The EIGHteenth Sunday after pentecost

Sunday, September 26, at 10:00 am

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

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Prelude: “Charlestown, 1799” Gilbert M. Martin

The Word of God

Hymn 574: “Before thy throne, O God, we kneel” 

1. Before thy throne, O God, we kneel:
give us a conscience quick to feel,
a ready mind to understand
the meaning of thy chastening hand;
whate’er the pain and shame may be,
bring us, O Father, nearer thee.

2. Search out our hearts and make us true;
help us to give to all their due.
From love of pleasure, lust of gold,
from sins which make the heart grow cold,
wean us and train us with thy rod;
teach us to know our faults, O God.

3. For sins of heedless word and deed,
for pride ambitious to succeed,
for crafty trade and subtle snare
to catch the simple unaware,
for lives bereft of purpose high,
forgive, forgive, O Lord, we cry.

4. Let the fierce fires which burn and try,
our inmost spirits purify:
consume the ill; purge out the shame;
O God, be with us in the flame;
a new-born people may we rise,
more pure, more true, more nobly wise.

Opening Acclamation

Celebrant    ✠ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People     And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant    There is one Body and one Spirit;
People          There is one hope in God’s call to us;
Celebrant    One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People          One God and Father of all.

Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest”

The Salutation and Collect of the Day

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

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Lesson: Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,’ to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.”

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

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

Psalm 19:7-14

7  The law of the Lord is perfect
and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.

8 The statutes of the Lord are just
and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear
and gives light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean
and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,
more than much fine gold, *
sweeter far than honey,
than honey in the comb.

11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse me from my secret faults.

13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
then shall I be whole and sound,
and innocent of a great offense.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in your sight, *
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Second Lesson: James 5:13-20

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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

Hymn 635: “If thou but trust in God to guide thee” 

1. If thou but trust in God to guide thee,
and hope in him through all thy ways,
he’ll give thee strength whate’er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
builds on a rock that nought can move.

2. Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving;
so do thine own part faithfully,
and trust his word, though undeserving;
thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook in need
the soul that trusted him indeed.

The Gospel: Mark 9:38-50

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

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

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

Alleluia

The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.

The choir sings a verse, then all repeat the Alleluias.

The Sermon

After the sermon, the choir sings a sentence of Scripture in response.

Holy Baptism

The Presentation and Examination of the Candidate

 The parents, godparents, and candidate come forward for the presentation and examination.

The priest says The Candidate for Holy Baptism will now be presented.

Parents & Godparents I present Ashton Arthur Zaks to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

The priest asks the parents and godparents

Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is brought up in the Christian faith and life?
Parents & Godparents    I will, with God’s help.

Priest                            Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?
Parents & Godparents    I will, with God’s help.

The priest then asks the following questions of the parents and godparents, who speak on behalf of the candidate

Question      Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
Answer         I renounce them.

Question      Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Answer         I renounce them.

Question      Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
Answer         I renounce them.

Question       Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
Answer          I do.

Question       Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
Answer          I do.

Question       Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
Answer         I do.

The priest then addresses the congregation, saying
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in his life in Christ?

People          We will.
Priest          Let us join with those who are committing this child to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.

 
The Baptismal Covenant

Priest            Do you believe in God the Father?
People           I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Priest          Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People         I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
     On the third day he rose again.
     He ascended into heaven,
          and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
     He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Priest          Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People         I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Priest          Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People          I will, with God’s help.

Priest          Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People          I will, with God’s help.

Priest          Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People         I will, with God’s help.

Priest          Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People         I will, with God’s help.

Priest          Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People         I will, with God’s help.

Prayers for the Candidate

Priest          Let us now pray for this person who is to receive the Sacrament of new birth.

The baptismal party proceeds to the font as prayers for the candidate are offered.

Priest         Deliver him, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
People        Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Open his heart to your grace and truth.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Fill him with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Keep him in the faith and communion of your holy Church.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Teach him to love others in the power of the Spirit.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Send him into the world in witness to your love.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest          Bring him to the fullness of your peace and glory.
People         Lord, hear our prayer.

The priest says
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

Thanksgiving over the Water

The priest blesses the water, first saying
The Lord be with you.

People          And also with you.

Priest           Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People          It is right to give him thanks and praise.

The priest continues

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

At the following words, the priest touches the water

Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Baptism

The priest baptizes the candidate, saying
Ashton, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The forehead of the newly baptized is then marked with the sign of the cross using Chrism, saying
Ashton, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen.

The priest presents a candle to the newly baptized, saying
Ashton, receive the light of Christ, a sign of the new life enkindled within you. Amen.

The priest then prays over the newly baptized, saying

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon this your servant the forgiveness of sin, and have raised him to the new life of grace. Sustain him, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give him an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

Priest          Let us welcome the newly baptized.

People         We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his
eternal priesthood.

The People return to their seats as the following hymn is sung

The Peace

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

The ministers and the people greet one another with a sign of peace.

The Holy Communion

The Celebrant begins the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture.

During the Offertory an anthem is sung, and the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.

To give an offering, choose one of the following:

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

Offertory Anthem: “Teach me, O Lord” Thomas Attwood

Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A

The people stand and the Celebrant sings

The Celebrant 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.

A proper preface is sung.

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.

Fraction Anthem

The Celebrant sings the Antiphon, then all repeat it.

The Celebrant sings a verse, then all repeat the Antiphon.

Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Spiritual Communion: Act of Reception

During Communion, you are invited to say the following prayer form for receiving Spiritual Communion. Know that the grace of God is made present in your heart, 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.

