiah 66:10-14
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her *
all you who love her,
Rejoice, rejoice with her, *
all you who mourn over her,
That you may drink deeply with delight *
from her comforting breast.
For thus says our God, *
“I will extend peace to her like a river,
the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream.
“You shall nurse and be carried on her arm,
and you shall nestle in her lap.
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; *
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
“You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, *
you shall flourish like the grass of the fields.”
Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons
We hear the stories of the experience of God from our spiritual ancestors. Following an ancient pattern originally from Jewish synagogue worship, readings follow a calendar shared by Christians around the globe.
1st Lesson Please be seated. Acts 17:22-31
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Paul stood up in the middle of the council on Mars Hill and said, “People of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. As I was walking through town and carefully observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown God.’ What you worship as unknown, I now proclaim to you. God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples made with human hands. Nor is God served by human hands, as though he needed something, since he is the one who gives life, breath, and everything else. From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. In God we live, move, and exist. As some of your own poets said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore, as God’s offspring, we have no need to imagine that the divine being is like a gold, silver, or stone image made by human skill and thought. God overlooks ignorance of these things in times past, but now directs everyone everywhere to change their hearts and lives. This is because God has set a day when he intends to judge the world justly by a man he has appointed. God has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 66:7-18
The Psalm is read in unison
7 In your might you rule for ever;
your eyes keep watch over the nations; *
let no rebel rise up against you.
8 Bless our God, you peoples; *
make the voice of God’s praise to be heard;
9 who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.
10 For you, O God, have proved us; *
you have tried us just as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the snare; *
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
12 You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water; *
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
13 I will enter your house with burnt-offerings *
and will pay you my vows,
14 which I promised with my lips *
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts with the smoke of rams; *
I will give you oxen and goats.
16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, *
and I will tell you what the Lord has done for me,
17 The One to whom I called out with my mouth *
and whose praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had found evil in my heart,
*the Lord would not have heard me;
2nd Lesson
1 Peter 3:13-22
A Reading from the first Letter of Peter
Who will harm you if you are zealous for good? But happy are you, even if you suffer because of righteousness! Don’t be terrified or upset by them. Instead, regard Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts. Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. Yet do this with respectful humility, maintaining a good conscience. Act in this way so that those who malign your good lifestyle in Christ may be ashamed when they slander you. It is better to suffer for doing good (if this could possibly be God’s will) than for doing evil.
Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit. And it was by the Spirit that he went to preach to the spirits in prison. In the past, these spirits were disobedient—when God patiently waited during the time of Noah. Noah built an ark in which a few (that is, eight) lives were rescued through water. Baptism is like that. It saves you now—not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is the mark of a good conscience toward God. Your salvation comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at God’s right side. Now that he has gone into heaven, he rules over all angels, authorities, and powers.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please rise in body or in spirit for the reading of the Gospel.
The Gospel John 14:15-21
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.
“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon:
Please be seated, at the invitation of the preacher.
The Rev. Mike Angell
Nicene Creed
Please rise in body or in spirit. The Nicene Creed is an ancient (381 AD) formulation of faith. In 1988 the Lambeth Conference of bishops from across the Anglican Communion requested churches remove the “filioque” clause (“and from the Son”), which was added centuries later. We share the original version with our Eastern Orthodox and Old Catholic siblings in faith.
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.
The Prayers of the People
The Leader and People pray responsively
Gracious God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
We pray for the Church in El Salvador; in the Diocese of Missouri we pray for Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau. Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for Michael, our presiding bishop, Deon our bishop and for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for our president, the members of Congress, the Supreme Court, our governor, and for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world.
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
We give you thanks for all the blessings of this life; especially for Chris Padgett, Kenneth Oliff, Dan Ellis, Leanna Baudendistel, and all those celebrating birthdays this week; and all those celebrating anniversaries this week. Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; That our works may find favor in your sight.
We pray for the LGBTQ+ community facing discriminatory action from our Missouri government. Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest; Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. You are invited to add your own prayers, silently or aloud.
The presiding priest may offer an additional prayer.
The Peace
Alleluia! Christ has been raised from the dead. The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
Please do not approach people outside your household. A wave, a peace sign, or a “smize” (a smile with your eyes) will do.
Welcome & Announcements:
Announcements are shared. You may be seated.
Offering We welcome donations to support the work of Holy Communion, whether a payment on a pledge or simply an offering. Plates will be passed. You can also give on our website or by texting GiveHoCO to (833) 864-5384
Eucharistic Prayer
The second part of the liturgy moves to the Table. As we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, we gather in a way Christians have for millennia. This season we are praying a modified version
of “Prayer C” found starting on page 371. The prayer, originally written by Capt. Howard Galley, a lay theologian and member of the LGBTQ+ community was revolutionary at the time. Like many prayers from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it has more congregational responses than other Episcoapl Eucharistic prayers. We are using a proposed alternative, authorized by bishop Deon. It includes a modified phrase in the second paragraph, in sensitivity to disabled members of the body of Christ. There is also edited language to be more inclusive of gender.
Please rise, in body or in spirit.
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
God of all power, Source and Sustainer of the Universe,
you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
At your command all things came to be: shining light
and enfolding dark; the vast expanse of interstellar space,
galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,
and this fragile earth, our island home.
By your will they were created and have their being.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race. You made us
the stewards of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed
your trust; and we turned against one another.
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets
and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the
fullness of time you sent your only Son, born your servant Mary, to
fulfill your Law, opening for us the way of freedom and peace.
By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed.
And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory,
in their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The presider gives thanks to God for the reconciling work of Christ’s passion and resurrection and remembers Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.
Remembering now his work of redemption,
and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,
We celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection
as we await the day of his coming.
The presider continues with prayer for the Holy Spirit to sanctify the bread and wine, and the gathered congregation.
...let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.
Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.
The presider concludes with a doxology:
your Church gives honor, glory, and worship,
from generation to generation. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray in the way Christ taught us, and in the language of our hearts.
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino,
hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos
a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación
y líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino,
tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria,
ahora y por siempre. Amén
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
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Administration of the Sacrament
All are welcome to receive. When it comes time, we will make our way by row and then process toward the communion minister. If you would like to receive wine you may either “sip” or hand your wafer to the chalice bearer, who will “intinct” (dip) for you. If you would prefer not to receive, simply cross your arms across your chest and the minister will give you a blessing. Gluten free wafers are available, on request from the minister.
Post Communion Prayer
All are invited to rise or to kneel in body or in spirit.
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 forever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
The Dismissal
Alleluia, Alleluia. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Service Leaders:
Preacher & Celebrant: The Rev. Mike Angell
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Assisting: Loretta Go
Chalice Bearers: Karen Payne
Readers: Donna Baudendistel
Intercessor: Lisa Hummel
Usher: Earl Bonds
