Throughout the service, the people’s responses are in italics.
Prelude
Announcements
The people stand.
Processional Hymn #518 Christ is made the sure foundation
Opening Acclamation & Collect for Purity
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever.
All-loving 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.
Trisagion
Collect for the Day
God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
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.
The people sit.
A Reading from Exodus
God said to Aaron and Moses in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first of all months to you. You will count it as the first month of the year. Say this to the whole community of Israel: On the tenth day of this month, every family in Israel will take an animal from the flock, one for each household. If your household is too small for a whole animal, join with your next door neighbor, and divide the animal as the number of persons requires. The animal must be a year-old male without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, then the whole community of Israel is to slaughter it at sunset. Some of the blood must then be taken and applied to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house where the animal is eaten.
“That night you will eat the roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, but roasted over the fire—the head, feet and entrails. You must not leave any over until morning. Whatever is left in morning you are to burn.
“This is how you are to eat it: with your belt buckled, your sandals on your feet, and a staff in your hand; you will eat it in haste. It is the Passover of God. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night and strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both humans and animals. I will execute this judgment on all the gods of Egypt: I am the Ground of All Being. The blood will mark the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you, and no harm will come to you when I strike the land of Egypt.
“This day will be for you a memorial day, and you must celebrate it as a feast to God. All generations are to observe it forever as a feast day.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 149
The choir will sing the antiphon once, and the congregation will repeat it. Choir and congregation will sing the verses together, changing notes on the italicized words and switching between the A and B verses.
[A] Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing the praises of God in the congregation of the faithful.
[A] Let Israel rejoice in their maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their sovereign.
[B] Let them praise the name of the Lord in the dance; *
let them sing praise to God with timbrel and harp.
Antiphon.
[A] For the Lord takes pleasure in this people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
[B] Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds. Antiphon.
[A] Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
[B] to wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
Antiphon.
[A] to bind their rulers in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
[B] to inflict on them the judgement decreed; *
this is glory for all God’s faithful people. Halle-lujah!
Antiphon.
A Reading from “A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf” by John Muir
“Why should man value himself as more than a small part of the one great unit of creation? And what creature of all that the Lord has taken the pains to make is not essential to the completeness of that unit – the cosmos? The universe would be incomplete without man; but it would also be incomplete without the smallest trans-microscopic creature that dwells beyond our conceitful eyes and knowledge. From the dust of the earth, from the common elementary fund, the Creator has made Homo sapiens. From the same material he has made every other creature, however noxious and insignificant to us. They are earth-born companions and our fellow mortals.”
Littoral Rising
By Gerry Loose
After Amergin
am glacier rolling back
am tsunami
am beaching whale
am the bones of every curlew
am stag starving on hill
am hawk down to bone
am wilt of green plant
am ribcage hind
am salmon infested with lice
am the end of words
am burning teardrop
am salt ocean in woodland
am plastic in every pore
am head burst with fire
who gouges & grubs blue mountains
who trudges the crescent moon
who stores suns in buried bunkers
who leaches the fecund topsoils
whose alibi is God
who stands at the edge
who holds back the typhoon
Gospel: 211 The whole bright earth rejoices now
The people stand and sing.
The Gospel
The Holy Gospel of Our Savior Jesus Christ According To Matthew
Glory to You, O Christ.
Jesus said: “Don’t store up earthly treasures for yourselves, which moths and rust destroy and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust can destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal them. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be as well.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light inside you is darkness, how great that darkness will be!
“No one can serve two superiors. You will either hate one and love the other, or be attentive to one and despise the other. You cannot give yourself to God and Money.”
The Gospel of Our Savior.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The people sit for the Homily.
The Homily
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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who 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.
Please stand or kneel for the Prayers of the People.
The Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Celebrant: Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Confession & Absolution
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbors.
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.
(+) 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.
Please stand for the peace.
The Peace
The peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Offertory Anthem: Christ, whose glory fills the skies
Rachel Aarons
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
Doxology
As the offering plates are brought forward, we sing…
Praise God from whom all blessing flow, Praise God all creatures here below, Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
The Holy Eucharist
Please stand.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth. For by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a new people in Jesus Christ our Lord, to show forth your glory in all the world. 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:
Holy and gracious God: 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 maker of all.
Jesus 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 Savior 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 Jesus took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is 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, Almighty God, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling Christ’s 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 Christ. (+) 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 Jesus Christ our Savior. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory is yours, now and forever. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Fraction Anthem
The Celebrant offers the gifts to the people, saying
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.
The people are invited to come forward for communion.
Communion: 617 Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round
Postcommunion Prayer
Eternal God, you have graciously accepted us as living members of our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Savior. Amen.
Blessing
May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance. (+) And the blessing of the one holy and undivided Trinity be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.
Closing: 546 Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve
Dismissal
Alleluia! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!