Come and Join Us this Wednesday Evening for Our Holy Eucharist Thanksgiving Eve Service

Come and Join Us this Wednesday Evening, November 22nd, for our Holy Eucharist Thanksgiving Eve Service. Our Service begins at 7:00 PM. 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 Thanksgiving Eve.

The Collect:
Almighty and gracious Father, we give thee thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we beseech thee, faithful stewards of thy great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ 14When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

Happy Thanksgiving

Come and Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 19th, 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:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 123

To you I lift up my eyes, *
       to you enthroned in the heavens.
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
       and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God, *
       until he show us his mercy.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, *
       for we have had more than enough of contempt,
Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
       and of the derision of the proud.

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

14“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Parable of the Talents, Artist Unknown.

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 12th, 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, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 78:1-7

Hear my teaching, O my people; *
       incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; *
       I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
That which we have heard and known,
  and what our forefathers have told us, *
       we will not hide from their children.
We will recount to generations to come
  the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
       and the wonderful works he has done.
He gave his decrees to Jacob
  and established a law for Israel, *
       which he commanded them to teach their children;
That the generations to come might know,
  and the children yet unborn; *
       that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
So that they might put their trust in God, *
       and not forget the deeds of God,
       but keep his commandments;

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Ten Bridesmaids, Artist Unknown.

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of All Saints Sunday

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 5th, for our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of All Saints Sunday. 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. We will have a couple of special selections of music by our Choir, during our Service. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared
for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.

Psalm 34:1-10, 22

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord;
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant,
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him,
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants,
and none will be punished who trust in him.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then 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.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Sermon on the Mount, artist unknown.

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 29th, 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:

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

Lord, you have been our refuge *
       from one generation to another
.Before the mountains were brought forth,
  or the land and the earth were born, *
       from age to age you are God.
You turn us back to the dust and say, *
      “Go back, O child of earth.”
For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
       and like a watch in the night.
You sweep us away like a dream; *
       we fade away suddenly like the grass.
In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
       in the evening it is dried up and withered.
13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
       be gracious to your servants.
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
       so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
       and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your works *
       and your splendor to their children.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
       prosper the work of our hands;
       prosper our handiwork.

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46

34When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”37He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 44‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 45If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, by James Tissot

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 22nd, 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:

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession 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 99

The Lord is King;
  let the people tremble; *
       he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
       let the earth shake.
The Lord is great in Zion; *
       he is high above all peoples.
Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
       he is the Holy One.
“O mighty King, lover of justice,
  you have established equity; *
       you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
  and fall down before his footstool; *
       he is the Holy One.
Moses and Aaron among his priests,
  and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
       they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
       they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
       you were a God who forgave them,
       yet punished them for their evil deeds.
Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
  and worship him upon his holy hill; *
       for the Lord our God is the Holy One.

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22

15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Tribute Money, by James Tissot

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

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

The heavens declare the glory of God, *
       and the firmament shows his handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another, *
       and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language, *
       and their voices are not heard,
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
       and their message to the ends of the world.
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.
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.
The law of the Lord is perfect
  and revives the soul; *
       the testimony of the Lord is sure
       and gives wisdom to the innocent.
The statutes of the Lord are just
  and rejoice the heart; *
       the commandment of the Lord is clear
       and gives light to the eyes.
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.

The Blessing of the Animals

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

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

Hear my teaching, O my people; *
       incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; *
       I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
That which we have heard and known,
  and what our forefathers have told us, *
       we will not hide from their children.
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.

The Pharisees Question Jesus, James Tissot

Come Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service

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

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
       make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
       and speak of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy Name; *
       let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Search for the Lord and his strength; *
       continually seek his face.
Remember the marvels he has done, *
       his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
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.”