The sixteenth SUNday after pentecost
Sunday, September 8, 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: “Cromhorne Sur la Taille” Francois Couperin
The Entrance Rite
Hymn 1: “Father, we praise thee, now the night is over”
1. Father, we praise thee, now the night is over,
active and watchful, stand we all before thee;
singing we offer prayer and meditation:
thus we adore thee.
2. Monarch of all things, fit us for thy mansions;
banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending;
bring us to heaven, where thy saints united
joy without ending.
3. All holy Father, Son and equal Spirit,
Trinity blessed, send us thy salvation;
thine is the glory, gleaming and resounding
through all creation.
Opening Acclamation
Priest ✠ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. 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.
The Gloria in Excelsis Hymnal 1982, S-278
The Collect of the Day
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest Let us pray.
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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 35:4-7a
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water;
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 146
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!
Second Lesson: James 2:1-17
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 493: “O for a thousand tongues to sing”
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim
and spread through all the earth
abroad the honors of thy Name.
3. Jesus! the Name that charms our fears
and bids our sorrows cease;
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.
4. He speaks; and, listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
5. Hear him, ye deaf; ye voiceless ones,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold, your Savior comes;
and leap, ye lame, for joy!
6. Glory to God and praise and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
Alleluia
The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.
The Gospel: Mark 7:24-37
Priest The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon “A Wild Wager” by the Rev. Robert H. Linders
The Nicene Creed
The Prayers of the People
The leader and people pray responsively
I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishops; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all victims of violence, and for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the departed. Pray for those who have died.
Silence
I ask your prayers for those on our parish prayer list, and for those we now name:
Silence. Additional petitions may be included here.
We pray for our sister church of St. Mary’s, Sololá, in our companion diocese of Guatemala.
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
The Celebrant concludes
Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Welcome & Announcements
The Celebrant introduces the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture, and the people sit.
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.
Anthem: “O Be Joyful in the Lord” Benjamin Britten
O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands:
Serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his Presence with a song.
Be ye sure that the Lord He is God:
it is he that hath made us
and not we ourselves;
We are the sheep of his pasture
O go your way into his gatеs with
thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Be thankful unto him
and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious,
his mercy is everlasting:
and His truth endureth
from generation to generation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be
World without end. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The people stand and the priest 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. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life. 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 et Benedictus qui venit Hymnal 1982, S-125
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.
Anthem: “O How Amiable” R. Vaughan Williams
O how amiable are thy dwellings,
thou Lord of hosts!
My soul hath a desire and longing
to enter into the courts of the Lord:
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house,
the swallow a nest where she may lay her young:
even thy altars O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
they will be always praising thee.
The glorious majesty of the Lord
our God be upon us:
prosper thou the work of our hands upon us.
O prosper thou our handy work,
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Hymn 371: “Thou, whose almighty word”
1. Thou, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the Gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light!
2. Thou who didst come to bring
on thy redeeming wing
healing and sight,
heal to the sick in mind,
sight to the inly blind,
now to all humankind,
let there be light!
3. Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving holy Dove,
speed forth thy flight!
Move on the waters’ face
bearing the gifts of grace,
and, in earth’s darkest place,
let there be light!
4. Holy and blessed Three,
glorious Trinity,
wisdom, love and might;
boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the world, far and wide,
let there be light!
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 & Dismissal
The Celebrant blesses the people and dismisses them.
The People respond Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “Praise to the Lord” Gordon Young
Service Participants
Celebrant: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Preacher: The Rev. Robert H. Linders
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Quintet: Caitlin Stein, Annie Rogers, Alexander Famous, Mike Roberts, Jim Shute
Eucharistic Ministers: Pike Stephens, Jim Massey
Thurifer: Madeleine Moore
Crucifer: John Wilkinson
Lector: Widgette Kelly
Ushers: Rob Wilkinson, Maureen McGraw
Altar: Sara Frister, Susan Nejako
Livestream: Josh Pankoe
Counters: Michael Kelly, David Nejako
Flowers: Kay Johnson
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 Holy Cross Day (transferred) will be held this week on Wednesday, September 11, at noon in the Church.
Blessing of Backpacks and First Day of Sunday School Next Week
Sunday school for children grades K-5 begins next week, Sunday, September 15 for the 10 AM service. Drop off at 9:45- 10 AM in the education wing downstairs and children will join the service during the peace. Please contact Rachel Morse with questions or to volunteer. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Don’t forget to bring your backpacks next week! Fr. Daniel will offer a blessing for the start of the school year.
