The Twenty-third SUNday after pentecost
Sunday, October 27, 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 410: “Praise my soul, the King of heaven”
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.
2. Praise him for his grace and favor
to his people in distress;
praise him still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in this faithfulness.
3. Father-like he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows.
4. Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
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.
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; 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
The First Lesson: Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Job answered the Lord: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived for one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Psalm Psalm 34:1-8
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
The Second Lesson: Hebrews 7:23-28
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 429: “I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath”
1. I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne’er be past
while life and thought and being last,
or immortality endures.
2. How happy they whose hopes rely
on Israel’s God, who made the sky
and earth and seas with all their train;
whose truth for ever stands secure,
who saves the oppressed, and feeds the poor.
And none shall find his promise vain.
3. The Lord pours eyesight on the blind;
the Lord supports the fainting mind
and sends the laboring conscience peace.
He helps the stranger in distress,
the widowed and the fatherless,
and grants the prisoner sweet release.
4. I’ll praise him while he lends me breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne’er be past
while life and thought and being last,
or immortality endures.
Alleluia
The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.
The Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
Priest The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Raymond Harbort
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 with the following Collect
Gracious Father, all things come from you, and all that we have is yours. Pour out your Spirit upon us, that we might be faithful stewards of your great bounty; inspire us to use our time, talent, and treasure for your honor and glory, and for the good of your church; 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.
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: “And Can It Be?” Sondra K. Tucker
And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou,
my God, should die for me?
He left his Father’s throne above,
so free, so infinite his grace;
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
“Tis mercy all, immense and free;
for, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast
bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown through Christ my own.
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 Taste and See” Ralph V. Williams
O taste and see how gracious the Lord is: Blest is the man that trusteth in him.
Hymn 302: “Father, we thank thee who hast planted”
1. Father, we thank thee who hast planted
thy holy Name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus thy Son to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for thy pleasure,
didst give us food for all our days,
giving in Christ the Bread eternal;
thine is the power, be thine the praise.
2. Watch o’er thy Church, O Lord, in mercy,
save it from evil, guard it still,
perfect it in thy love, unite it,
cleansed and conformed unto thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,
was in this broken bread made one,
so from all lands thy Church be gathered
into thy kingdom by thy Son.
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: “Toccata in D minor” J. S. Bach
Service Participants
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Raymond Harbort
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Eucharistic Ministers: Pike Stephens, Jim Massey
Thurifer: Alex Kelly
Crucifer: Fiona Mayorga
Lector: Laura Pankoe
Ushers: Ted Hopkins, Maureen McGraw
Altar: Susan Nejako, Sara Frister
Livestream: Liam Kelly
Counters: Doug Esser, David Nejako
Flowers: Anne Shute
Choir: George Achilles, 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. We thank you for your generous giving to St. Paul’s.
Stewardship Campaign 2025
I’m In
The theme of “I’m In” is both a commitment and an invitation to each member of St Paul’s. It’s a call to reflect on what this place and community mean in your life. How does it impact you and how are you impacting it! As we prepare for the coming of a New Year we stop and think of our Stewardship commitment to the Church. This is more than a call for funding, it’s a call for engagement, for building our community through relationships.
During this campaign we ask each other are you…
Invested
Are you In-vested in your church?
Two thoughts for us to consider:
First - We hear about ROI today, an acronym which stands for an investor’s ‘Rate of Investment’ on their investment. Is it 5%, 10%, is it keeping up with the market? I ask you now to think about the return on your financial investment at St. Paul’s. Our tithes and offerings keep up this beautiful building, give aid to the poor, and support our pastor. Our investments allow St. Paul’s to continue its ministry now.
Second thought - The Bible is full of eternal promises to those who are generous in their giving. From the words of St. Paul himself, we are to ‘be good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for ourselves a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of the life which is life indeed.’ What is the ROI - the return on our investment-when we invest in St. Paul’s? God knows!
Children’s Sunday School - no sunday school today
Stewardship Financial Presentation today
David Taylor, St. Paul’s Accounting Warden, will share St. Paul’s financial status in narrated PowerPoint presentations. This event in the Stewardship Campaign will be supported by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew with one of their famous breakfasts! Please plan to attend, following the 8:00 am or 10:00 am mass, in Paxson Hall.
Community Meal: October 27
The next Community Meal is scheduled for this afternoon at 1:00 p.m, after the Stewardship Breakfast. The Brotherhood, along with the Outreach Committee, will be providing the casseroles for the meal. So, instead of preparing a dish to share, if you would like to contribute something for the Community meal, gift cards for McDonalds, Wendy’s or Wawa, in amounts not larger than $10.00 would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support.
Weekday Worship
Mass for All Saints’ Day, will be held this week on Friday, November 1, at noon in the Church.
A Stewardship Story
To view an inspiring St. Paul’s stewardship story, scan the following QR code:
Bible Study
Bible Study will not meet today due to the Stewardship Financial Presentation. The final meeting will be on Sunday, November 3 in the Education Wing from 9:00 to 9:45 am, in-between our two Sunday Masses.
Questions? You can contact Nancy Gifford-Humphreys or John Humphreys.
