The twenty-Fourth Sunday after pentecost
Sunday, November 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: “Charlestown” Gilbert M. Martin
The Entrance Rite
Hymn 436: “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.
2. O blest the land, the city blest,
where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
to whom this King of triumph comes!
3. Fling wide the portals of your heart,
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer love and joy.
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.
5. So come, my Sovereign; enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin;
the Holy Spirit guide us on,
until the glorious crown be won.
Opening Acclamation
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity
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
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest 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: Wisdom 6:12–16
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 70
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.
Hymn 324: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence”
1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
2. King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
3. Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
4. At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Alleluia
The choir sings a verse, then all repeat the Alleluias.
The Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
Priest 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.”
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
The Nicene Creed
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
The leader and people pray responsively
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, especially ___ , and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy ✠ all who have died, especially ___ , that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Silence. Additional petitions may be included here.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Lord, hear the prayers of your people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin
Celebrant Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
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 people stand.
The Peace
Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The ministers and the people greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying “He is risen!”
The Holy Communion
The Celebrant introduces the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture.
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
During the Offertory an anthem is sung, and the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.
The Offering is brought forward.
Offertory Anthem: “Sleepers, Wake!” Felix Mendelssohn
Sleepers, wake! a voice is calling,
It is the watchman on the walls:
Thou City of Jerusalem!
For lo! the Bridegroom comes!
Arise, and take your lamps! Hallelujah!
Awake! His kingdom is at hand!
Go forth, go forth to meet your Lord!
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The Celebrant faces the People and sings
Priest 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.
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.
The 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 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,
The Fraction
The priest 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.
Priest 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 Anthem: “Just as I am without one plea” Matthew Culloton
Just as I am, without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bid’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed
about with many a conflict,
many a doubt, fightings
and fears, within and without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thy love unknown,
has broken ev’ry barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Hymn 53: “Once he came in blessing”
1. Once he came in blessing
all our ills redressing;
came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
bore the cross to save us,
hope and freedom gave us.
2. Still he comes within us;
still his voice would win us
from the sins that hurt us,
would to Truth convert us:
not in torment hold us,
but in love enfold us.
3. Thus, if thou canst name him,
not ashamed to claim him,
but wilt trust him boldly
nor dost love him coldly,
he will then receive thee,
heal thee, and forgive thee.
4. One who thus endureth
bright reward secureth.
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
from our sins release us;
let us here confess thee
till in heaven we bless thee.
After Communion, the priest says
Let us pray.
Priest 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
The Blessing
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Dismissal
Priest Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “Postlude on Thaxton” Gordon Young
Service Participants
Celebrant Preacher: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Eucharistic Minister: Christopher McCall
Thurifer: Madeleine Moore
Crucifer: Grant Massey
Lector: David Taylor
Ushers: Andy Hutchison, Ted Hopkins
Altar: Sara Frister, Rachel Morse
Livestream: Emery Kohut
Flowers: Susan Roberts
Choir: Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Alexander Famous, Carol Fox, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Amber Robinson, Annie Rogers, 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.
Weekday Worship
Mass for the lesser feast of Herman of Alaska (Missionary, d. 1837) will take place this week on Wednesday, November 15, at noon in the Chapel.
St. Paul’s Youth Group–Donuts and Discussion Today
We will have a Donuts and Discussion session today after the Mass. We will be discussing our upcoming plans. Please reach out to Elizabeth Pitts (610-864-3811) with any questions.
Confirmation & Reception Course
Our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez, is scheduled to visit St. Paul’s next year, on April 7. All youth & adults who are interested in being Confirmed—or Received, for those who have already been confirmed in another denomination—are invited to an information session on Sunday, November 12, at 9:15 AM in the Parish Hall. This includes youth who have already been participating in confirmation preparation. This confirmation/reception course will begin in Advent, continue through Epiphany & Lent and conclude in Holy Week, just prior to the Bishop’s visitation. For further details, please contact Fr. Daniel Moore.
PLEDGE CARDS & IN-GATHERING ON NOVEMBER 19
Pledge cards are enclosed in Sunday’s leaflet. We ask you to prayerfully consider making a pledge to support St. Paul’s financially in 2024 (you may also submit your pledge through our website at stpaulsdoylestown.org/pledge). And as we gather for mass on Sunday, November 19, you are invited to bring your pledge card with you to mass and place it in the offering plate. We thank you for your faithful stewardship and support of our church’s ministry.
Thanksgiving Gift Card Collection
Dear parishioners of St. Paul’s, The Outreach Committee will be collecting supermarket gift cards for families of Doyle Elementary and for the Immigrants Action Group. Denominations of $25 and $50 are greatly appreciated. Stores like ALDI and Walmart as well as local supermarkets would be fine also. Gift cards can be dropped off at the parish office or given to Mary Smith between services. Please submit gift cards by November 19. You have been so generous in the past and the need is ever growing. We know we can make this collection the best ever!! Thanks so much. The Outreach Group. See Mary Smith with any questions.
