The Feast of Absalom Jones, Priest (1818)
Sunday, February 14, at 10:00 am | The Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Livestreamed on Facebook (click and open the ‘live’ video)
The order of this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 355. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.
To give to St. Paul’s, 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
Prelude: “If Thou But Suffer” Robert Graham
The Entrance Rite
Hymn: “There is a balm in Gilead” (verses 1, 2, 3)
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.
1. Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the holy spirit
Revives my soul again. Refrain
2. If you cannot preach like Peter,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died for all. Refrain
3. Don’t ever be discouraged
For Jesus is your friend,
And if you lack for knowledge,
He’ll ne’er refuse to lend. Refrain
Opening Acclamation and the Collect for Purity
Priest ✠ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest”
Salutation & The Collect of the Day
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest Let us pray.
Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah 42:5-9
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 126
The Psalm is spoken in unison
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
4 The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Gospel: John 15:12-15
Priest The ✠ Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Alleluia
The cantor sings the Alleluia, followed by a verse.
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 peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence. The People may add their own thanksgivings
We will exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for ✠ all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
Confession of Sin
Deacon
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Clergy 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.
Priest concludes with an absolution
Almighty God have mercy on you, ✠ forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Holy Communion
An anthem is sung as 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: “Ubi Caritas” Maurice Duruflé
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Amen.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice, and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
Where charity and love are, God is there. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The Priest faces the People and says
The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Priest 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 Priest continues
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. For the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all your saints, who have been the chosen vessels of your grace, and the lights of the world in their generations. 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 People may stand or kneel. The Priest 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:
Priest and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Priest 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 Priest
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 Priest breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Priest Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Fraction Anthem: My flesh is food indeed
Facing the People, the Priest says
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: “Lift every voice and sing” (verses 1, 3)
1. Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun
Of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
3. God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee;
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee,
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.
Postcommunion Prayer
Priest 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.
Announcements
The Blessing & Dismissal
The Priest gives the blessing.
The Deacon dismisses the people, who respond Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “Be Thou My Vision” Edward Broughton
Service Participants
Celebrant: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Deacon & Preacher: The Rev. Matthew D. Simpson
Eucharistic Minister: John Black
Lector: David Taylor
Acolyte: Liam Kelly
Organist: Ed McCall
Cantor: Shelley Reed
Altar: Elizabeth Pitts, Carol Fox
Flowers: Lisa Farina
A/V: Emery Kohut, Emma Ward
Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Jill Dulany, Muriel Hastings, 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.
Lundi Gras / Shrove Monday
You are hereby invited to celebrate “Lundi Gras” on Monday, 2/15/21 at 7:00 PM on Zoom. This is a very secular event, and you are invited to enjoy a pre-Lenten beverage while interacting with St. Paul’s parishioners. The game is called “Two Truths and a Lie”. Selected parishioners will tell 3 “facts” about themselves, we have to guess the untruth. The prevaricator who fools the most, wins. There is still some room for more “contestants”. Contact George Wiemann if you wish to shine. He will need your 3 “facts” by Sunday night. To enjoy this festivity, simply join the Zoom meeting on Monday and “vote” for the lie for each contestant. Login credentials can be found in the recent Weekly E-Notes email. Have fun and get to know your neighbors (or not). Sponsored by Hospitality, Outreach, Brotherhood and Vestry. If you have any questions, please contact George Wiemann.
Ash Wednesday: 12:00 PM Noon
This year St. Paul’s will observe Ash Wednesday with one liturgy at 12:00 noon. This service will include music, the Imposition of Ashes, Holy Communion. To attend, please register by contacting the church office, or join the livestream through our church Facebook page. Let us prepare ourselves and receive the church’s invitation to the observance of a holy Lent.
Additional Ash Wednesday Offerings
In addition to the noon observance at St. Paul’s, the imposition of ashes will be available at other churches throughout our deanery. Parishioners who have joined for our 12:00 noon live-stream and wish to receive the imposition of ashes can do so at the following locations:
1:30 – 3:00 PM: Trinity Buckingham Episcopal Church (Parking Lot) – 2631 Durham Road, Buckingham, PA 18912
5:30pm – 6:30 PM: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Yardley (Parking Lot) – 47 West Afton Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067
* Persons may stay in their car and drive-up to the station to receive ashes imposed on the forehead. Walk-ups are welcome as well.
