St. Thomas Episcopal
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

Farmingdale
September 19, 2021


Holy Eucharist – Rite II

Zoom#  409 392 777     or     1-646-876-9923

Prelude    TBD

Welcome 

(Please Stand, if able)
       Opening Hymn  #525        
The Church’s one foundation          
 Hymnal 1982

Priest:        Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People:    And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever.  Amen

ALL:    Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.  Amen

Priest:    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. 

ALL:    Glory to God in the highest,
    and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
    we worship you, we give you thanks,
    we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
    have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: 
    receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
    Jesus Christ,
    with the Holy Spirit,
    in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Priest:        The Lord be with you. 
People:    And also with you. 
Priest:        Let us pray

Priest:    Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

THE LESSONS:

First Reading: (Please be seated)    
       A Reading from The Prophet Jeremiah              11:18-20            
(Jennifer Logan)

“It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew;
then you showed me their evil deeds.
But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter. 
And I did not know it was against me
that they devised schemes, saying, 
"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
let us cut him off from the land of the living, 
so that his name will no longer be remembered!" 
But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously,
who try the heart and the mind, 
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.” 

Reader:     The Word of the Lord.        People:    Thanks be to God.

(Please remain seated)
Psalm 54 – (Said together in unison)
1 Save me, O God, by your Name; *
in your might, defend my cause.
2 Hear my prayer, O God; *
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For the arrogant have risen up against me,
and the ruthless have sought my life, *
those who have no regard for God.
4 Behold, God is my helper; *
it is the Lord who sustains my life.
5 Render evil to those who spy on me; *
in your faithfulness, destroy them.
6 I will offer you a freewill sacrifice *
and praise your Name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from every trouble, *
and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes.

Second Reading: 
(Please remain seated)
A Reading from The Letter of James 
                          3:13-4:3, 7-8a                        
(​Judy Aubin)

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.  Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ”
Reader:    The Word of the Lord.              People:    Thanks be to God.

(Please stand, if able)
Gospel Hymn   #522     
     Glorious things of thee are spoken        Hymnal 1982

The Gospel Reading:
          (Please remain standing, if able)              
 Mark 9:30-37

Priest:      The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.
People:    Praise be to you, Lord Christ.              

 Priest:    “Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Priest:    The Gospel of The Lord.  
 People:  Thanks be to God.


Sermon:                                            Fr. John Hunt



The Nicene Creed:
(Please stand, as able)

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.

Prayers of the People Form VI:
(Please remain standing, as able)    
(Carol Eskesen Smith)
Intercessor:  In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

(Silence - The Intercessor continues)

Intercessor:    For all people in their daily life and work;
People:    For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone

Intercessor:    For this community, the nation, and the world;
People:    For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

Intercessor:    For the just and proper use of your creation;
People:    For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression

Intercessor:    For those in the military and public service who risk their lives for our safety, and for all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble.   
People:    For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

Intercessor:    For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
People:    For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the truth.

Intercessor:    For Michael our Presiding Bishop, Lawrence our Diocesan Bishop, Geralyn, William and Daniel our Bishops, John our new Priest, and for all other ministers 
People:    For all who serve God in his Church

Intercessor:    For the sick and suffering, for those who seek employment, housing, and hope, and those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).
Among those in special need at this time, we remember by name Alice, Angel, Barbara & Frank, Bea, Dolores, Dorothy, Edie, Ginny, George & Patricia, Grandma, Irving, Isaac, Ivette, Janet and Jim, Mother Judith Dalmasso, Rick, Roselyn, Sarah, Stephanie, the people of Haiti, the people of Afghanistan, and the people of Louisiana.
Intercessor:    Hear us, Lord;
People:    For your mercy is great.

Intercessor:    We thank you. Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).

Intercessor:    We will exalt you, O God our King
People:    And praise your Name for ever and ever.

Intercessor:    We pray for all those who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).

Intercessor:    We pray for those who are bereaved, that they find your comfort and peace.  Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them;

People:    Who put their trust in you.    

Intercessor:    We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.    

ALL:        God of all mercy, 
we confess that we have sinned against you, 
opposing your will in our lives.
We have denied your goodness in each other,
In ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent of the evil that enslaves us,
        The evil done on our behalf.
Forgive, restore, and strengthen us
Through our Savior Jesus Christ,
That we may abide in your love
And serve only your will. Amen.

Priest:    Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.


The Peace:

Priest:        May the Peace of the Lord be always with you
People:    And also with you.


Offertory:

Priest:        Walk in love as Christ loved us, and offering and sacrifice to God.

All:        All things come of Thee O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee.



Offertory Anthem:
(Please be seated)    

Solo performed by Lori DeLucia  
 “Will you come and follow me”    
Wonder Love & Praise #757


Thank you for your financial support of our shared ministries at St. Thomas!
Please continue to help St. Thomas and pledge this fall.



               The Great Thanksgiving:                    Eucharistic Prayer A – BCP p. 361
(Please stand, if able)




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.

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.  For you are the source of light and life, you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.  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.

(Stand or kneel)
Priest:    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:

ALL:    Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

Priest:    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

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

ALL:    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.



The Breaking of the Bread    
(A period of silence is kept.)


Priest:        Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;


ALL:        Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Priest:        The Gifts of God for the People of God.


Post Communion Hymn:
#312    Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands    
Hymnal 1982


            Post-Communion Prayer:                BCP p. 365

Priest:        Let us pray.

ALL:    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.

Notices:

Wedding Anniversary of Terri and Rick Morrison, September 23.

Anniversary prayer:

Priest:        Let Us Pray.
ALL:    “O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants Terri and Rick, as they begin another year of marriage.  Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”


Final Blessing:

Priest:    The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.


Closing Hymn: 
#409    
        The spacious firmament on high            Hymnal 1982


Dismissal:

Priest:        Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People:    Thanks be to God!