Proper 18 A

St. Francis Church

Biblically minded. Mission Driven.

The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt--Bishop of Tennessee The Reverend Joseph B. Howard--Vicar

Order of Worship

St. Francis Church is a community dedicated to the transformation of lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Kingdom of God.

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Proper 18, Year A

A congregation of the Diocese of Tennessee and the world-wide Anglican Communion

A note for visitors: We’re thankful that you could join us for worship today, and we pray God blesses you in your time here. The service is printed in your bulletin. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask someone around you! St. Francis Church we want to encourage families to worship together. In order to be a community where all ages feel welcome, we provide coloring materials for children to use during worship and seek to understand the specific gifts and challenges that children bring. We encourage you, should you feel comfortable doing so, to sit toward the front with your children, as little-ones are often more attentive if they can see what is happening. That being said, we understand that there may be times when it is best to take advantage of child care, which we have available in the room immediately through the Kitchen off of the entryway. In Preparation for worship: We invite you to take a few moments before the service begins to be still, and rest from the business of your lives. Take time to breathe deeply, and reflect upon the past week. When you’re ready, you might say the following prayer or one like it in preparation for worship. O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The Word of God Processional: My hope is built on nothing less

Lift Every Voice and Sing 99

Opening Acclamation: All Standing

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. 3

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. Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis

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S 280

Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Let us pray. Collect of the Day: 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. Ezekiel 33:7-11

First Reading: All sit.

Ezekiel accepts the responsibility for warning the people to turn from their wickedness. God keeps inviting his people to repent and choose life. A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel: You, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life. Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

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The Psalm of the day: Remain seated

Psalm 119:33-40 Legem pone 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, * and I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; * I shall keep it with all my heart. 35 Make me go in the path of your commandments, * for that is my desire. 36 Incline my heart to your decrees * and not to unjust gain. 37 Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; * give me life in your ways. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, * which you make to those who fear you. 39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, * because your judgments are good. 40 Behold, I long for your commandments; * in your righteousness preserve my life. Romans 13:8-14

Second Reading:

Paul urges believers to live their lives in a way that shows they know the time of redemption is coming soon. A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. The Children Come forward for a prayer, and then depart for Children’s Church 6

Sequence Hymn: Blessed Jesus at thy word

Hymnal 440

Matthew 18:15-20

Holy Gospel: All stand.

Jesus gives instructions about church discipline, and tells his disciples how to go about correcting a brother or sister who has offended. Gospeller: People:

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _______. Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, 7

let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ Sermon:

The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

The Nicene Creed

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. Announcements

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The Prayers of the People Leader: Let us pray

In our Diocese we pray for Grace Church, Spring Hill.



In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, The Most Revd Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan & Bishop of Juba and for the Assistant Bishop of Juba, The Rt Rev’d Joseph Makor Atot Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

People: That we all may be one. Leader: We pray for those whose hearts are being prepared by grace to join in your work through St. Francis Church. People: Increase our faithfulness, empower us to be the community you would have us be. Leader: Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you; People: That your Name may be glorified by all people. Leader: We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons; People: That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments. Leader: We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; People: That there may be justice and peace on the earth. Leader: Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; People: That our works may find favor in your sight. Leader: Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; People: That they may be delivered from their distress. Leader: Give to the departed eternal rest; People: Let light perpetual shine upon them. Leader: We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy; People: May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom. Leader:

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.



Silence

Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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The Confession Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence.

Minister 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. Celebrant: 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. All stand

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you. Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Christ, the light giver

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y The Holy Communion y Offertory music selected by the musician

All stand for the Doxology:

Hymnal 380 (last verse)

Celebrant: All things come of thee O Lord. People: And of thine own have we given thee. 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 him thanks and praise. 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; who on the first day of the week overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of 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:

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The Sanctus:

S-130 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.

Please kneel or stand at this time, as best helps you to pray.

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: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. 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, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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,

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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 Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. 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. ON RECEIVING COMMUNION: All baptized Christians who are in love and charity with their neighbors are welcome to receive communion. If you do not wish to receive, you are invited to come for a prayer of blessing—simply cross your arms over your chest to let the servers know that you will not be receiving. Prayers before receiving can be found on pages 337 (the Prayer of Humble Access) and 834 in the Book of Common Prayer (the red books available under your chairs). Communion music: There is one Lord

Post-Communion Prayer After Communion, the Celebrant says:

Let us Pray The minister and people together, pray:

Almighty and everliving God,

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Taize

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 Blessing The Recessional: Go forth for God

Hymnal 347

Celebrant says the dismissal People: Thanks be to God.

