Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 1st, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Also, after the Service at 12 Noon, we will be having the Blessing of the Animals Service outside. Please bring your Pet or a Picture of them, to be Blessed in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

Psalm: Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God, *
       and the firmament shows his handiwork.
² One day tells its tale to another, *
       and one night imparts knowledge to another.
³ Although they have no words or language, *
       and their voices are not heard,
⁴ Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
       and their message to the ends of the world.
⁵ In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
       it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
       it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
⁶ It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
  and runs about to the end of it again; *
       nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect
  and revives the soul; *
       the testimony of the Lord is sure
       and gives wisdom to the innocent.
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are just
  and rejoice the heart; *
       the commandment of the Lord is clear
       and gives light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean
  and endures for ever; *
       the judgments of the Lord are true
       and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
   more than much fine gold, *
       sweeter far than honey,
       than honey in the comb.
¹¹ By them also is your servant enlightened, *
       and in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² Who can tell how often he offends? *
       cleanse me from my secret faults.
¹³ Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
   let them not get dominion over me; *
       then shall I be whole and sound,
       and innocent of a great offense.
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
   heart be acceptable in your sight, *
       O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46

³³“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.³⁴When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. ³⁵But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” ³⁹So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” ⁴²Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? ⁴³Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. ⁴⁴The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” ⁴⁵When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Join us this coming Sunday, October 8th, at 12 Noon, after our Sunday Service for our Blessing of the Animals. Bring your Pet or a Picture of them and have them Blessed in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 1st, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

¹ Hear my teaching, O my people; *
       incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
² I will open my mouth in a parable; *
       I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
³ That which we have heard and known,
  and what our forefathers have told us, *
       we will not hide from their children.
⁴ We will recount to generations to come
  the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
       and the wonderful works he has done.
¹² He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *
       in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
¹³ He split open the sea and let them pass through; *
       he made the waters stand up like walls.
¹⁴ He led them with a cloud by day, *
       and all the night through with a glow of fire.
¹⁵ He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *
       and gave them drink as from the great deep.
¹⁶ He brought streams out of the cliff, *
       and the waters gushed out like rivers.

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

²³When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

²⁸“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, September 24th, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

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.

Psalm: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

¹ Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
       make known his deeds among the peoples.
² Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
       and speak of all his marvelous works.
³ Glory in his holy Name; *
       let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
⁴ Search for the Lord and his strength; *
       continually seek his face.
⁵ Remember the marvels he has done, *
       his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
⁶ O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
       O children of Jacob his chosen.
³⁷ He led out his people with silver and gold; *
       in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
³⁸ Egypt was glad of their going, *
       because they were afraid of them.
³⁹ He spread out a cloud for a covering *
       and a fire to give light in the night season.
⁴⁰ They asked, and quails appeared, *
        and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
⁴¹ He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
       so the river ran in the dry places.
⁴² For God remembered his holy word *
       and Abraham his servant.
⁴³ So he led forth his people with gladness, *
       his chosen with shouts of joy.
⁴⁴ He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
       and they took the fruit of others’ toil,
⁴⁵ That they might keep his statutes *
       and observe his laws.
       Hallelujah!

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

¹“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ²After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.³When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. ¹⁰Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. ¹¹And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹²saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Come and Join Us this Sunday, September 17th, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Creation Collect for the Day

O God, because in our ignorance and selfishness we so often fail to care rightly for your Creation, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may soften and unite our hearts with all living beings who suffer; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 114 BCP page 756

1 Hallelujah! When Israel came out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary
and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea beheld it and fled;
Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled?
O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams?
you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water
and flint-stone into a flowing spring

The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew (18:21-35):

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Come and Join Us this Sunday, September 10th, The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

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.

Psalm: Psalm 149

¹ Hallelujah!
  Sing to the Lord a new song; *
       sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
² Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
       let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
³ Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
       let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *
       and adorns the poor with victory.
⁵ Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
       let them be joyful on their beds.
⁶ Let the praises of God be in their throat *
       and a two-edged sword in their hand;
⁷ To wreak vengeance on the nations *
       and punishment on the peoples;
⁸ To bind their kings in chains *
       and their nobles with links of iron;
⁹ To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
       this is glory for all his faithful people.
       Hallelujah!

