Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Holy Eucharist, Rite I Deacon’s Mass, January 29, 2023 8:00am
The Opening Acclamation
Prayer Book 323
The people standing, the Celebrant may say
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Collect for Purity
Prayer Book 323
Almighty God, unto 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 thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy
holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria
Prayer Book 324
Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee,
we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy;
thou only art the Lord;
thou only, O Christ,
with the Holy Ghost,
art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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
Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
“O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”
“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
The Psalm
Psalm 15
1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
who may abide upon your holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.
3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
but he honors those who fear the Lord.
5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
and does not take back his word.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does these things *
shall never be overthrown.
The Epistle
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Holy Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Sermon
The Rev. Deacon Scott Williams
The Nicene Creed
Prayer Book 326
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.
The Prayers of the People – January 29, 2023
Congregation may kneel or stand for the prayers. The peoples’ responses are printed in bold.
Presider: Gracious One, whose foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and whose weakness is stronger than human strength, pour out your blessing upon your creation as we pray: Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Litanist: Holy One, fill your Church with your blessing, that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness, and strengthen our mission to proclaim Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Eternal One, inspire our leaders with purity of heart that they may see with Godly vision and become peacemakers, children of God. Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Merciful One, look with compassion upon the meek and poor in spirit and protect all who are persecuted falsely throughout the world. Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Loving God, bless our community with your grace, that we may be compassionate peacemakers, pure in heart and willing to suffer for the sake of your healing and reconciling work. Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Compassionate One, visit us with your grace, and strengthen those who call upon your help, especially for those we now mention aloud or in the silence of our hearts (pause); all those serving our country at home and abroad; and those on our prayer list. We give you thanks for all the blessings you bestow upon us, especially for those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, Stephen, Alane, Liz, Anderson, Jackson, Harty, Jane Ann, Frank, Lee, Roland. Comfort all who mourn especially those we now remember aloud or in the silence of our hearts (pause). Lead us to do justice and to love kindness; and to walk humbly with our God.
Presider: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably upon your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
The Peace
Prayer Book 332
All stand. The Celebrant says to the people
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And with thy spirit.
Then the Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Announcements
Giving Statements for 2022 are available for pick up in the Narthex
Fifth Sunday Offering – All loose plate offerings will be designated to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund
Wednesday: Bible Study @ 10:30am, Litany of Healing with Unction @ 12:05, Evening Compline @ 5:30pm followed by first Wednesday Soup Dinner
Annual Parish Meeting will be Sunday, February 5, 2023, between services.
Potluck brunch. Bring a breakfast dish to share.
Parish business will be conducted and Vestry Elections will be held then.
EYC RETURNS February 5th, 4pm – 5:30 at St. Peter’s with an afternoon cookout
Men’s Grillin’ Group RETURNS January 31st @ 6pm at St. Peter’s. Bring your best cut, or catch, to throw on the grill, your beverage of choice and $20 dues. RSVP Mike @ 228-326-6601
Ladies Night Out January 31 @ the NEW El Saltillo (formerly El Agave’) 5:30 Meet and Greet. Dine at 6.
While our journey continues, we have arrived where we worship in new ways, not returning to the way things were. And, the methods for sharing our Mission have evolved in beautiful ways.
Bear with us for the next two weeks, something new is coming February 5th…
At the Offertory
“All Things come of thee, O Lord.”
“And of thine own have we given thee. Amen.”
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Book 336
And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold
to say,
People and Celebrant
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,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Communion of the People
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayer Book 339
Let us pray.
The People may join in saying this prayer
Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end.
Amen.
The Blessing
The Bishop when present, or the Priest, gives the blessing
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.
or this
The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
The Dismissal
The Deacon, or the Celebrant, may dismiss the people with these words
| Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia. Alleluia. | |
| People | Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia. |
Serving Today
Margaret Murdock, Reader
Bets Enochs, Chalice
Rev. Scott Williams, Deacon
The Rev. Patrick Sanders, Rector
JT Anglin, Organist: Prelude, Offertory and Communion Music