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A Note on Today’s Readings Proper 18, Year A Welcome to St. Francis Church. We now reach a section of Matthew’s Gospel in which Jesus teaches about God’s way of dealing with humanity: namely, forgiveness. Today’s reading is primarily concerned with the Church’s role as the agent of forgiveness. Even when a member of the Church is unrepentant, the Church is not to give up on that person easily. We are to make every effort to move the sinner to repent and accept the forgiveness of God, which Jesus has commissioned the Church to offer. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel is commissioned to warn the people of the need to repent. The central message is that God has no desire to condemn; God’s deepest desire is to forgive. Today’s passage from the Epistle to the Romans continues to deal with the characteristics of Christian living. We are to live in good relationships with all people, to respect the laws and authorities of human society, and above all to express love by mutual behavior based on God’s law. We gather as the People of God, having found in our relationship with God that he is our lover and our savior, not an angry or condemning judge. We find in our lives together as Church that we are not only the recipients of God’s love and forgiveness but also sent into the world as the instruments of that love and forgiveness to all people. From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.

Good News Daily Volume VIII

(

September 7–13, 2008

Number 35

Sunday September 7 Revelation 14:1-7, 13 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. (v.6 NIV) I have always thought that Bibles should come with certain Scripture verses already highlighted. Similar to how the King James translation has all of Jesus’ words printed in red. Today’s reading is the answer to that seemingly unanswerable question about the tribesmen in Africa who aren’t exposed to churches or languages that the Bible has been translated into. God has assigned an angel to oversee the sharing of the gospel to all people. That means all those who live on this earth—regardless of how they look, act, or where they live—will be exposed to the gospel in some way. How God does that is His job, not ours. 15

God does call on us to share the gospel though. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations…” God works through us to share the Good News with others, whether he leads us to Africa or to be a missionary in our workplace and community. Prayer: Lord, use me to reach people for You. Job 25:1-6, 27:1-6; Psalm 63; Matthew 5:13-20 Monday September 8 Acts 13:44-52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (v.52) Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel to the Jewish people in Pisidian Antioch, who didn’t like it and incited a riot. They then began preaching to the Gentiles, who accepted the gospel. The Jews had Paul and Barnabas kicked out of town. It seems strange they would be filled with joy after being expelled from a town. However, Paul and Barnabas were obeying God by preaching the Gospel. As a result, they witnessed people’s lives changed. They were filled with joy by obeying God’s call on their life. There is nothing more exciting that sharing the Gospel with someone and seeing then accept the Lord. Everything else seems to become dim in comparison (even being expelled from a town). We have to realize that some people, like the Jews in Acts, will reject the Gospel. We may be surprised by who accepts Christ into their lives. All we are called to do is be obedient and share it as the Lord leads us. When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone? Ask the Lord to put someone in your path today. Job 32:1-10, 19—33:1, 19-28; Psalms 41, 52; John 10:19-30 Tuesday September 9 Job 29:1-20 How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me. (v.2) Job talks throughout this passage about how good life used to be. He had respect, material wealth, power, and influence. He implies that at one time God had been with him, but had since removed himself from Job’s life, resulting in calamity. We tend to feel this way when times are hard or tragedy occurs. We reason that God can’t possibly be with us or he wouldn’t let things like this happen to us. Actually, Scripture illustrates that God has been with us throughout the ages and always will be. Read Psalm 139. We can’t get away from God. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that life will always be easy, full of riches, or without struggles. It is through painful times and hardships that we draw closer to the Lord, if we choose. When we do, he will walk with us through those catastrophic times. The poem Footprints ends by God explaining that during the times of struggle there was only one 16

pair of footprints in the sand because God carried us. Psalm 45; Acts 14:1-18; John 10:31-42 Wednesday September 10 John 11:1-16 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. (vv.4-6) It doesn’t make sense. Jesus’ friend, Lazarus was sick. You’d think Jesus would want to see his ailing friend. Yet he delayed visiting him for two days. Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus wouldn’t die and it would glorify God. God’s will doesn’t always make sense at the time He calls us to do something. We see the world in one dimension. God has worldly vision that is multi-dimensional. He sees a continuum—the past, the future, our lives, the lives of others, and how it all interacts. It doesn’t have to make sense to us. We are called to obey His will. When I’m confused because what God is telling me to do just doesn’t seem right, I pray. I ask for confirmation that acting on my faith in Him is the way to go. Then I ask the Lord to reveal to me later how it all came together. I want to see it through his eyes. I trust there was a reason for what He called me to do and it will glorify Him in the end. Job 29:1, 30:1-2, 16-31; Psalm 119:49-72; Acts 14:19-28 Thursday September 11 Acts 15:1-11 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. (v.4) With all that was going on, the controversies and the abundance of conversions, it would be easy for Paul and Barnabas to think that they were the cause of it. But they didn’t. They maintained that God was working through them to change the lives of so many. Furthermore, they told others that as well. Pride, or hubris, is one of those deadly sins that can come on quietly and without us realizing it. We become successful at something, and we start thinking how talented or good or generous or charismatic we are instead of giving the glory to the one who gave us our abilities and opportunities. I have found several ways to prevent pride from setting in. Always be thankful for the gifts, abilities, and opportunities God has blessed you with. Give someone permission to tell you when you are getting prideful. When you are paid a compliment, respond by saying, “To God be the glory.” Job 29:1, 31:1-23; Psalm 50; John 11:17-29