Communion Solo: “Father in Heaven” George Frederick Handel
Shelley Reed, Soprano


Hymn 347: “Go forth for God, go to the world in peace”

1. Go forth for God; go to the world in peace;
be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace,
in God’s good Spirit daily to increase,
till in his kingdom we behold his face.

2. Go forth for God; go to the world in love;
strengthen the faint, give courage to the weak;
help the afflicted; richly from above
his love supplies the grace and power we seek.

3. Go forth for God; go to the world in strength;
hold fast the good, be urgent for the right;
render to no one evil; Christ at length
shall overcome all darkness with his light.

4. Go forth for God; go to the world in joy,
to serve God’s people every day and hour,
and serving Christ, our every gift employ,
rejoicing in the Holy Spirit’s power.

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

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

Blessing & Dismissal

The Celebrant blesses the people and dismisses them.

The people respond Thanks be to God.

Postlude: “Fughetta in G” John Stanley

Service Participants

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

• Organist: W. Edward McCall

• Eucharistic Minister: John Black

• Acolyte: Madeleine Moore

• Lector: John Black

• Ushers: Ted Hopkins, Carol Fox

• Altar: Widgette Kelly, Jacky Grande

• Flowers: Susan Roberts

• A/V: Emery Kohut

  
  Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Carol Fox, Derek Guzman, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Caitlin Stein, Marian Wentworth

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

Welcome Back Party: Sunday, October 10

The last 18 months has left many of us feeling distant from one another in general, and church is no different. Many of us are now looking for ways to reconnect. Therefore, you are cordially invited to a Welcome Back Party at 11:30am on Sunday, October 10 (rain date: October 17). This will be an outdoor party, held in the church parking lot and rectory back yard. Join us for fellowship, food, fun and games—and maybe even music! This is a kid-friendly event, and a chance for St. Paul’s parishioners of all ages to reconnect. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Pitts or Maureen McGraw using the church directory.

New Confirmation & Reception Course

A new course is starting up for adults and youth (ages 14 and older) who are interested in being Confirmed or Received into The Episcopal Church. An initial interest meeting will be held on Sunday, October 3, in the Parish Hall, after the 10:00am mass. This course will take place in-person throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Masks will be required for all attendees when meeting indoors, and we will plan to meet in the Parish Hall so that we can spread out as needed. Depending on the weather conditions, outdoors sessions may be a possibility. For more details about this course, please contact Fr. Daniel Moore.

 Newborn Meal Ministry

This week, parishioners Beth and Aaron Guffey have welcomed a new child into their family: a baby girl named Jane. If you would like to bless the Guffey family with a meal as they adjust to new life as a family of four, you can sign up through the link in the Weekly E-Notes email, or simply contact Kristin Moore using the church directory.

Food Packing: Feed My Starving Children

A HUGE thank you to everyone that has volunteered to help with Feed My Starving Children at Del Val University.  If you are interested, but have not yet registered, there are time slots available on Friday, Oct. 8th from 10:45am-12:15pm and 1:00pm-2:30pm. Please let me know and I will make sure you are registered.  Thank you again, your help and support are really appreciated.

Please contact Mary Lou Parry using the church directory with any questions, or if you would like to participate.

Blue Jeans Collection

As in years past, Bishop Gutierrez has challenged the Archdeacons to organize and execute an additional outreach program leading up to the 2021 Convention.  In response, the deacons of the diocese are leading a blue jeans collection.  Blue jeans are durable and in need by those who are without shelter. They are asking churches - and you - to collect what you can so they can be delivered to those with the most need.
Needed:

•           Clean, gently worn jeans.
•           Those jeans that are in the back of the closet that you will never wear again.
•           Brand new jeans, in your size. (It’s good to be generous.)
•           All jeans from children’s sizes to adult sizes for both males and females accepted.

There will be a collection area in both the narthex coat room and across the hall from the church office. We will collect jeans up till the evening of October 15th. Our collection will be delivered to the Diocesan Center at St. John’s, Norristown, ahead of the 2021 Convention. Any questions can be directed to and addressed by Jim Massey.

RUMMAGE SALE UPDATE

Rising Covid cases are dimming the prospect of having a Christmas Attic this year.  At this time, we are only accepting Christmas donations from parishioners. If you have friends with Christmas items to donate, please ask them to consider donating them to another charity. Our parish hall only holds so much, and it doesn’t seem fair to keep more than we can sell.  If we can’t have a sale this year, we hope to have one next year.  Thank you for your understanding.

CHRISTMAS ATTIC Update

In 2009 when we held our first sale, and for the next several years, the church needed the money the sale generated...and we had fun working together to make it all happen.   I’ve been thinking of ending the rummage sale due to the decline in donations and reduced parishioner participation and Covid has now made the decision easy.  Over the summer we cleared out the barn and took the accumulated rummage to other charities.  The barn now has space for the Christmas Attic overflow. We are no longer accepting rummage sale donations and ask that you donate to other charities such as NOVA, Good Stuff, In Full Swing, Goodwill, Purple Heart, and Habitat’s RESTORE.

Many thanks to everyone who has supported past Rummage and Christmas Attic sales with their donations and time.

Questions? Please contact Kay Johnson using the church directory.

Saint Paul’s Market is OPEN

featuring bounty from parishioners’ gardens

Proceeds benefit the ‘Little Red House’ Collection,
to be used to buy food for the residents
of the Doylestown Homeless Shelter. 
 

Gardeners:  Bring in your extras!
Buyers:  Please make a donation.