St. Peter's By-the-Sea Episcopal Church
Gulfport, Mississippi

The Holy Eucharist:  Rite One

The Word of God

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 Celebrant says

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.

Then the following may be said,

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Here is said

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

The Celebrant says to the people

The Lord be with you.

People And with thy spirit.

Celebrant Let us pray.

The Celebrant says the Collect.

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve:  Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

People Amen.

The Lessons

First Reading from Exodus 

Then God spoke all these words:  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.  Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work.  Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.  You shall not murder.  You shall not commit adultery.  You shall not steal.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.  You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.  When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.’

After each Reading, the Reader may say

The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God

Psalm 19

~  The heavens declare the glory of God, *  and the firmament shows his handiwork.

~  One day tells its tale to another, *
  and one night imparts knowledge to another.

~  Although they have no words or language, * 
and their voices are not heard,

~  Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
  and their message to the ends of the world.

~  In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
  it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;  it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

~  It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens  and runs about to the end of it again; *
  nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

~  The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
  the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

~  The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
  the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

~  The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

~  More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, * 
  sweeter far than honey,  than honey in the comb.

~  By them also is your servant enlightened, *
  and in keeping them there is great reward.

~  Who can tell how often he offends? *
  cleanse me from my secret faults.

~  Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;    let them not get dominion over me; * 
  then shall I be whole and sound,   and innocent of a great offense.

~  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my   heart be acceptable in your sight, *
    O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Silence may follow.

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:  “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

After the Gospel, the Reader says

The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

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 heavenand 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 Deacon or other person appointed says

Presider:  Gracious Creator, you have planted your people in a fertile world and called us to be faithful stewards and fruitful servants:  Hear us as we call upon you on behalf of all your creatures, saying:  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

Litanist:  Loving One, you have made us your own through Christ Jesus and given us a righteousness based on faith:  Nourish your Church that we may be people who produce the fruits of your kingdom.  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

Nurture our nation that our confidence may not be in the flesh or in our own powers, but in the righteousness from God that is based on faith.  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

Inspire all people to obey your commandments, and pour the abundance of your mercy upon all who live in places of injustice and violence.  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

May this community know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death and attaining the resurrection from the dead.  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, as we come to you offering intercession for those for whom we pray, 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.  Hear our song of thanksgiving and love, as we pray to you with grateful hearts, especially for those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries Scott, Ruthie, Justin & April.  Grant to all who have died to receive the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus, especially those we now mention aloud or in the silence of our hearts (pause).  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork. 

Presider:  Watch over your people with providence and grace, O Compassionate One, and be our cornerstone to keep us safe, that we may join in the fruitful work of your Son to bring forth justice and peace in a violent and divided world, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

Confession of Sin

The Deacon or Celebrant says the following, 

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved thee with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in thy will, and walk in thy ways, to the glory of thy Name.  Amen.

The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to

everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Peace

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.

The Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

The people remain standing. The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest, faces them and sings or says

The Lord be with you.

People And with thy spirit.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them up unto the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

People It is meet and right so to do.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God.

Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

Celebrant and People

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Here may be added

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

Hosanna in the highest.

The people kneel or stand.

Then the Celebrant continues

All glory be to thee, O Lord our God, for that thou didst create heaven and earth, and didst make us in thine own image; and, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. He made there a full and perfect sacrifice for the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. For in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread; and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is my Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.” Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy people do celebrate and make, with these thy holy gifts which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; and looking for his coming again with power and great glory. And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, to bless and sanctify these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the Body and Blood of thy dearly-beloved Son Jesus Christ. And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, whereby we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies. Grant, we beseech thee, that all who partake of this Holy Communion may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, and be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction; and also that we and all thy whole Church may be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord; By whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.  AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

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 Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

A period of silence is kept.

Then may be said

Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia.

Facing the people, the Celebrant may say the following Invitation

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

and may add Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.  [Amen.]

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.  [Amen.]

After Communion, the Celebrant says

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.

Blessing

Dismissal