* In keeping with the commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” the wearing of masks is mandatory to receive ashes. If you do not have a mask and still wish to receive ashes, please see the Deacon on-site.
Collection for St. Mary's Sololá, Guatemala
At St. Paul’s, we pray weekly for our Sister Parish: St. Mary’s, Sololá, in Guatemala. In addition to praying for them, we do a yearly fundraising campaign to help the youth of St. Mary’s with their educational expenses. In the past, we have sponsored students’ educational costs, including tuition, books, supplies, etc. It was a very successful exercise and many children received the benefit from our assistance. This year, however, the need in Guatemala is very different. In addition to extreme weather disasters of hurricanes, mudslides and flooding, they have also suffered the effects of a volcano. Like the rest of the world, they are also fighting Covid-19 pandemic. To help them with these various tragedies, the Bishop of Guatemala has suggested that we send donations to be used for basic needs like water, medications, and personal needs. As a parish, we will be dedicating our special Lenten collection to this cause. Would you please consider helping in this very serious and tragic situation? You can give easily on our church website by clicking here (select the “Guatemala” fund), or by check (write “Guatemala” in the memo line). We thank you for your generous giving to the people of St. Mary’s, Sololá. Mary Lou Parry, Outreach Committee Chair
Bereavement Support Group
A Bereavement Support Group is starting up and is available to anyone who is experiencing grief due to the death of a loved one (spouse, friend, child, or parent). It is also offered to those who care about friends who are grieving.
Focusing on various aspects of the grieving process, this interactive series will assist the bereaved in understanding how to cope with grief, and how to develop skills and motivation necessary to turn their mourning into cherished memories of their loved ones. The Bereavement Support Group will be facilitated by Phylis Benoit, a Bereavement Counselor with 15 years of experience companioning family and friends through the difficult period following the death of a loved one. Phylis was formerly the Coordinator of Spiritual Care at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA. and expanded their Bereavement Program over the years. She holds a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies and a Masters in Theology and Ministry specializing in Bereavement. There will be a nominal cost for materials. The time of the meeting will depend on what time works best for the participants. This will likely be an in-person/virtual hybrid model. For more information, and to express interest, please contact Deacon Matthew Simpson.
The Great Geranium Grow
You are invited to join in a St. Paul’s Parish wide event…The Great Geranium Grow (GGG).
The goal is for all of us to grow our own red geraniums and eventually plant them on the St Paul’s grounds at Pentecost (5/23/21). To start things off, we will provide some seeds, a starter pot with soil and instructions. You will provide light, water, a bit of warmth, love and prayer. We will compare notes about progress through the Geranium Gazette. Parishioners of all ages are invited to participate. Hopefully, we can be growing by the start of Lent (2/17/21), a time of renewal. Growing kits are now available. Sign up here to pick up your geranium growing kits. For questions, contact George Wiemann.
Forward Day by Day Devotionals for February-April
Forward Movement is a ministry of The Episcopal Church dedicated to forming adult Episcopalians in the faith. Forward Day by Day is one of its publications: a devotional booklet with brief meditations on a passage of Scripture appointed for each day. Paper copies for the three-month period of February-April are now available. To request one by mail, please email the parish administrator, Angela Stoots. You can also read these daily meditations online on the Forward Movement website.
Available Flower Memorial & Thanksgiving Date for 2021
Thank you to all parishioners who have supported our ministry through their flower memorials and thanksgivings and a special thank you to the members of this guild for their time and efforts. Without everyone’s participation the church would not be blessed with our ever changing floral displays to liven up the church! In 2021 we have the following open date for a flower memorial or thanksgiving: July 25.
The Flower Guild welcomes anyone interested in being a part of this ministry. You are welcome to observe any current member arrange flowers for Sunday. Please talk to any current member to find out what it’s all about. For questions, please use the church directory to contact me.
Lisa Farina, Head of the Flower Guild
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today's flowers are given to the glory of God, and in loving memory of Bertha McMahon Gibson, beloved mother of Lynn Gibson. Given by Lynn Gibson, and arranged by Lisa Farina.
