THE FEAST OF ABSALOM JONES, PRIEST (1818)
Sunday, February 12, at 10:00 am
The form for this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 355. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.
Prelude: “Greensleeves” Janet Linker
The Word of God
Hymn 304: “I come with joy to meet my Lord”
1. I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved, and free,
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me.
2. I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread.
3. As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
That love that made us makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.
4. And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known:
we see, and praise him here.
5. Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world,
we’ll live and speak his praise.
Opening Acclamation
Celebrant ✠ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant
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”
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant 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 Lesson: 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
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 sheave
Second Lesson: 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.
Hymn 312: “Strengthen for service, Lord”
1. Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands
that holy things have taken;
let ears that now have heard thy songs
to clamor never waken.
2. Lord, may the tongues which ‘Holy’ sang,
keep free from all deceiving;
the eyes which saw thy love be bright,
thy blessed hope perceiving.
3. The feet that tread thy hallowed courts
from light do thou not banish;
the bodies by thy Body fed
with thy new life replenish.
Alleluia
The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.
The Gospel: John 15:12-15
Celebrant 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.”
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
Leader In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
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.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Celebrant offers an absolution.
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And with thy spirit.
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.
The Offering is brought forward. The people stand and are censed by the acolyte.
To give an offering, choose one of the following:
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
Anthem: “Save Me, O God” John Blow
Save me, O God, for the waters are
come in, ev’n unto my soul.
I am weary of crying, my throat is dry.
My sight faileth me for waiting
so long, so long upon my God.
And why? for thy sake
have I suffer’d reproof,
shame, hath cover’d my face.
I wept and chasten’d myself with fasting,
and that was turned to my reproof.
But Lord, I make my pray’r
unto thee in acceptable time.
Hear me, O God,
in the multitude of thy mercy,
ev’n in the truth of thy salvation.
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. Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.
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.
Celebrant And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
The Fraction
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.
Then, facing the people, the Celebrant says
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.
Anthem: “O thou, who at thy Eucharist did’st pray” Mogens Wöldike
O thou, who at thy Eucharist did’st pray
that all thy Church might be forever one,
grant us at ev’ry Eucharist to say
with longing heart and soul, ‘Thy will be done.’
Oh, may we all one Bread, one Body be,
one through this sacrament of unity
Hymn 674: “Forgive our sins as we forgive”
1. ‘Forgive our sins as we forgive’
you taught us, Lord, to pray;
but you alone can grant us grace
to live the words we say.
2. How can your pardon reach and bless
the unforgiving heart
that broods on wrongs and will not let
old bitterness depart?
3. In blazing light your cross reveals
the truth we dimly knew,
how small the debts men owe to us,
how great our debt to you.
4. Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls,
and bid resentment cease;
then, reconciled to God and man,
our lives will spread your peace.
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: “Lord Keep us in Your Steadfast Word” Robert Powell
Service Participants
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Eucharistic Minister: Pike Stephens
Acolyte: Alex Kelly
Lector: Pike Stephens
Ushers: Michael Kelly, Joe DeTato
Altar Guild: Susan Nejako, Widgette Kelly
Flowers: Kay Johnson
A/V: Emery Kohut
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, J.T. Capps, Carol Fox, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Robert Risch, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Amber Robinson, Anne Shute, Jim Shute, 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.
Quinquagesima Sunday:
Don't miss Coffee Hour on Quinquagesima Sunday (Shrove Sunday), 2/19/23. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew will be providing coffee, tea and lots of DONUTS!
175TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
We stand only weeks away from the Historic 175th Anniversary of St. Paul’s Episcopal of Doylestown. A meaningful and fun Celebration is planned for April 22nd and 23rd. Please contribute to inspire this event. Bishop Gutierrez and the Mayor of Doylestown are also invited. Designate any donations as St. Paul’s 175Fund. If you have any questions, please contact David Nejako using the church directory.
Weekday Worship
Mass for the Feast of Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary will be held this week on Wednesday, February 15, at noon in the Chapel.
Christmas in Doylestown wrap-up and its future:
Please join us for a meeting in determining the future of CID if interested:
Monday 2/13/23 @ 7pm in the Ed. Wing Conference Room. We will discuss this past year’s tour and determine if we have interest in new leadership with Kay and Lisa stepping down. Contact Mary Lou Parry or Lisa Farina if you have any questions or comments and are not able to make the meeting.
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Our next meeting is at 7:30 PM on February 14th, the usual 2nd Tuesday of every month. Join us on Zoom (login credentials can be found in the most recent Weekly E-Notes email). Contact chair Jim Massey with any questions. All are welcome!
Women’s Ministry Offering: “Getting the Kinks Out”
Our lower backs, upper backs, and legs do a whole lot for us, and to love on them is a great way to pay attention to self-care. We will be practicing a little yoga / self massage / stretching together while exploring how this relates to our Lord’s greatest commandments. Taking place Saturday, February 25 in the Parish Hall at 10:00. Attendees will want to gather some props, so be sure to contact Leigh DeTato for the short list of items.
Youth Formation: volunteers needed
Hello St. Paul’s Family! We are in need of some adults and teens who are interested in helping out with Youth Formation. If you are interested in helping the youth explore new ideas and gain a better understanding of who God is in their lives, please reach out to Maureen McGraw or Elizabeth Pitts. This would only take a commitment of about an hour or so every 2-3 months and would involve helping to answer questions and helping with different activities. Please sign up to help at: https://bit.ly/stpyouthvolunteers2023
Little Free Pantry
I want to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has helped to keep the Little Free Pantry stocked. Your kindness and generosity are very much appreciated by all who need your help so desperately. Thank you again, and I hope the food supply and terrific generosity will continue. As I mentioned before, snack bars, crackers, shelf stable milk, nuts, peanut butter, small cereal boxes, individual fruit cups are always welcome. Questions? Contact Mary Lou Parry using the church directory.
Caring for Friends
Caring for Friends has resumed our meal packing at the church. Our next meeting will be Saturday, February 18 from 9:30-11:30am. We are asking for anyone who would like to cook at home to bring the food to church on the 18th to pack. Please include a list of ingredients for all meals. For everyone attending we will be social distancing and wearing masks. Casseroles with a protein source, meats like meatloaf, chicken, beef, turkey breasts with a side of rice or potatoes are some other ideas. Donations of canned goods are appreciated, especially fruits and vegetables. Hope you can make it. Please contact Myra Parker, Mary Smith, or George Wiemann with any questions.
altar Flowers
Today’s flowers are given by Kay Johnson to the glory of God, and in loving memory of her mother Catharine Hamilton Kappauf and her uncle William Fitch Hamilton.
