Tenth Sunday after
Pentecost,
August 9th Sunday Service
Good afternoon St. Stephen's Family
and Friends! Below is the Service for the Tenth Sunday after
Pentecost. For those watching online, Father Shawn has recorded the
Message and Kate has added the music. To listen to the music, click on
the link and you will be able to listen to Kate singing the Hymns. When
you click on the Message, the link will take you to YouTube where you can watch
the Message. The Service information is also written below for you to follow
along. The Outside Worship Service will be streamed on Facebook Live at 9 am on
Sunday if you are interested in following along on our St. Stephen's Facebook
Page (not the Group Page).
For those attending the Outside Worship Service at St. Stephen's on August 9th
at 9 am, we will be meeting on the north lawn by the columbarium. We will
have a Morning Prayer Service (without communion) with recorded music and
Father Shawn will officiate the service. For everyone's safety, please
follow these instructions:
- We ask that attendees walk around the west side of the building (the nursery school side) to enter our outdoor worship area. This will allow for easy entry and exit along with plenty of parking.
- There will be a table near the garden that you will need to stop at. There will be hand sanitizer for all attendees to use and an usher will collect your contact information. A box will be available on this table for the offertory collection (we will not be passing a basket during the service).
- Please bring your own chair or blanket. Church chairs will not be available.
- Families must social distance on the lawn by 6 feet and areas will be marked by spray paint on the lawn.
- Masks are required and we will have some masks for those that may have forgotten to bring one.
- We will not pass the peace and ask that attendees refrain from physical contact (hugging, handshakes, touching).
- There will be no singing, the church service music will be instrumental or pre-recorded.
- The playground will be closed
- There will be no coffee hour. The Zoom Coffee Hour will take place on the Sundays when there is no outside worship service.
- Bathroom use is discouraged. The bathroom by the sacristy will be available for emergencies only. The remainder of the church building will be closed.
- No prayer books or hymnals will be available.
- The Bulletin will be available electronically and we encourage you to download it for use during the service. Some paper copies will be available, but you will have to take the bulletin home to dispose of it.
- In the event of poor weather, the service will be cancelled. We will notify you via email and also put the cancellation on our Facebook Page and Facebook Group. You may also contact Claire Wachter 717-448-0506 to find out if the service is cancelled.
In today's Gospel (Matthew
14:22-33), Jesus and the disciples just finished feeding 5,000 people. The
disciples are sent on a boat across the lake, Jesus dismisses the crowd and
goes up the mountain to pray, and the disciples find themselves in a storm on
the lake. Jesus appears to the disciples on the lake and says, “Take
courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”. Peter then walks out to
Jesus and soon discovers that on his own power that he couldn't do it and
begins to sink. This story demonstrates the importance of putting our
faith in Jesus and reveals who Jesus really is. Peter tried to do the
impossible, and on his own he failed. This story reminds that with God's power,
the impossible is possible and that God is with us in the midst of our
chaos.
Father God, thank you for loving us
and meeting us just where we are. We see from the Gospel that we don't
have to be afraid for you with are with us always. Grant us peace of mind
and calmness in our hearts. Remind us to wait patiently and find peace in
your plan and to remain faithful. Provide us with strength,
compassion and wisdom in all of our days. In your loving name we
say, Amen.
Blessings!
Service Video (check out Facebook
Live)
Service Bulletin (download for the
Outside Worship Service)
Opening Hymn: "When morning gilds the
skies"
Collect for Purity (BCP 355)
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.
The Word of God
Collect of the Day
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the
spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot
exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of
Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers;
he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and
Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph
more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and
he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their
father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not
speak peaceably to him.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel
said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I
will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now,
see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to
me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked
him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me,
please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The man said, “They have gone
away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’“ So Joseph went after his
brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he
came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, “Here
comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the
pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see
what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out
of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed
no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on
him” —that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long
robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The
pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites
coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their
way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is
it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the
Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own
flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they
drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for
twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
The Word of the Lord, Thanks be
to God.
The Response
Psalm 105, 1-6, 16-22, 45b
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.
16 Then he called for a famine in the land * and destroyed the supply of
bread.
17 He sent a man before them, * Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet in fetters; * his neck they put in an iron
collar.
19 Until his prediction came to pass, * the word of
the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him; * the ruler of the peoples set him
free.
21 He set him as a master over his household, as a ruler over all his
possessions,
22 To instruct his princes according to his will and to teach his elders
wisdom.