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Our next meeting is at 7:30 PM on November 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!
Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator (HAM) visits St. Paul’s on Nov. 19
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the Hospitality Committee welcome Brothers and Sisters from HAM on Sunday, Nov 19, 2023. They will be arriving around 9:30 and attend the 10:00 Mass. After Mass, we will share fellowship and a full brunch (before the 10:00 service, there will be coffee, but the meal starts around 11:15). We are encouraging our parishioners to worship at the 10:00 service, share this meal and further strengthen the bond between our two Episcopal congregations. Those of us who attended the visit to HAM last August received a very warm welcome and wonderful food. Let’s show them our Brotherhood and Hospitality!
For information on this event contact: George Wiemann or Maureen McGraw.
Christmas in Doylestown Ticket Sales
It may seem like summer just ended, but, believe it or not, Christmas in Doylestown tour tickets are on sale. The prices in advance are $25.00 for parishioners and $40.00 for the public. On the day of the tour, the price is $45.00 for the public. Tickets will be on sale between Masses this Sunday Nov.12, and the 19th, and 26th. Also, you can purchase them in the Church office on weekdays from now until Nov. 29th from 10am-4pm except Thanksgiving Day Nov. 23rd and Friday Nov. 24th.
Christmas in Doylestown: Butter Cookies
Today is the last day to pre-order cookies. Some boxes of cookies will be available for sale at the tour. Make sure you place a pre-order so to make sure you don’t miss out on the delicious cookies. Order Forms can be found in the parish hall by the Christmas in Doylestown bulletin board. Pick up for cookies will be on the tour dates. Thank you to everyone who donated ingredients for the cookies: Simply Fresh by McCaffrey’s, Lynn Gibson, Mary Lou Parry, Audrey Jackson, Kay Johnson, Sam and Joyce Palermo, Elizabeth Pitts, Leon Psculkowski, Kathleen Caughie, Kathy Sullivan, and Myra Parker. Thank you also to those who helped with baking: Mary Smith, Myra Parker, Margaret Mayorga, Susan Nejako, Kathleen Caughie, Kathy Sullivan, Audrey Jackson, Mary and Charlotte Wilkinson, Trudie Benton, Mary Ellen Wilson, Michelle Morel, Diane Happ and Kay Johnson.
Contact June Psculkowski with Butter Cookie questions.
WANTED: fresh greens.
It takes a lot of greenery to decorate four houses for Christmas in Doylestown. Please contact Kay Johnson if you can spare some cuttings of the following: white (or other) pine, arborvitae, hinoki, juniper, cedar, magnolia, holly or other interesting long-lasting evergreen. We’ll come to your house to prune just before or after Thanksgiving. Greens will be shared among the 4 houses and also used for decorating the church for Christmas services. Thanks for your help!
Community Meal: november 26
The next Community Meal is scheduled for Sunday, November 26. This will be our last Community Meal until April 2024. In addition to St. Paul’s, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will be participating. Please watch for the signup sheet for the various activities for the meal. Thank you again for what you have done in the past, and in advance for your continued support. Please contact Mary Lou Parry with any questions you may have.
Christmas in Doylestown UPDATE: Helping Hands needed
Dear St. Paul’s Parishioners,
We need helping hands to decorate 2 trees in Paxson Hall and primp/hang 4 wreaths. Erich will have everything pulled out and ready for decorating the trees - all decor is provided! This task needs to be done before November 26th and worked in between other groups using the hall. Grab a friend or family member to get in the action with you!!
Please use this link to sign up: view the sign up or contact Lisa Farina or Mary Lou Parry.
Thank you to all who have already signed up to help!
Christmas in Doylestown: Additional Volunteers for Hosting
Christmas in Doylestown will be here very soon. Would you please consider volunteering to be a Host/Hostess for one of the 4 beautiful homes that will be on the tour. This link will give you additional information for signing up and the responsibilities involved. Thank you so much for your consideration. Please see Lisa Farina or Mary Lou Parry if you have other questions.
Bulletin Announcements
Wednesday is the deadline for submitting announcements for inclusion in the Sunday bulletin. Please submit relevant announcements to Angie in the Parish Office. Any announcements submitted after Wednesday will be included in the following week’s printed bulletin.
LITTLE FREE PANTRY
The Little Free Pantry continues to be a huge asset for the community. Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated by those suffering from food insecurities in the area. The need continues to be great for supplies such as snack bars, small cereal boxes, fruit cups, pudding and Jell-O cups, pretzels, and crackers. Thank you for your help and support. Questions? Contact Mary Lou Parry using the church directory.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today’s flowers are given by Katherine Frey to the glory of God, in loving memory of her parents Robert and Lois McDowell.
