The color green, used for the vestments and paraments in the season after Pentecost, represents growth and life in the Holy Spirit.
FIRST READING: The setting for this reading is in front of Mount Sinai, before Moses receives the Ten Commandments. God is making a covenant with Israel; they shall be his priests. A priest is one who stands on the boundary between two worlds. A priest represents one party to another. The Israelites represent humanity before God, just as Abraham interceded before God for Sodom and Gomorrah, so the Israelites are to do for humanity. They also bear God’s message to the nations. Jesus, a son of Israel, our great high priest, makes perfect intercession before the Father on our behalf, and also announces to us the kingdom of God.
SECOND READING: Earlier in the letter to the Romans, St Paul has made the point that we cannot boast in our keeping of God’s Law, for we cannot be justified before God (‘lined up with God’) by works of the Law. Instead, we are justified by faith in what Christ has done for us. This is what gives us peace with God; what Christ has done, not what we have done. We can boast in our hope of sharing God’s glory through Christ, and if we suffer for our faith, that itself is also assurance of the hope given to us. God’s love is known by its self-giving character; willing to suffer for the sake of the sinner, not the righteous person.
GOSPEL: Jesus sends the twelve disciples in his name to minister to the people who are in need of salvation. They are to announce that God’s kingdom has come in Jesus and perform signs to authenticate their proclamation. They are not to do this for personal gain, and they risk persecution and suffering, but they will receive their recompense from God. The sending of the disciples to the people anticipates the sending of the Church to the nations after Jesus’ resurrection.
Preparation for Worship
Upon reaching your place, you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell | in your house!*
They will always be | praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,*
whose hearts are set on the | pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley
will find it a | place of springs,*
for the early rains have covered it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb from | height to height,*
and the God of gods will reveal him- | self in Zion.
7 Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;*
hearken, O | God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defend- | er, O God;*
and look upon the face of | your anointed.
9 For one day in your courts
is better than a thousand in | my own room,*
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents | of the wicked.
10 For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*
he will give | grace and glory;
11 no good thing will the | Lord withhold*
from those who walk | with integrity.
12 O | Lord of hosts,*
happy are they who put their | trust in you!
You may pray the following prayer(s):
Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer and send your holy angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all those who assemble together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Most gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach your Holy Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting love.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING MUSIC God, Whose Almighty Word
I. Albert Black
II. Thomas R. Pearce
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:
1 God, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard
and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light!
2 Lord, who once came to bring,
on your redeeming wing,
healing and sight,
health to the sick in mind,
sight to the inly blind:
oh, now to humankind
let there be light!
3 Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving, holy dove,
speed forth your flight;
move on the water’s face
bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place
let there be light!
4 Holy and blessed three,
glorious Trinity,
wisdom, love, might!
Boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the earth, far and wide,
let there be light!
Text: John Marriott, 1780-1825, alt.
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom 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 Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9)
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
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.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
(2 Corinthians 13:13)
KYRIE ELEISON
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
(Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Compassionate God, your Word calls laborers to the harvest.
Send us, who are blessed with the gift of your kingdom, to announce its coming with gladness and to manifest its healing power.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit;
one God, now and forever.
Amen
CALL TO THE WORD
If you obey my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my treasured possession of all the peoples.
Exodus 19:5
Sit
FIRST READING
2[The Israelites] had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
7So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8aThe people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM HYMN All People That On Earth Do Dwell (Psalm 100)
The hymn is read responsively one stanza at a time. After each stanza, a musical interpretation is offered.
1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
come ye before him and rejoice.
2 Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make.
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
3 Oh, enter then his gates with praise;
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
4 For why? The Lord our God is good:
His mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
5 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heav'n and earth adore,
from us and from the angel host
be praise and glory evermore.
Text: William Kethe, d. c. 1594
SECOND READING
1Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and 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.
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy. Alleluia.
Psalm 132:9
GOSPEL
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
35Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
10:1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.
1 Your kingdom come! O Father, hear our prayer;
shine through the clouds that threaten ev’rywhere;
light from above, our only life and joy,
show us the hope that nothing can destroy;
show us the hope that nothing can destroy.
2 Stumbling and blind, we strive to do your will,
trusting the word you surely will fulfill,
that all are yours, however far they roam,
that love shall triumph, and your kingdom come;
that love shall triumph, and your kingdom come.
3 Come through the faith whereby the church must live;
come through the word and sacraments you give;
come through your teaching, and your healing too;
come through the work enlightened hearts can do;
come through the work enlightened hearts can do.
4 Your kingdom come; come too, God’s glorious Son!
Oh, may our task for you be nobly done!
Faithful let all your servants be, and true,
until they bring all nations home to you;
until they bring all nations home to you.
Text: Margaret R. Seebach, 1875-1948, alt.
Stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church, using the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus,
and for all people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
That your Church throughout the world may proclaim the coming of the kingdom of heaven; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That we may know the love of the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That you would bless Matthew Knuppel upon the day of his ordination, that his ministry may bear much fruit among the people of Grace Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That our nation and its leaders may walk in the ways of justice and peace; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That, in the midst of pandemic and strife, your healing power would be displayed in individual lives and in the life of our country and the world. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That you would have compassion upon all who are in need, and hear the intentions of our hearts, especially for those we name before you now…
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That we may join with the faithful departed who share the glory of God. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The people exchange the sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
We do not presume to come to your table, O Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table.
But you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.
Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
and so to drink his blood,
that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen
Prayer of Humble Access (see Mark 7:28 and John 15:3)
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading into the Sanctus:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.
In compassion for sinners he offered his sinless life on the cross,
and through the Holy Spirit, summons the Church to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of heaven, that many might obtain access to his grace and know the mercy of the true Shepherd.
And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
Hosanna in the highest!
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;
you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.
You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will
and accomplished our salvation.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving Passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and his promise to come again,
we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
not as we ought, but as we are able;
and we implore you mercifully
to accept our praise and thanksgiving,
and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
to bless us, your servants,
and these your own gifts of bread and wine;
that we and all who share
in the body and blood of your Son
may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be sanctified in soul and body,
and have our portion with all your saints.
All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church, now and forever. Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the Spirit,
we pray to his Father, saying:
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 this day 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, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen
We adore the present Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
The LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
And his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Come to the table, for all is now ready.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us peace.
(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
During the distribution, a hymn accompaniment is played. Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee
1 Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
here would I touch and handle things unseen;
here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace,
and all my weariness upon thee lean.
2 Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
here drink with thee the royal wine of heav’n;
here would I lay aside each earthly load,
here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv’n.
3 This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heav’nly table spread for me;
here let me feast and, feasting, still prolong
the brief bright hour of fellowship with thee.
4 I have no help but thine; nor do I need
another arm save thine to lean upon;
it is enough, O Lord, enough indeed;
my strength is in thy might, thy might alone.
5 Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness;
mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing blood;
here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace:
thy blood, thy righteousness, O Lord, my God.
6 Too soon we rise; the vessels disappear;
the feast, though not the love, is past and gone.
The bread and wine remove, but thou art here,
nearer than ever, still my shield and sun.
7 Feast after feast thus comes and passes by;
yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
the Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love.
Text: Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889
When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen
Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
O Christ, Lamb of God pure and holy,
O Wisdom, Word, and Power of God,
Grant that we may more perfectly partake of you
in the days which know no ending in your kingdom.
Amen
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH FAMILY
Stand
Silence for meditation.
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.
Amen
CLOSING MUSIC
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