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Friday September 12 John 11:30-44 Jesus wept. (v.35) Jesus was fully man and fully God. Being fully man, he would have experienced all the same emotions that we do. When Jesus heard that Lazarus had died, he felt sadness and despair. He wept and mourned the loss of his friend. Those are emotions I have felt. Jesus can empathize with them when I express them to him. I have felt comforted at those times by God and have received hope as I trust in him. I know Jesus weeps at tragedies, pain and desperation more than we can comprehend, because he loves each one of us. Just as he brought hope and healing to Lazarus, we must believe on that hope in our lives. Prayer: Lord, I thank you that as God you bring hope and resurrection to our lives. I thank you also that as a man you understand what pain feels like. I pray for ______ who is in pain. I pray that he/she would feel your comfort and the hope you give. Job 29:1, 31:24-40; Psalms 40, 54; Acts 15:12-21 Saturday September 13 Job 38:1-17 Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” (vv.1-3) God describes himself as the architect of this world. He designed the blueprints of the earth’s foundation and created the barriers for the seas. He ordered the morning and the evening. The imagery is vivid. He is a powerful God who formed the Earth and created Job. That same God is conversing with Job and clearly knows the tragedies Job has experienced. God is loving, merciful, and wants to walk with us through our days. Those extremes are almost impossible to comprehend— a God so big he created the world and He also wants to share in the intricacies of our lives. We often struggle, like Job, with what that really means, especially when it comes to tragedy and disappointments in our lives. Prayer: Lord, you are a powerful yet loving and just God. I am humbled that you want to know me. Show me today how I can understand you better. Psalm 55; Acts 15:22-35; John 11:45-54 by Mara McClain Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790

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Announcements Welcome to our guests! We’re very happy that you chose to worship with us this morning. Please join us after the service for snacks and conversation, to take some time to get to know us and for us to get to know you. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 for our discussion of how to share the gospel with others from the “outflow” of our lives rather than through a special “evangelism program” that is quickly abandoned. We will be discussing issues raised by a short video clip and relating our personal experience. Bible discussion group begins Wednesday Sep. 10: Join Fr. Jody as we reflect on the Epistle of James every Wednesday at 6:30 at the Chick-fil-A at Rivergate Mall (there is a playground there). Luther called it an Epistle of straw... was he right? October 5: Bishop’s visitation October 7: Pet blessing and cookout at Moss-Wright park from 3pm--??. Pet Blessing will be at 6:00 pm. If you have an announcement that you would like in the bulletin, please email it to Fr. Jody by Wednesday the week before so it can be included.

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Bishop of Tennessee The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt Vicar The Rev. Joseph B. Howard Mission Council Ralph Eddy Linda Palmer Thom Chittom Shelley Sircy clerk: Nanci Frey Accompanist Thomas Duffy

Schedule of Ministry: Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard Reader: Anna Howard Acolyte/Crucifer: Adam Waltenbaugh/Rachel Frey Prayer Station: Shelley Sircy Oblationers: Linda Palmer Chalicist: Adam Waltenbaugh To check the schedule online, visit: http://stfrancis-tn.net and go to congregational resources-->schedule

To get in touch with Fr. Jody for any reason, you can reach him at 615-440-6492 or via email at frjody@stfrancis-tn. net. _______________________________________________________________________________ St. Francis Church Biblically minded. Mission driven. 812 Meadowlark Ln PO Box 697 Goodlettsville, TN 37072 Phone: 851-0790 http://stfrancis-tn.net

Cover Image: Jesus teaches His disciples on the right; while on the left, church discipline is depicted.. By Luther, Martin, 1483-1546 in Kirchen Postilla, das ist, Auslegung der Episteln vnd Euangelien an Sontagen vnd furnemesten Festen Wood cuts from: Pitts Theological Library Digital Image Archive Color images from: Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN, https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-search.pl CCLI License No. 2334637

Oneliscence.net No. A-714717

Have a topic you’d like to see addressed in a future teaching series? Ideas for sermon topics? Write them down in this area, tear it off and put it in the collection plate as it comes by.

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