Social Justice Committee Meeting
Our next meeting is at 7:30 PM on September 10th, the usual 2nd Tuesday of every month. Join us on Zoom via the link in the Weekly E-Notes. All are welcome!
Spiritual Prayer Practices will resume with three Fall sessions.
Come and explore some ancient and some not-so ancient ways of opening and deepening your prayer life. You will be among friends in an informal environment. Meet once a month – as you wish and can – for about an hour. The first Fall meeting is planned for Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 in Paxson Hall. Questions? Contact Leigh DeTato.
save the date-Annual Parish Picnic & Community Meal
Sunday, September 22, Burpee Park
Our annual Parish Picnic will take place on Sunday, September 22 at nearby Burpee Park, directly following the 10:00 am mass. This picnic is for church members, as well as parishioners (those who live in our parish, whether or not they are a member). This year, the picnic will coincide with our monthly community meal, so there will be new and familiar faces. Sign up for picnic items to follow soon. We have reserved the covered pavilion at the park; if you have a lawn chair, you are invited to bring it—along with balls, frisbees, lawn games, etc. Donations of hygiene products and fast-food gift cards in $10 increments are also welcome. Feel free to invite a friend, and looking forward to seeing you at our Parish Picnic & Community Meal!
Women’s Ministry Event: September 20
The Women’s Ministry group is getting back together this Fall for fun and fellowship. We have several “outings” as well as “in-house” activities coming up, so stay alert for announcements!
One of our first fellowship gatherings will be an evening out at Bishop Estate Vineyard and Winery in Perkasie. This is an informal, come as you are event. Come when you can, leave when you must. Unwind after a long week, share some stories and laughs, and just spend some time with friends. All are welcome!
Friday September 20th, 6p - 9p. Bring snacks and treats to share. They are open to bringing your own food but also have a food truck there. Food truck that evening is the Scratch Kitchen Food Truck.
Any questions, feel free to talk with anyone on the women’s ministry team, including Leigh DeTato or Jen Prater.
October “Dinner & A Movie” Series
Join us on Wednesday nights during October for a new “dinner & a movie” series. The evening schedule will be as follows:
· 5:30 – Evening Prayer (Nave)
· 6:00 – Potluck Dinner (Parish Hall)
· 6:30 – ‘Movie’ & Discussion, ending by 7:30pm
The “movies” we will watch are actually short films produced by The Work of The People, a kind of visual library that explores faith and the Christian life through interviews with theologians, artists, pastors, and others. Films we’ll watch will cover topics that include: grace, sacraments, suffering, embodiment, and hope—from a variety of voices and perspectives.
This fall series begins Wednesday, October 2. Attendees will be invited to contribute to meals and help with setup/cleanup: you can sign up at bit.ly/stp-movies2024. To help plan for enough food and seating, RSVP for the series by sending a message to Fr. Daniel Moore.
Caring For Friends
Caring for Friends is a ministry of packing meals for the hungry in our greater Philadelphia area. You are invited to join for the next packing event: Saturday, September 21, from 9:30-11:30am. Those who prefer to cook at home may bring prepared food to the church kitchen on the 21st (please include a list of ingredients for all meals). 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.
Wrapping Presence, a new Outreach project for 2024
Wrapping Presence is an organization that was founded locally almost 30 years ago. Its mission is to return a degree of dignity to residents in nursing facilities who are otherwise no longer able to do for others during the Christmas season. Here is a list of items being collected for Wrapping Presence. You can find information about the ways to get involved here. Please contact Maureen McGraw with any questions.
Saint Paul’s Market is OPEN
featuring bounty from parishioners’ gardens
Proceeds benefit the Little Free Pantry
Gardeners: Bring in your extras!
Buyers: Please make a donation & remember to bring your own bag.
Seeking Flower Guild Members:
Do you admire the lovely flower memorial arrangements each Sunday in church? The Flower Guild is responsible for these memorials and we are always open to having new members join our guild.
If you wondered what is involved in this ministry: no experience required, only a desire to create, training available upon request! What is created: One large arrangement for the church and one small arrangement for the Mary shrine.
When is completed: Saturday morning or if needed Friday, keep in mind the flowers need to look fresh for Sunday morning! Schedule: Usually you would be scheduled appx. once every other month - so in total 6 to 8 times a year.
How this is accomplished: Purchase and/or gather the flowers, twigs, seed pods etc. that you wish to include in the arrangement and create the arrangement in the flower guild room, to the left of the altar. You are reimbursed for your purchase. If you feel you are up for this wonderful ministry, please contact: Lisa Farina.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today’s flowers are given to the glory of God, in loving memory of Edward L. McGill, Sr. and Sean C. McGill by their family. Arranged by Kay Johnson