45 Hallelujah!
The Epistle
Romans 10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the
person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that
comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into
heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the
abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your
lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one
who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between
Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on
him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are
they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear
without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they
are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good
news!”
The Word of the Lord, Thanks be
to God.
Sequence Hymn: "Lord, whose love through humble
service"
The Gospel
Matthew 14:22-33
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus
Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus made the disciples get into
the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And
after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by
the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in
the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw
him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they
cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart,
it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the
water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became
frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little
faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And
those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Kids
Gospel Video
The
Message
Father Shawn Clerkin
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.
Prayers of the People
As the sounds, sights, and smells of
summer delight our ears, eyes, and noses, let us praise our God saying, “Make
your word a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path.” God of faith,
you called us to share the good news of salvation; grant us the gift of faith
to fulfill our mission. We pray for Justin, Michael, Sean, Cathy,
and Shawn. Make your word a lantern to my feet, and a light
upon my path.
God of mercy, you called us to live in peace with one another; grant the nation
and our leaders the gift of knowing what things they ought to do and the grace
and power to faithfully accomplish them. We pray for Donald, Thomas, Joseph,
and Kathy. Make your word a lantern to my feet, and a light upon my
path.
God of hope, you called us to care for your creation; grant us the gift of
wisdom to tend the plants yielding seed and the trees bearing fruit, the
cattle and kine, the creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every
kind. Make your word a lantern to my feet, and a light upon my
path.
God of goodness, you called us to welcome all as you welcome us; grant us the
gift of seeing Christ in all people and act accordingly for the common
good. Make your word a lantern to my feet, and a light upon my
path.
God of grace, you called each of us to be members of the body of Christ; grant
the gift of healing to physicians and nurses, to priests and counselors, to
social workers and deacons, to teachers and their aides, to police and first
responders, and to all who pray and care for the suffering. We pray for
_____ (share your own intentions). Make your word a lantern
to my feet, and a light upon my path.
God of glory, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God. Christ
Jesus, give rest to _____ (share names of those who have passed).
Make your word a lantern to my feet, and a light upon my path.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! We thank you for
_____ (offer your own thanksgivings). Make your word a
lantern to my feet, and a light upon my path.
God of hope, we give this week into your hands. Make us ever mindful of
your loving presence in good times as well as bad. Make your word a
lantern to my feet, and a light upon my path.
Communion: "O master, let me walk with
thee"
A Form for Spiritual Communion
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
The Communion Prayer
In union, O Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church where the
Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, we desire to offer you praise and
thanksgiving. We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that
we may always be united to you, and, since we cannot now receive you
sacramentally, we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite
ourselves with you, and embrace you with all the love of our souls. Let nothing
ever separate you from us. May we live in you, and may you live in us, both in
this life and in the life to come. Amen.
A General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, your unworthy servants, give you
humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom
you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the
blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the
redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and
for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with a truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with
our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by
walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus
Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory
throughout all ages. Amen.
Jesus, we want to receive you in our hearts and we cannot do it in the
sacramental way. Therefore, we ask you to come to us and fill us with your
presence, your peace and your love. Grant us, Lord, the graces we need most.
Amen.
Irish Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light
within. May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and
warm himself at it, and also a friend. And the blessing of God
Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Closing Hymn: "Now thank we all our God"
Prayers
Each week we remember members of our
congregation or others in need of prayer. If you wish to add a prayer request
to the list, please contact Heather Michel, our Director of Communication
at church@ststephens-fairview.org Only first names will be added to the list
due to privacy.
Kate, Carlota, Judy, Michelle, Patty, Maddy, Gerry, Anna May, John,
Marlene, Alicia, Dotte, Harper, David, Bishop Persico, Deborah, Lisa, Max,
Tricia, Kathy, Anna, Mahal, Evie, Kimberly, Nancy, Julie, Kelsey, Mary Francis,
James, Donald, Kevin, Don, Karen, Rich, Brian, Kenneth, Ava, Mary Jane,
Cynthia, Anthony, Ben, Stevie, Mitch, Jean and her family, Sue and her family,
Paul and his caregivers Mary Frances and Sallie, Craig and his caregivers;
Daniel and Mary; Chad and his family, and all the healthcare workers, first
responders, store workers and their families.
“And he said, ‘O man
greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.' And
as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, 'Let my lord speak, for you
have strengthened me.’ ” -Daniel 10:19
