Welcome to St. Paul’s Anglican, Fort Garry! Here you’ll find the order of service for Sunday, July 11, 2021. This recorded service will be on our YouTube page by Sunday morning.
Acknowledgement
Prelude
Here O God Your Servants Gather (VU362)
Here, O Lord, your servants gather,
hand we link with hand;
looking toward our Savior's cross,
joined in love we stand.
As we seek the realm of God,
we unite to pray:
Jesus, Savior, guide our steps
for you are the way.
Many are the tongues we speak,
scattered are the lands;
yet our hearts are one in God,
one in love's demands.
Even in darkness hope appears,
calling age and youth;
Jesus, Teacher, swell with us,
for you are the truth.
Nature's secrets open wide,
changes never cease;
where, O where, can weary souls
find the source of peace?
Unto all those sore distressed,
torn by endless strife,
Jesus, Healer, bring your balm,
for you are the life.
Grant, O God, an age renewed,
filled with deathless love;
help us as we work and pray.
Send us from above
truth and courage, faith and power
needed in our strife:
Jesus, Master, be our way,
be our truth our life.
Welcome
A warm welcome is extended to all who join us for worship here at St. Paul
Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together and we do hope that you enjoy this time of worship together.
Gathering Song
When Long Before Time (CP 307)
When long before time and the worlds were begun,
when there was no earth and no sky and no sun,
and all was deep silence and night reigned supreme,
and even our Maker had only a dream...
...the silence was broken when God sang the Song,
and light pierced the darkness and rhythm began,
and with its first birth-cries creation was born,
and creaturely voices sang praise to the morn.
The sounds of the creatures were one with their Lord's,
their harmonies sweet and befitting the Word;
the Singer was pleased as the earth sang the song;
the choir of the creatures re-echoed it long.
Though, down through the ages, the Song disappeared,
its harmonies broken and almost unheard,
the Singer comes to us to sing it again:
our God is with us in the world now as then.
The Light has returned as it came once before;
the Song of the Lord is our own song once more;
so let us all sing with one heart and one voice
the song of the Singer in whom we rejoice.
To you, God the Singer, our voices we raise;
to you, Song Incarnate, we give all our praise;
to you, Holy Spirit, our life and our breath,
be glory forever, through life and through death.
Gathering Sentences
We come in worship to God
In our need, and bringing with us the needs of the world
We come to God, who comes to us in Jesus
And who knows by experience what human life is like
We come with our faith and with our doubts
We come with our hopes and with our fears
We come as we are, because it is God who invites us to come
And God has promised never to turn us away
Repentance and Blessing (The Pattern of our Days pg. 40)
God our passionate life we bless you for the infinite beauty of created things:
sand, wind, wave and the wings of the eagle,
for the love of land and people
for the vine and the fruit and the goo wine.
We bless you for the endurance of hope, for the promise of renewal
and for fleeting moments on the mountaintop
Blessed are you, God our passionate life
But if we have forgotten those who bear the marks of
exile, desert, home, upon their hands and feet and suffer them to go on bleeding
if we have dismembered the body of God
Have mercy on us, God who brings us down to earth
Ground us in justice
Root us in right relationship
Give flesh to our words and worship
With the breath and peace of your Spirit
Until joy is our only Holy common ground. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the second book of Samuel (6:1-5, 12b-19)
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. David was afraid of the Lord that day; he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come into my care?” So David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed- edom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
It was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
The Word of the Lord R: Thanks be to God
Psalm 24
Refrain: The Lord of hosts, the Lord who reigns in glory.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein. For it is God who founded it upon the seas and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
The Lord of hosts, the Lord who reigns in glory
“Who can ascend the hill of the Lord and who can stand in the holy place of God?” “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud. They shall receive a blessing from the Lord and a just reward from the God of their salvation.” Such is the generation of those who seek you, of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
The Lord of hosts, the Lord who reigns in glory
Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the One who reigns in glory shall come in. “Who is this glorious One?” “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.” Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the One who reigns in glory shall come in. “Who is this glorious One?” “The Lord of hosts, the Lord who reigns in glory.”
The Lord of hosts, the Lord who reigns in glory
A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians (1:3-14)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
The Word of the Lord R: Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn
The King of Glory Comes (CP 632)
Refrain
The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
Who is the King of glory; What shall we call him?
He is Immanuel, the promised of ages.
