St. Peter's by-the-Sea

Celebrant The Rev. Craig R. Swan, RectorOrganist & Choir Director Tony B. RomeoFlute Lindsay GearhartTrumpet Nick SchleyerPercussion Joe DeMarco (4pm) Desiree Glazier-Nazro (10pm)ChoirBrian Bannon, Britt Bell, Dan Caramante, Lawren Casagrande, Margret Celico,Carol Cimilluca, Sean Connaughton, Susan Dvorak, Gloria Fontaine,Danielle Grilli-Marzan, Sarah Hamel, Timothy Hoyt, Joan Hudson, Camilla Lee, Mallory Leonard, Tavis Morello, Antonio Rodrigues, Heidi Simone, Susan Stewart, Maureen Winters-Swan, and Kent Yrchick-ShoemakerLectors Angel Hilliard (4pm) Lay Eucharistic Minister Shelley Licurse (4pm)Acolytes Team Clarity (4pm)Ushers Susan Stone, Anthony Capezza, and Jack Florence (4pm) PRELUDE4pmWhere Shepherds Lately Knelt (Courtney) ChoirThe Sussex Carol (arr. Hayes) Sean Connaughton, Soloist10pmA Stable Prayer (Fettke) ChoirGesu Bambino (Yon) Antonio Rodrigues & Timothy HoytO Magnum Mysterium (Ramos) ChoirThe Word of GodTHE PROCLAMATION OF CHRISTMASCelebrant The glory of God has been revealed.People And all the world shall see the salvation of God.HYMN O Come, All Ye FaithfulO come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;Come, and behold him, born the King of angels;RefrainO come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.God of God, Light of Light,Lo! he comes forth from the Virgin’s womb;Very God, Begotten, not created; RefrainSing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation.Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;Glory to God, In the highest: RefrainYea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning,Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n;Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: RefrainOPENING ACCLAMATIONCelebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.COLLECT FOR PURITYAlmighty 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.HYMN OF PRAISE S278 Glory to God in the HighestTHE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMASCelebrant The Lord be with you.People And also with you.Celebrant Let us pray.O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.The People may be seated for the readings.THE FIRST READING Isaiah 9:2-7Reader A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah.The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.Reader The Word of the Lord.People Thanks be to God.PSALM 96 Cantate DominoThe choir will chant the psalm1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.3 Declare his glory among the nations *and his wonders among all peoples.4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *he is more to be feared than all gods.5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *but it is the Lord who made the heavens.6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *ascribe to the Lord honor and power.8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *bring offerings and come into his courts.9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *let the whole earth tremble before him.10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King! *he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;he will judge the peoples with equity."11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *let the field be joyful and all that is therein.12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joybefore the Lord when he comes, *when he comes to judge the earth.13 He will judge the world with righteousness *and the peoples with his truth.THE SECOND READING Titus 2:11-14Reader A Reading from the Letter to Titus.For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.Reader The Word of the Lord.People Thanks be to God.The People stand for the Gospel procession.HYMN 96 Angels We Have Heard On HighTHE GOSPEL

Prelude                                            "Comfort Ye, My People" from Messiah (Handel)                                                                                                     Antonio Rodrigues, soloistEntrance Hymn #73                       The King Shall Come When Morning DawnsSequence Hymn #454                      Jesus Came, Adored By AngelsOffertory Anthem                        Waiting For a King (Martin)Communion Hymn #613                  Thy Kingdom Come, O GodPost-Communion Hymn #57          Lo, He Comes With Clouds DescendingTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYAlmighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING                  Isaiah 2:1-5Reader             A reading from the Prophet Isaiah.The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.In days to comethe mountain of the Lord’s houseshall be established as the highest of the mountains,and shall be raised above the hills;all the nations shall stream to it.Many peoples shall come and say,‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,to the house of the God of Jacob;that he may teach us his waysand that we may walk in his paths.’For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.He shall judge between the nations,and shall arbitrate for many peoples;they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,and their spears into pruning-hooks;nation shall not lift up sword against nation,neither shall they learn war any more.O house of Jacob,come, let us walkin the light of the Lord!ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM                                   Psalm 122                         Laetatus sum1 I was glad when they said to me, *"Let us go to the house of the Lord."2 Now our feet are standing *within your gates, O Jerusalem.3 Jerusalem is built as a city *that is at unity with itself;4 To which the tribes go up,the tribes of the Lord, *the assembly of Israel,to praise the Name of the Lord.5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *the thrones of the house of David.6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *"May they prosper who love you.7 Peace be within your walls *and quietness within your towers.8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *I pray for your prosperity.9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *I will seek to do you good."SECOND READING             Romans 13:11-14Reader            A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL         Matthew 24:36-44Priest              The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.                            Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”Priest The Gospel of the Lord.People Praise to you, Lord Christ.In our parish cycle of prayer, we pray forDavid Ousterhout, Carolyn Owens, and Bob & Susan Palmer.

This sermon on Luke 18:1–8 explores the widow’s relentless petition and Jesus’ call to pray always and not lose heart. We name real places of waiting—illness, grief, caregiving—and practice a faith that keeps knocking while trusting God’s timing. Includes three simple habits for a week of hopeful perseverance. Theme: Persistent prayer, patience, and trust in God’s timingKey texts: Luke 18:1–8; 2 Timothy 3–4; Psalm 121Practices: fixed-time daily prayer, “Your time, not mine,” one concrete follow-up stepReflection prompts included in blog post (link in episode description). 

