8:00 Service February 13: The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
You will find our live stream on our homepage, on Facebook (where you can interact with others watching with comments), and on Youtube.
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.
Things are different right now. The pandemic means we are keeping things simple, short, and safe. We also now require vaccination, for in person services for those who are eligible. You must be free of COVID-related symptoms, close contact, and not have positive tests to attend. There are a few other ground rules. Read our full guidelines here.
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
Get Involved: If you begin by filling out a “Connect Card” at the Welcome Table or online, we’d be glad to keep you up to date with all that goes on here. You can also use the Connect Cards to update your information, request prayers, or to ask a question. Turn them in to the wooden offering box in the entryway. The Rector’s Pilgrimage class will start meeting soon, for new members.
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.
Welcome
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 Sentence
The congregation is invited to respond using the words in bold. You are invited to light a candle at home with us.
I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6b
O Lord, Open our lips.
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Canticle
The Third Song of Isaiah (60:1-19) Translation: Order of St. Helena
Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of God has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Holy One will rise, *
and the glory of God will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light, *
and rulers to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of our God, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Holy One will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.
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 set calendar for what will be read when. The translation used at Holy Communion is the Common English Bible translation.
A Reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah 17:5-10
The Lord proclaims:
Cursed are those who trust in mere humans,
who depend on human strength
and turn their hearts from the Lord.
They will be like a desert shrub
that doesn’t know when relief comes.
They will live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in a barren land where no one survives.
Happy are those who trust in the Lord,
who rely on the Lord.
They will be like trees planted by the streams,
whose roots reach down to the water.
They won’t fear drought when it comes;
their leaves will remain green.
They won’t be stressed in the time of drought
or fail to bear fruit.
The most cunning heart—
it’s beyond help.
Who can figure it out?
I, the Lord, probe the heart
and discern hidden motives,
to give everyone what they deserve,
the consequences of their deeds.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Psalm Psalm 1
The Psalm is read responsively. The congregation is invited to read the verses in bold.
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on this law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season,
with leaves that do not wither;
everything they do shall prosper.
It is not so with the wicked;
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgement comes,
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
The Gospel
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:17-26)
Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there. They came to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those bothered by unclean spirits were healed. The whole crowd wanted to touch him, because power was going out from him and he was healing everyone.
Jesus raised his eyes to his disciples and said:
“Happy are you who are poor,
because God’s kingdom is yours.
Happy are you who hunger now,
because you will be satisfied.
Happy are you who weep now,
because you will laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and condemn your name as evil because of the Human One. Rejoice when that happens! Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
But how terrible for you who are rich,
because you have already received your comfort.
How terrible for you who have plenty now,
because you will be hungry.
How terrible for you who laugh now,
because you will mourn and weep.
How terrible for you when all speak well of you.
Their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Sermon:
The Rev. Mike Angell
The Prayers of the People
The Leader and People pray responsively.
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
God of justice, we pray for your church: help us to grapple with the ways our historic institutions and leaders have been complicit in structures of oppression. Help us to continually reform our ways. For Michael our Presiding Bishop; Deon, our bishop; for all ordained ministers, for Josephine, Loretta, Meg and David in formation for holy orders, for the wider work and ministry of all members of Christ’s Church; and for all who seek you in the community of the faithful. Equip us with compassion and love, to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world.
God of justice, Hear our prayers.
God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world, that we might know our history and do the work to live into our ideals: For equity, justice, and peace across barriers of language, color, and creed; give to our elected and appointed leaders wisdom that they would serve the common good. Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love.
God of freedom, Hear our prayers.
God of peace, we pray for this community: For our local leaders; for our schools and markets; for our neighborhoods and workplaces. Kindle in every heart a desire for equality, respect, and opportunity for all. Give us courage to strive for justice and peace among all people, beginning here at home. We give you thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week, especially Deanna Hill, Maryanne Coley, Dorothy Midden, Donna Baudendistel, April Powell, and Kenny Powell. And for those celebrating anniversaries this week, especially Magdalene & Daniel Linck.
God of peace, Hear our prayers.
God of love, we pray for those who have died (especially): For the faithful in every generation who have worked for justice; for prophets who called us to racial reconciliation; for martyrs who died because of hatred; for those who have died of COVID and for all the communion of saints. Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light.
God of love, Hear our prayers.
You are invited to add your own prayers, silently or aloud.
God of Grace, Hear our prayers.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Welcome & Announcements:
Announcements are shared.
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
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.
Dismissal
Our worship has ended, our service in the world continues.
The Deacon dismisses the congregation. You are invited to join us after the service for virtual coffee hour.
Let us Bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Service Leaders
Preacher: The Rev. Mike Angell
Officiant: The Rev. Julie Graham
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Assisting: Josephine Ezenwa and Loretta Go
Service Notes:
The Form of Worship is Adapted from Enriching Our Worship
The Third Song of Isaiah is a Translation by the Order of St. Helena
The Scripture translation is the Common English Bible
The Psalms come from the Inclusive Language Psalter of the Anglican Church of Canada.
The Prayers of the People were adapted by our rector.
All texts used by permission.