Christmas in Doylestown: Butter Cookies
Once again, our famous Butter Cookies will be available for Christmas in Doylestown. This year we will be taking pre-orders with some boxes of cookies available for sale at the tour. Make sure you place a pre-order so as to make sure you don’t miss out on the delicious cookies. Order Forms can be found here or in the parish hall by the Christmas in Doylestown bulletin board. To make the scrumptious cookies, bakers and ingredient donations will be needed. Please see sign up forms in the parish hall by the Christmas in Doylestown bulletin board starting October 1st. Baking dates begin November 2nd through November 9th - some weekends and some weekdays. Thank you in advance to all that help with the butter cookies! Butter Cookie questions? Please contact June Psculkowski.
Service of Prayer for Sound Government
On the eve of Election Day—Monday, November 4 at 6:30 PM—St. Paul’s will host a “Service of Prayer for Sound Government.” This service provides a chance to come together in prayer once again, as we have done in the past, for the leaders of this land: that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. In it, we affirm that we are called to pray for sound government and wise laws, in which the rights of all may be protected—and to hold our elected officials accountable for their powers and privileges. Drawing on prayers from The Book of Common Prayer, from the words of scripture, along with meditations and reflections, this service offers a unique opportunity to gather and pray that our elected leaders may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world. For further information or questions, contact Fr. Daniel Moore.
Daughters of the King
Those women interested in a new chapter of this order being initiated at St. Paul’s will be gathering, again, on Thursday, November 7, at 6:00pm in the conference room. There are several things to discuss and to put in place even before we begin our formation sessions early next year. These are exciting first steps. Questions for anyone else interested and not yet identified? Feel free to contact Leigh DeTato.
Little Free Pantry
Thank you to everyone for the generous donations to the Little Free Pantry...the food and monetary donations are greatly appreciated. If you are considering a donation, we are always in need of snack bars, fruit cups, single serving tuna or chicken salad, shelf stable milk, bottled water...a guideline is…"anything that can be eaten on a bench.” Thank you again for your help and support. Mary Lou Parry, Outreach Committee Chair
Spiritual Prayer Practices
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 final Fall meeting is planned for Saturday, November 9 at 10:00 in the chapel. Questions? Contact Leigh DeTato.
Social Justice Committee Meeting
Our next meeting is at 7:30 PM on November 12th, the usual 2nd Tuesday of every month. Join us on Zoom via the link in the Weekly E-Notes. All are welcome!
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 21. 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.
Is Coming Soon.....
Set-Up: Nov. 16-22
Sale Dates: Nov. 22-23
We need your help with the Christmas Attic...it’s easy and fun:
· Bring your donations in no later than Tuesday Nov. 19.
· Volunteer to bring up boxes from the barn and basement Saturday morning Nov. 16.
· Volunteer to unpack, sort and price the great stuff that has been donated.
Work runs from Saturday the 16th to Friday afternoon the 22nd.
· Volunteer to work at the sale, either Friday evening or Saturday morning.
· Volunteer to help clean up the parish hall Saturday afternoon, Nov. 23rd.
Sign Up to help here
Women’s Ministry: Gratitude Potluck Supper November 15
The women of St. Paul’s would like to invite all women of the parish to join us for a Gratitude Potluck Supper on Friday November 15th. It will be held in Paxson Hall, from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Please consider joining us to give thanks and share some gratitude for all of our blessings and joys. As usual, come if you can, leave when you must. No pressure! A sign up will go out closer to the date asking for you to contribute a food that you are most grateful for and would like to share. Please reach out to Jen Prater with any questions.
Women’s Ministry: Book Club Meeting: January
Please join us for our upcoming Women’s Ministry Book Club, on Saturday, January 25 at 10:00 AM, in St. Paul's Conference room. We will be discussing An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. Please reach out to Nada Jamaty with any questions.
In An Altar in the World, Taylor shares how she learned to find God beyond the church walls by embracing the sacred as a natural part of everyday life. She shows us how to discover altars everywhere we go and in nearly everything we do as we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in. She explores spirituality which for many might be a longing for “more meaning, more feeling, more connection, more life.” For Taylor, the way to find that “more” is not in pilgrimages to India, mission trips to Belize and hours of fervent prayers, but rather within us by uncovering and developing this untapped resource through “practices” that she explores in the twelve chapters of her book.
Forward Day by Day Devotionals for November-January
Forward Movement is a ministry of The Episcopal Church dedicated to forming adult Episcopalians in the faith. Forward Day by Day is one of its publications: a devotional booklet with brief meditations on a passage of Scripture appointed for each day. Paper copies for the three-month period of November-January are now available in the entranceway to the Parish Hall.
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.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today’s flowers are givento the glory of God, in loving memory of George Kerr, Mary Louisa Kerr, John Elfman, Sr., Jean Kerr Elfman, Martha and Alice Edgar, Harrington Rosenberger, Elizabeth Rosenberger, John Steward Moore, Jeannetta Rosenberger Beauvais, Margaret Rosenberger, H. John Rosenberger, Sr., Harrington John Rosenberger, Jr., Henry Darlington, Katherine Darlington, Kate Darlington, Hillborn Darlington, E. Dillwyn Darlington, and departed members of the families of Louis Buckman and Allen Gardy. Arranged by Anne Shute
