St. Paul's Church
A SERVICE OF GRIEVING AND HOPE
Prelude
Announcements
Entrance Hymn #718 (Standing, if able) George William Warren
Salutation
Celebrant: We come in this service to God, bearing with us the searing memories of a dark day which has brought untold suffering and death to our country and to us and our families.
People: In our need, and bringing with us the needs and cares of our country and our world
Celebrant: We come to God, who has come to us in Jesus,
People: And who walks with us the road of our world's suffering
Celebrant: We come with our faith and with our doubts;
People: We come with our hopes and with our fears.
Celebrant: We come as we are because it is God who invites us to come,
People: And God has promised never to turn us away.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: Seated. Romans 8:14-19;34-35;37-38
A Reading from Paul's letter to the Romans
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The Psalm (Read responsively)
I lift up my eyes to the hills from where is my help to come?
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth.
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
He will not let your foot be moved and he who watches over you will not fall asleep
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
The Lord himself watches over you: the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
So that the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe.
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.
All: For you O Lord are our Source and Strength
Gradual Hymn #482 (standing, if able) Thomas Kelly
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking, and give us we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
The Gospel Reading (Standing, if able) Matthew 5:1-16
Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot."You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon (seated) The Rev. Bruce R. Bramlett
Litany of Healing
The Celebrant introduces the Litany with this bidding
In this time of national crisis, let us remember all those for whom
prayers are needed this day. We especially remember all those who
have died in the terrorist attacks on Tuesday. We remember all
those who mourn; for families, friends and colleagues; those
who continue the heroic work of rescue and healing, including
the firefighters, police, security people, doctors and hospital
personnel; all those throughout the country who have felt the
trauma of these last days.
I invite you to name before God any others for whom we need
to offer our prayers.
The People audibly name those for whom they are interceding.
A Person appointed then leads the Litany
O God our redeemer, your will for all people is health andA period of silence follows.
The Celebrant concludes the Litany with this prayer:
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people;
in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon
us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O
lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Confession
Celebrant: This is a time of righteous anger and of the white hot
rage that comes from frustration, grief and a sense of the tragic
and senseless loss of all that is precious and Good. Yet our hearts
cannot bear such destructive power. Join with me now as we
seek to find liberation from the oppression of the anger, violence
and rage that weighs us so heavily.
Let us pray for our own sins and offenses.
Priest: God have mercy
People: God have mercy
Together: Spirit of Truth and judgment, who alone can cast out
the powers that grip our world at the point of crisis, give us
your discernment, that we may accurately name what is evil,
and know the way that leads to peace, Through Jesus Christ, Amen
Hymn #716 (standing, if able) America
through storm and night
when the wild tempests rave, ruler of wind and wave,
do thou our country save by thy great might
For her our prayers shall rise to God, above the skies;
on him we wait;
thou who art ever nigh, guarding with watchful eye,
to thee aloud we cry, God save the state.
Celebrant: Through the waters of our baptisms, God forgives us and
sets us free. Know that your are forgiven, forgive yourself and forgive
others and go in peace. Amen
An Affirmation of Life in the Midst of Grief and Suffering
Celebrant:
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you,
so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills,
that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then
use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare
of your people; through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Peace
Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you
People: And also with you
Offertory Anthem (Seated.) Mode VII
"In Paradisium"
Into Paradise, may the angels lead you
At your coming may the martyrs receive you
and bring you into the holy city Jerusalem
May the choirs of angels welcome you,
and with Lazarus who once was poor
may you have peace everlasting.
Doxology Standing, if able; sung by all.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
MAKE EUCHARIST
The Great Thanksgiving - Supplemental Text
Sursum Corda (S-120)
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Celebrant It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, all-holy God, source of life and
fountain of mercy.
You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have
redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to
fullness of life.
Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our
voices with all creation as we sing (say):
Sanctus (S-129) Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,The People stand or kneel, if able.
Then the Celebrant continues
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace. But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said: "Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me." As supper was ending, Jesus 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 poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died. The Celebrant continues Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ's Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN. And now, has taught us, we are bold to say, The Lord's Prayer (S-119) 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. At the Breaking of the Bread (S-154) Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. Celebrant The gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. Agnus Dei (S-161) Celebrant Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, People have mercy on us. Celebrant Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, People have mercy on us. Celebrant Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, People grant us your peace. SHARE THE GIFTS + Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, + The bread is received in the open palm. The wine, if desired, may be taken from the chalice by drinking (placing your hand gently on the base of the chalice to guide it) or + Those in the back half of the church, please go to the Communion station at the back to receive. Communion Music Prayer after Communion Kneeling or standing, if able. Celebrant and People Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual
food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring
us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your
eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as
faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory,
now and for ever. Amen. The Eucharistic Minister may be sent out with prayer. The Blessing Processional Hymn 680 Standing, if able.
St. Anne "O God our Help in ages past" O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
you are welcome at the Lord's table.
by dipping the bread into the chalice.
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of thy throne thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in thy sight are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun
Time like an ever rolling stream, bears all our years away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
Dismissal
People's response Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Leading Today's Liturgy
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Bruce R. Bramlett
Organist: Michael Struck
Lay Ministers and Readers: John Luce, Chris Olson
John Surinchak, Veronica Dodds, Chris Hammond
Ushers: Bill Booth, Laurie Rosa
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St. Paul's Church
1123 Court Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 456-4852 FAX (415) 456-1096
http://www.oldstpauls.org
e-mail: St.PaulsSanRafael@earthlink.net