Refrain
In all of Galilee, in city or village,
he goes among his people, curing their illness.
Refrain
He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation;
he took upon himself the sin of the nations.
Refrain
He conquered sin and death; he truly has risen.
And he will share with us his heavenly kingdom.
Refrain
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark 6:14-29
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
The Gospel of Christ R: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
The Homily
An Affirmation (from the Iona Community)
We believe that God is present
in the darkness before dawn;
in the waiting and uncertainty
where fear and courage join hands,
conflict and caring link arms,
and the sun rises over barbed wire.
We believe in a with-us God
Who sits down in our midst
to share our humanity.
We affirm a faith
That takes us beyond the safe place
into action, into vulnerability.
and into the streets.
We commit ourselves to work for change
and put us on the line;
to bear responsibility, to take risks,
live powerfully and face humiliation;
to stand with those on the edge;
to chose life
and be used by the Spirit
for God’s new community of hope. Amen
Offering Hymn
O Healing River (CP 578)
O healing river
send down your waters,
Send down your waters,
upon this land.
O healing river,
send down your waters,
and wash the blood
from off the sand
This land is parching,
this land is burning,
No seed is growing
in the barren ground.
O healing river,
send down your waters,
O healing river,
send your waters down
Let the seed of freedom
awake and flourish,
let the deep roots nourish,
let the tall stalks rise.
O healing river,
send down your waters,
O healing river,
from out of the skies.
Prayer over the Gifts
Father, your word creates in us a yearning for your kingdom. Receive all we offer you this day, and keep us in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Prayers of Intercession
We are your people, God
In this time and place, you have called us to pray for those in need
Please feel free to name places and names in the silences
We pray for the people whose name the world knows, whose stories are told daily in the news, whose faces are immediately recognized even when their names have been forgotten (Silence)
God in your mercy, Hear our prayer
We pray for people in places of suffering remembering especially the Indigenous communities that have had wounds ripped open with the discovery of so many graves, for those struggling with the question have I found my loved one here? for those remembering the indignities they suffered and the scars they live with daily. We pray for those whose names only family, friends and God knows and whose lives God cherished (Silence)
God in your mercy, Hear our prayer
We pray for the people whose names and lives we know, those who today are in distress or trouble, those who find joy in today and those who only feel sadness (Silence)
God in your mercy, Hear our prayer
We pray for ourselves, God
You know each of us by name. Make us into the people that you want us to be, and when it hurts reassure us how much you love us. God, we bring you ourselves and our prayers in Jesus’ name.
God in your mercy, Hear our prayer. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Collect of the Day (from Alternative Collects and Propers: Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009)
God of the prophets, whose word cuts through the webs of power and holds the tyrant to account: be with all who raise their voice against oppression and misrule, who are imprisoned and abused for freedom’s sake; help us to stand and speak with them and witness to your kingdom now; through Jesus Christ, the name above all others. Amen.
The Blessing (Dorothy McRae-McMahon)
Go in hope to discover the fragile and strong hopes which lie around you.
And may the Spirit of God dance in your path,
the Creator rise in life in surprising places,
and every turn in the road bring new possibilities.
Amen! May it be so!
Closing Hymn
Come O God of All the Earth (CP 589)
Come, O God of all the earth;
come to us, O Righteous One.
Come and bring our love to birth;
in the glory of your Son.
Chorus
Sing out, earth and skies!
Sing of the God who loves you.
Raise your joyful cries,
Dance to the life around you.
Come, O God of wind and flame;
fill the earth with righteousness.
Teach us all to sing your name;
may our lives your love confess.
Chorus
Come, O God of flashing light;
twinkling star and burning sun.
God of day and God of night;
in your light we all are one.
Chorus
Come, O God of snow and rain;
shower down upon the earth.
Come, O God of joy and pain;
God of sorrow, God of mirth.
Chorus
Come, O Justice,
come, O Peace;
come and shape our hearts anew.
Come and make oppression cease;
bring us all to life in you.
Chorus
The Dismissal (The Pattern of our Days pg. 41)
Look at your hands
See the touch and the tenderness
God’s own for the world
Look at your feet
See the path and the direction
God’s own for the world
Look at your heart
See the fire and the love
God’s own for the world
Look at the cross
See God’s Son and our Saviour
God’s own for the world
This is God’s world
We will serve God in it. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
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