Entrance Hymn #410                     Praise My Soul, the King of HeavenSequence Hymn #411                      O Bless the Lord, My SoulOffertory Anthem                        Lift Every Voice; Let All Rejoice (Haydn, arr. Hopson)Communion Anthem                      All Who Love and Serve Your CityPost-Communion Hymn #375        Give Praise and Glory Unto GodTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYLord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING                  Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7Reader             A reading from the Prophet Jeremiah.These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM                                    Psalm 66:1-11                       Jubilate Deo1 Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3 All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name."4 Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5 He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6 In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7 Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8 Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9 For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10 You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11 You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.SECOND READING             2 Timothy 2:8-15Reader            A Reading from the second letter to Timothy.Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:If we have died with him, we will also live with him;if we endure, we will also reign with him;if we deny him, he will also deny us;if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL                                 Luke 17:11-19Priest              The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."Priest The Gospel of the Lord.People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Entrance Hymn #390                     Praise to the Lord, the AlmightySequence Hymn #601                      O Day of God Draw NighOffertory Anthem                        Praise the Lord, Our God, Forever (Mozart, Ehret)Communion Anthem                      Be Thou My Vision (arr. Shephard)Post-Communion Hymn #408        Sing Praise to God Who Reigns AboveTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYGrant 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.FIRST READING                  Jeremiah 8:18-9:1Reader             A reading from the Prophet Jeremiah.My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land:"Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?" ("Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?") "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM                                    Psalm 79:1-9                         Deus, venerunt1 O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance;they have profaned your holy temple; *they have made Jerusalem a heap of rubble.2 They have given the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the air, *and the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the field.3 They have shed their blood like water on every side of Jerusalem, *and there was no one to bury them.4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, *an object of scorn and derision to those around us.5 How long will you be angry, O Lord? *will your fury blaze like fire for ever?6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen who have not known you *and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your Name.7 For they have devoured Jacob *and made his dwelling a ruin.8 Remember not our past sins;let your compassion be swift to meet us; *for we have been brought very low.9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your Name; *deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your Name's sake.SECOND READING             1 Timothy 2:1-7Reader            A Reading from the first letter to Timothy.First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Forthere is one God;there is also one mediator between God and humankind,Christ Jesus, himself human,who gave himself a ransom for all-- this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL                                 Luke 16:1-13Priest              The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?' He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes."Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."Priest The Gospel of the Lord.People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAYO God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING                  Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28Reader             A reading from the Prophet Jeremiah.At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse-- a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them."For my people are foolish, they do not know me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end. Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM                                    Psalm 14                                Dixit insipiens1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." *All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;there is none who does any good.2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon us all, *to see if there is any who is wise,if there is one who seeks after God.3 Every one has proved faithless;all alike have turned bad; *there is none who does good; no, not one.4 Have they no knowledge, all those evildoers *who eat up my people like breadand do not call upon the Lord?5 See how they tremble with fear, *because God is in the company of the righteous.6 Their aim is to confound the plans of the afflicted, *but the Lord is their refuge.7 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion! *when the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.SECOND READING             1 Timothy 1:12-17Reader            A Reading from the second letter to Timothy.I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL                                 Luke 15:1-10Priest              The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."PriestThe Gospel of the Lord.PeoplePraise to you, Lord Christ.

Entrance Hymn #372                        Praise to the Living GodSequence Hymn #601                        O Day of God, Draw NighOffertory Anthem                          Deep River (spiritual, arr. Hayes)Communion Anthem                         When I'm Afflicted (Roberts)                                                                        Offertory & Communion Anthems: Sean Connaughton, soloistPost-Communion Hymn #376           Joyful, Joyful, We We Adore TheeTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYAlmighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING                     Amos 8:1-12Reader             A reading from the Prophet Amos.This is what the Lord God showed me-- a basket of summer fruit. He said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the Lord said to me,"The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by. The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day," says the Lord God; "the dead bodies shall be many, cast out in every place. Be silent!"Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, "When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat."The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who lives in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day.The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM                                     Psalm 52                                 Quid gloriaris?1 You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *against the godly all day long?2 You plot ruin;your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *O worker of deception.3 You love evil more than good *and lying more than speaking the truth.4 You love all words that hurt, *O you deceitful tongue.5 Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,and root you out of the land of the living!6 The righteous shall see and tremble, *and they shall laugh at him, saying,7 "This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *but trusted in great wealthand relied upon wickedness."8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.9 I will give you thanks for what you have done *and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly.SECOND READING                Colossians 1:15-28Reader             A Reading from the Letter to the Colossians.Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him-- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL                                  Luke 10:38-42Priest               The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.People              Glory to you, Lord Christ.As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."PriestThe Gospel of the Lord.PeoplePraise to you, Lord Christ.

Entrance Hymn #362                       Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Sequence Hymn #295                       Sing Praise to Our CreatorOffertory Anthem                             Holy Trinity Prayer (Ayres)  Communion Anthem                        My Lord, What a Morning (trad. Spiritual, arr. Hayes)                                                                     Offertory & Communion Anthems: Antonio Rodrigues, soloistPost-Communion Hymn #366         Holy God, We Praise Thy Name  (vss 1-4)THE COLLECT OF THE DAYAlmighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING                  Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31Reader             A reading from the Book of Proverbs.Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:"To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race."ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.CANTICLE 13                         A Song of Praise                   Benedictus es, Domine                                                  Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; *in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.SECOND READING             Romans 5:1-5Reader            A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.GOSPEL         John 16:12-15Priest              The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."PriestThe Gospel of the Lord.PeoplePraise to you, Lord Christ.