Prelude

For The Procession: Hymn 182
Christ is alive

1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
His cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
His love in death shall never die.

2. Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
he comes to claim the here and now
and conquer every place and time.

3. Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with the Father reigns.

4. In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
he suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, though ever crucified.

5. Christ is alive! His Spirit burns
through this and every future age,
till all creation lives and learns
his joy, his justice, love, and praise.

The Word of God

Opening Acclamation
Prayer Book 355

The people standing, the Celebrant says

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Celebrant:  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.

Hymn of Praise S280                                                               

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

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.

The Collect of the Day:

The Celebrant says to the people

The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson

Amos 6:1a,4-7

Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,

and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock,

and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

The Psalm

Psalm 146

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord, O my soul! *

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *

for there is no help in them.

3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *

and in that day their thoughts perish.

4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *

whose hope is in the Lord their God;

5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *

who keeps his promise for ever;

6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

and food to those who hunger.

7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

8 The Lord loves the righteous;

the Lord cares for the stranger; *

he sustains the orphan and widow,

but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *

your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.

Hallelujah!

The Epistle

1 Timothy 6:6-19

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time– he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Sequence Hymn: 383 
Fairest Lord Jesus

1 Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son;
thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

2 Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3 Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling. starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

The Holy Gospel   

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew

People Glory to you, Lord Christ

Matthew 4:23-25

Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, people possessed by demons or having epilepsy or afflicted with paralysis, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

After the Gospel, the Reader says
The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon
The Rev. Patrick Sanders

The Nicene Creed
Prayer Book 358

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                                                                

The Leader and the People pray responsively

Presider:  Gracious God of abundance, you love the righteous, care for the stranger, sustain the orphan and widow, but frustrate the way of the wicked: Look upon us in our blindness and our need, and open the gates of our charity, that we may join in your work of generous reconciliation, as we pray:  Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

Litanist:  O God of generosity and love, inspire your Church to do good — to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share — that we may store up the treasure of an eternal foundation and lift up those who are bowed down.  Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

You have told us not to put our trust in rulers, nor to set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches:  Open the eyes of the powerful, that they may respond to the needs of the poor and uphold the cause of the weak. Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

Your prophets have warned those who are at ease and who lounge securely while others suffer, who eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall, who drink wine and sing songs, but are not grieved over the ruin of your people.  Bring us to repentance quickly, that we may not fall into judgment.  Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

You have bound us to you in love.  Be our refuge and stronghold in this community, that we may act to relieve anything that may threaten the security and happiness of our neighbors.  Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

You set the prisoners free; you open the eyes of the blind; you lift up those who are bowed down.  Hear our prayers, O God, for all who suffer from any need or trouble, especially 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 brought nothing into the world, and everything we have comes from your hand:  Hear our prayers of gratitude and thanks, O God, especially for those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries Carter, Barbara, Bubba, Kirk & Louise, Chris & Nancy.  When we breathe our last we return to earth and in that day our thoughts perish:  Let your angels carry to Abraham those who have died, as we remember especially those we now mention aloud or in the silence of our hearts (pause).  Give justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

Presider:  Look upon the injustice and inequality in your world, O Gracious One, and free us from our blindness and greed, that we may satisfy the needs of all who hunger, and comfort the hearts those who suffer, until we are welcomed as one people into your heavenly banquet, where you live and reign in splendor, with the Son and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.   Amen.  

Celebrant:  Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Minister and people:

Most merciful God, we confess that 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.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

Celebrant

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.  Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

The Minister and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements

Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God by Samuel and Anna Andrews in celebration of their wedding.

EYC meets every Sunday evening at St. Marks

ELNO Ladies will meet Tuesday, September 27th at the Rackhouse in downtown Gulfport.
PLEASE RSVP Jan Shook 228-860-4407 by Monday evening so that we may be seated together and accommodated accordingly.

Men’s Grillin’ Group – ALL men of the parish are invited to gather Tuesday, September 27th at 6PM in the Parish hall.  Bring your meat for the grill, beverage of choice and $20 dues.  RSVP to Mike Cassady at 228-326-6601

Pet Blessing will be held October 2nd during both services.  Bring your special pet or your pets favorite toy or other item with you. We will collect donations for the Humane Society

Bible Study continues every Wednesday morning at 10:30 in the parish hall

Compline will resume Wednesdays at 5:30 beginning October 12th

ECW is parking cars Friday, September 30th.  This is a fundraiser for them if you are willing and able to help contact Ann Milsted or Sandy Dowdle

Oblations brought forward (congregation stands)

Offertory Lead me, guide me (choir)   

Presentation Hymn                                                   

Sung to tune of 618

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him all creatures here below. 
Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer A
Prayer Book 361

The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

The Celebrant adds an additional prayer (Proper Preface) followed by

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus S125

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.  He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat:  This is my body, which is given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People say together                                                                               

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.  Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him.  Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ.  By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.    Amen.

Celebrant:

As now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Book 364             

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread as a period of silence is kept.

Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia

Celebrant:

The Gifts of God for the People of God. 

Communion of the People

Wherever you are on your journey of faith you are welcome at this table.

For the Communion: Eagles’ wings

Post Communion Prayer
Prayer Book 365

Celebrant Let us pray.

Celebrant and people

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.  Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

For The Retiring Procession: Hymn: 401
The God of Abraham praise

1 The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
and God of love;
the Lord, the great I AM,
by earth and heaven confessed:
we bow and bless the sacred Name
for ever blest.

2 He by himself hath sworn:
we on his oath depend;
we shall, on eagles-wings upborne,
to heaven ascend:
we shall behold his face,
we shall his power adore,
and sing the wonders of his grace
for evermore.

3 There dwells the Lord, our King,
the Lord, our Righteousness,
triumphant o’er the world and sin,
the Prince of Peace;
on Zion’s sacred height
his kingdom he maintains,
and, glorious with his saints in light,
for ever reigns.

4 The God who reigns on high
the great archangels sing,
and “Holy, holy, holy,” cry,
“Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
and evermore shall be:
eternal Father, great I AM,
we worship thee.”

5 The whole triumphant host
give thanks to God on high;
“Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”
they ever cry;
hail, Abraham’s Lord divine!
With heaven our songs we raise;
all might and majesty are thine,
and endless praise.

Dismissal

Children: Let us bless the Lord. ALLELUIA ! ALLELUIA !
People: Thanks be to God.
Alleluia ! Alleluia !

Serving Today

Libby Koch, Reader    
Mellody Jenkins, Reader

Lawrence Rojas, Chalice   
Sarah Crisler-Ruskey, Chalice

Rod Rishel, Usher   
David Wilson, Usher

Patti Nicholas, Sandy Dowdle, Janet Richardson, Flower guild team
Derrick & Kerry Hudson, Altar guild team

Karen Reuther, Vestry Person

JT Anglin, Organist/Choirmaster       
The Rev. Scott Williams, Deacon         
The Rev. Patrick Sanders, Rector