The 23rd sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, November 8, at 10:00 am | The Holy Eucharist, Rite II

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The order of this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 355. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.

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A Welcome from the Rector:

Prelude: “Basse de Trompette” Francois Couperin

Hymn 436 (vv. 1,4): “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates”

1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold the King of glory waits!
The King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.

4. Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee: here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel:
thy grace and love in me reveal.

The PENITENTIAL ORDER

Celebrant    Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People     And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

Hear the commandments of God to his people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not make for yourself any idol.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not be a false witness.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Celebrant

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence is kept.

Celebrant and People

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 Celebrant pronounces an absolution.

The Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest”

The Collect of the Day

Celebrant    The Lord be with you. 
People     And also with you.
Celebrant    Let us pray. 

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Lesson: Amos 5:18-24

Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

Reader     The Word of the Lord.
People     Thanks be to God.

Psalm 70

Said in unison

1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *
O Lord, make haste to help me.

2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogether dismayed; *
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
draw back and be disgraced.

3 Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back, *
because they are ashamed.

4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *
let those who love your salvation say for ever,
“Great is the Lord!”

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; *
come to me speedily, O God.

6 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
O Lord, do not tarry.

Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Reader     The Word of the Lord.
People     Thanks be to God.

The Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

Celebrant    The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew. 
People     Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Celebrant    The Gospel of the Lord.
People     Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed Said in unison

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.

The Prayers of the People

In the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own prayers, either silently or aloud. 

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishops; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church. 

Silence 

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace. 

Silence 

I ask your prayers for all victims of violence, and for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble. 

Silence 

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him. 

Silence 

I ask your prayers for the departed. We remember all people of color in this nation whose lives have been cut short by violence. Pray for those who have died. 

Silence 

I ask your prayers for those on our parish prayer list … and for those we now name:

Silence 

We pray for our sister church of St. Mary’s, Sololá, in our companion diocese of Guatemala. 

In our Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for …

And in our diocesan cycle of prayer, we remember …

Silence 

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day. 

Silence.

The Celebrant concludes

Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only 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 Peace

Celebrant    The peace of the Lord be always with you. 
People     And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.

To give an offering, select an option below:

• Online: E-Giving (Realm) | PayPal

• Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)

• Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901

Offertory Anthem: “Gift of Finest Wheat” Robert Kreutz

You satisfy the hungry heart,
with gift of finest wheat
Come give to us, O Saving Lord,
The Bread of Life to eat.
As when the shepherd calls his sheep,
they know and heed his voice,
so when you call your family Lord,
we follow and rejoice.

You satisfy the hungry heart,
with gift of finest wheat
Come give to us, O Saving Lord,
The Bread of Life to eat.
With joyful lips, we sing to you,

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A

The Celebrant faces the People and says

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.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

A proper preface is said.

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: “Holy, holy, holy Lord”

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.”

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 say,

People and Celebrant

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

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant    Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; 
People     Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Facing the People, the Celebrant says the following invitation

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Spiritual Communion: Act of Reception

This prayer form is for those who desire to receive the Sacrament but are unable to do so, with the assurance that all the benefits of Communion are received, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth. 

In union, blessed Jesus, with the faithful gathered at every altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are offered this day, I long to offer you praise and thanksgiving, for creation and all the blessings of this life, for the redemption won for us by your life, death, and resurrection, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.

I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.

Come Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart in the fullness of your strength; be my wisdom and guide me in right pathways; conform my life and actions to the image of your holiness; and, in the power of your gracious might, rule over every hostile power that threatens or disturbs the growth of your kingdom, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Hymn 470 (vv. 1,3): “There’s a wideness in God’s Mercy”

1. There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good;
there is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.

3. For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word;
and our life would be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.

Postcommunion Prayer

Celebrant    Let us pray.

The People may join in saying this prayer 

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.

Welcome & Announcements

The Blessing

The Celebrant blesses the People with these words

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Dismissal

The Celebrant blesses the People and dismisses them.

The People respond     Thanks be to God.

Postlude: “Lead on, O King Eternal” Joshua Evanovich

Service Participants

• Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore

• Organist: Ed McCall

• Cantor: Shelley Reed

• Eucharistic Minister: Christopher McCall

• Acolyte: Emma Ward

• Lector: Christopher McCall

• Ushers: Maureen McGraw, Cathy Wehmeyer

• Altar: Elizabeth Pitts, Carol Fox

• Flowers: Lisa Farina

• A/V: Liam Kelly

Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Phil Castrodale, Jill Dulany, Muriel Hastings, Sally Haulman, Nick Lindberg, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Anne Shute, Jim Shute, Caitlin Stein, David Taylor, Deborah Taylor, Marian Wentworth

Online giving is available through Realm E-Giving and PayPal. We thank you for your generous giving to St. Paul’s.

Virtual Coffee Hour

Join us after mass for fellowship via Zoom by clicking here.

AlTAR FLOWERS

Today’s flowers are given to the glory of God, in loving memory of Robert and Lois McDowell. Given by Katherine Frey, and arranged by Lisa Farina.