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

¹⁵“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. ¹⁶But 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. ¹⁷If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.¹⁸Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again, 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. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Season of Creation’ emphasizes creation care as a way for Episcopalians to care for neighbors.

The Season of Creation, which begins on Sept. 1 and concludes on Oct. 4, is more than just a time when Episcopalians can reflect on God’s act of creation, Delia Heck told Episcopal News Service. It’s also a time church members can be intentional about how they think about and act on the issues of climate change and caring for others.

Heck, who is a professor of environmental science at Ferrum College in Virginia, also is a member of The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on Care of Creation and Environmental Racism. She said that people increasingly are aware of the damaging effects of climate change, including the recent deadly fire on Maui, and those events point to how actions affect others. “When we look at issues of sustainability, what does loving your neighbor look like?” she said. “How is that lived out in a world with increasing disasters from extreme weather?”

Participating in the Season of Creation with Christians around the world is one way to explore that, she said. The ecumenical observance is bookended by two important dates – it begins on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and concludes on the feast of St. Francis, who is revered for his love of all creation.

The Anglican Communion is one of the ecumenical partners in this worldwide effort. It offers a list of resources through the Anglican Communion Environmental Network.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Let Justice and Peace Flow,” quoting Amos 5:24: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” The symbol is a river, echoing Isaiah 43:19: “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

The Episcopal Church’s Creation Careministry supports the Season of Creation and says on its website, “The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction.” It also suggests that churches consider holding an outdoor worship or ministry event during the monthlong observance.

It also provides a variety of resources that are geared to helping Episcopal congregations and individuals engage with the season. They include “A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes,” which is a list of liturgical resources authorized by 16 diocesan bishops for use during the season; Episcopal Liturgical Resources for Honoring God in Creation, offered by The Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music; and a “Prophetic Voices”  podcast. (Heck is featured in the first podcast episode.)

Creation care is one of the three priorities Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has set out for The Episcopal Church as part of the Jesus movement, along with evangelism and reconciliation.

Heck noted that caring for the Earth is a Christian principle at least as old as St. Francis himself (who died in 1226), and observing the Season of Creation is a way to be more mindful of our need to practice that. “How do we bring us back to the core of who we are as followers of Jesus?” she asked.

She added that if Christians are willing to ask hard questions about their own choices, from what to eat to what kind of car to drive, then making transformative change is possible. “That is where the church can and will make a tremendous impact on the world,” she said.

And if the church is serious about this work, young people will be watching, Heck added. “They are passionate about this,” she said, “and we become more relevant to them as an institution that cares deeply about it and that’s willing to be honest about it and work with their concerns, in a framework of love and mercy and grace.”

–Melodie Woerman is a freelance writer and former director of communications for the Diocese of Kansas.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, August 27th, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

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.

Psalm: Psalm 124

¹ If the Lord had not been on our side, *
       let Israel now say;
² If the Lord had not been on our side, *
       when enemies rose up against us;
³ Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
       in their fierce anger toward us;
⁴ Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
       and the torrent gone over us;
⁵ Then would the raging waters *
       have gone right over us.
⁶ Blessed be the Lord! *
       he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
       the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the Name of the Lord, *
       the maker of heaven and earth.

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

¹³Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, August 20th, The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Please Join us after the Liturgy, for a Farewell Reception Hosted by the ECW, for one of our Dear Members, Peggy C. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 133

¹ Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
       when brethren live together in unity!
² It is like fine oil upon the head *
       that runs down upon the beard,
³ Upon the beard of Aaron, *
       and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
⁴ It is like the dew of Hermon *
       that falls upon the hills of Zion.
⁵ For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: *
       life for evermore.

Gospel: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

[¹⁰Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: ¹¹it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” ¹²Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” ¹³He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” ¹⁵But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” ¹⁶Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding?¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”]

²¹Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.²²Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” ²³But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” ²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

“The ECW yard sale was a great success. Dispite the heat the donated treasures found new loving homes. Thanks to everyone who donated and braved the heat to help”

Peace,

Leslie Rogers

Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church Woman
PO Box 1556
Albany. Oregon 97321