8:00 Service May 28, 2023: Pentecost/Whitsunday
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.
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
Blessed be the God of all Creation
Whose Spirit renews the face of the earth
Come Holy Spirit, our souls inspire
And fill us with celestial fire!
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray.
Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in the holy comfort of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of 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 2:1-21
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
“When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Readers will present this portion in other languages:
There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!”
The reading continues in English
They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!” Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams. Even upon my servants, men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be changed into blood, before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 104:25-23
The Psalm is read in unison
O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number*
creatures both small and great.
There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.
All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
May your glory, O Lord, endure for ever; *
may you rejoice in all your works;
you look at the earth and it trembles; *
you touch the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.
May these words of mine please you; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.*
Hallelujah!
2nd Lesson
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
A Reading from the first Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
“No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, faith to still another by the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person.
Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink.”
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 20:19-23
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
“It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.””
The Gospel of our 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 St. Stephen’s in Ferguson. 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 Gloria Bertelsen and Emily Shulz celebrating birthdays this week and Michael Salsich and Nancy Donohoo celebrating their anniversary today. 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
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: The Rev. Mike Angell
Celebrant: The Rev. Julie Graham
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Assisting: Loretta Go
Readers: Alison Nash
Intercessor: Loretta Go
Usher: Earl Bonds
