The Tenth Sunday After Pentecost, Year 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 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Seventh Sunday after Trinity Proper 9, 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 wants 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 be a community that understands 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: Thou, whose almighty word

Hymnal 371

Opening Acclamation: All Standing

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

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Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis

Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Let us pray. 4

S 280

Collect of the Day: O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Zechariah 9:9-12

First Reading: All sit.

Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Zechariah looked forward in hope to the triumphant coming of a humble king, a messiah who will bring peace to the ends of the earth. A Reading from the book of the prophet Zechariah. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. The Psalm of the day: Remain seated

Psalm 145:8-15 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, * slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is loving to everyone * and his compassion is over all his works. 10 All your works praise you, O Lord, * and your faithful servants bless you. 11 They make known the glory of your kingdom * and speak of your power; 12 That the peoples may know of your power * and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; * your dominion endures throughout all ages. 5



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The Lord is faithful in all his words * and merciful in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all those who fall; * he lifts up those who are bowed down. Romans 7:15-25a

Second Reading:

Paul is critical of our condition as sinners. We fall short on our own and can only accomplish the good that we intend with God’s help. A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

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Sequence Hymn: Blessed Jesus at thy word

Hymnal 440

Matthew 11:16-19,25-30

Holy Gospel: All stand.

Jesus praises God for revealing wisdom understood by children even as it confuses the wise. He promises refreshment for those who are anxious and troubled. Gospeller: People:

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

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 7

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”. 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. 8

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. The Prayers of the People Leader: Let us pray

In our Diocese we pray for the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Tennessee.



In the Anglican Communion we pray for The Church of Pakistan (United) The Rt. Rev’d Dr Alexander John Malik Moderator, Church of Pakistan & Bishop of Lahore Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

People: That we all may be one. 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.



We give thanks for the United States of America, the freedoms we enjoy.



Silence

Celebrant:

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. 9

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.

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The Holy Communion 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. 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:

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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, 12

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 selected by the musician. Post-Communion Prayer After Communion, the Celebrant says:

Let us Pray The minister and people together, pray:

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 Blessing

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The Recessional: Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

Hymnal 544

Celebrant says the dismissal People: Thanks be to God. A Note on Today’s Readings Proper 9: Sunday closest to July 6—Year A Welcome to St. Francis Church. Today’s reading from Matthew is when Jesus learns of the murder of John the Baptist. He mourns that people rejected him and John: John, for his severe message of judgment and ascetic lifestyle, and Jesus for his message of God’s love for all people and his zest for living. Nevertheless, God’s blessing is available for all who accept Jesus’ call and for all those who minister God’s love to other people. The first reading from Zechariah describes God coming to the people with joy and rejoicing. The prophet envisions the time when God’s visitation will bring peace and hope to all people. 14

We continue in the second lesson to read from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Although, as we heard last week, we have died and been raised in baptism, we still find that sin is alive in us. Paul struggles here with the notion that we are dead to sin and yet sin is still active in our lives. He comes to no easy answer but instead rejoices in God through Jesus who is the only solution to this quandary. In the liturgy, we are reconstituted as resurrection people. We find the principles of living in the world to be those of God’s Kingdom rather than those of the world. In worship and in our ministry to the helpless we become signs of contradiction to the world’s standards. 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.

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! The Gifts of God Sundays from July 6 -August 3 from 9:15-10:15: The Season after Pentecost is a natural time to begin the process of discerning and considering the gifts which God has bestowed upon us as individuals and as a community. I would like to invite all of you to join in a time of learning and reflection about the meaning and use of God’s gifts. Inquirer’s seminar Sunday’s from August 10-September 14 from 9:15-10:15: If you interested in learning more about St. Francis Church, have questions about who we are, what we believe, why we do certain things in the service, or have a desire to officially become a member of our congregation, then mark your calendars for our inquirer’s seminar on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15. Confirmation, Reception and reaffirmation of Baptismal vows preparation September 21 & 28 from 9:15-10:15: Following on the heels of the Inquirers seminar, those of you who feel called to affirm your membership in St. Francis church through confirmation, reception or Baptism, as well as those of you who would like to publically renew your commitments are invited to attend these two sessions in preparation for the Bishop’s visitation on October 5. Volunteer opportunities at St. Francis: If you are interested in any of the following ministries, please let Fr. Jody know after the service or via email: [email protected] . Reader/Lector (Read the lessons and lead prayers), Newsletter & website team (basically contributing to both of these, helping to organize them, not doing it all. The more the merrier), Sexton team (Several members already volunteer their time and energy to help keep St. Francis’ clean and tidy.) 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: Nanci Frey Acolyte/Crucifer: none Prayer Station: Linda Palmer Oblationers: The Chittom Family Chalicist: Shelley Sircy 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 the Church, 851-0790, his cell, 440-6492 or via email at [email protected]. _______________________________________________________________________________ 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: Zecheriah delivers his prophecy concerning the coming of the messiah. CCLI License No. 2334637 Oneliscence.net No. A-714717

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