Trinity Episcopal Church
Pawtuxet Village
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 23, 2015
8:00 a.m.
Opening Sentence: (All Stand)
Leader: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1.
Confession of Sin
Leader: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
All: 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 Absolution
Priest: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Invitatory and Psalter
Leader: Lord, Open our lips,
People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Leader: The earth is the Lord’s, for he made it.
People: Come let us adore him.
(All Sit)
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favour and honour.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
All: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen.
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.
‘Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’
Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land.
Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel
Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
John 6:56-69
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’
Priest: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Mitchell Lindeman
Moment for Reflection
The Apostles' Creed
All:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
Silence
Lector: For the mission of the Church, that through it we may come to know you, to love you and to serve you. For our Bishops: Justin,
Katherine, Michael, and Nicholas; for the priests, deacons and laity who seek to do your will, let us pray to the Lord.
People: For all who proclaim the gospel, and all who seek the truth.
Lector: For this community, the nation and the world, for President Obama and those in positions of public trust (congregation adds names) let us pray to the Lord.
People: For all who work for justice, freedom and peace.
Lector: For our enemies and those who wish us harm; and for all whom we have injured or offended, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Where there is hatred, Lord, let us sow love.
Lector: For the sick and injured: for Don A., Piers, Sharon, Becca, Rob, John, Bob, Cindy, Dick, Beverly, Ron, Eunice, Catherine, Marilyn, Lyn, Nancy, Nick, Harrington, Lois, Earl, David, Jeanne (congregation adds names) and for those who suffer in mind or spirit, (congregation adds names), Risen Lord,
People: Hear our prayer.
Lector: For the just and proper use of your creation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Make us faithful stewards of all that you have given us.
Lector: For the hungry and fearful, for those who suffer from injustice and oppression and for all who care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord have mercy.
Lector: For the men and women in military service: Chris, John, Kevin, William, Stacy, Michael, Tyler, Alyssa, Scott, Tom, David (congregation to add names) and for those who work for non-violent resolution to conflicts, (congregation adds names), Risen Lord,
People: Hear our prayer.
Lector: For refugees from war and natural disasters, remembering especially the persecution and suffering of Christians in the Middle East and Africa (congregation adds concerns) let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord have mercy.
Lector: For those celebrating birthdays this week, Norah Duncanson (24), Eric Halvarson (25), Donald Armbrust (29) (congregation adds names) and for those celebrating their anniversary, Frank and Carla Walker (25), Dick and Eunice Deming (25) (congregation adds names) we give thanks to you, O Lord.
People: Look with favor upon them as they begin another year.
Lector: This week we are especially grateful for (congregation adds personal thanksgivings), let us pray to the Lord.
People: Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.
Lector: For all of blessed memory whom we love and see no longer, remembering especially Charles C. Plumb, Jr., and Benjamin Haight (congregation adds names), we pray to you, O Lord.
People: Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them who put their trust in you.
Concluding Collect
The Peace
Priest: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Announcements
Offertory
Priest: Let us with gladness present the offerings of our life and work to the Lord.
Doxology
All Say: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below, Praise him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
All: All Things come of thee, O Lord,
and of thine own have we given thee.
The Great Thanksgiving
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 God thanks and praise.
Priest: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth through Jesus Christ our Lord. In fulfillment of his true promise, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven, lighting upon the disciples, to teach them and to lead them into all truth. 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.
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy and gracious God: 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."