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Communion
As defined by
Merriam-Webster:
1: an act or
instance of sharing
2 a. capitalized : a Christian sacrament
in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as
memorials of Christ’s death or as symbols for the
realization of a spiritual union between Christ and
communicant or as the body and blood of Christ
read
more…
For our purposes, today, we’re concerned with 2a above.
From the Episcopal Church website, the Sacraments (there are
7) are:
"Outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual
grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means for
receiving God’s grace.
Baptism and Eucharist are the two great
sacraments given by Christ to his church. (BCP, pp.
857-858)."
We celebrated the Baptism of Christ on the first Sunday
after Epiphany yesterday; a simple task to achieve remotely
as we renew our own Baptismal Covenant (BCP, pp.
304-305). "…the baptismal covenant is widely regarded as
the normative statement of what it means to follow Christ."
But, what about Communion or, Holy Eucharist ?
What can we do when we can’t receive physical bread and wine, remotely ?
Spiritual Communion.
From the
Forward Movement site,
excerpts from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book:
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THE RITE OF
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Spiritual Communion is excerpted from Saint Augustine’s
Prayer Book. © 2004 Forward Movement
The Book of
Common Prayer reminds us that if one is unable to actually
consume the consecrated bread and wine due to extreme
sickness or disability, the desire is enough for God to
grant all the benefits of communion (p. 457). When being
present at a celebration of the Eucharist is absolutely
impossible, this act of prayer and meditation can provide
the means by which you can associate yourself with the
Eucharistic Action and open yourself to God’s grace and
blessing.
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Invocation and Collect
Blessed be God, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Let the power of the Holy Spirit come upon me, O Lord,
to mercifully cleanse my heart and defend me from all
adversities;
through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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The Lessons
The Epistle: Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door,
I will come in to you and eat with you,
and you with me.
The Psalm: Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Gospel: John 15:5
Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,
because apart from me, you can do nothing."
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The 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 to the dead.
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. |
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Act of Contrition
O God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you,
and for all the wrongs I have done,
and the good I have not done.
Especially I confess …
Forgive me for Jesus’ sake,
and grant me strength and wisdom
to amend my life. Amen.
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Act of Reception
In union, blessed Jesus, with the faithful gathered at every
altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are
offered this day (and remembering particularly my own parish
and those worshiping there,) I long to offer you praise and
thanksgiving, for creation and all the blessings of this
life, for the redemption won for us by your life, death, and
resurrection, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.
And particularly for the blessings given me …
I believe that you are truly present in the Holy
Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive
communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself
with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my
mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in
this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious
kingdom and unending peace. Amen.
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Prayers
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.
Come, Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart in the fullness of
your strength; be my wisdom and guide me in right pathways;
conform my life and actions to the image of your holiness;
and, in the power of your gracious might, rule over every
hostile power that threatens or disturbs the growth of your
kingdom, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and
reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
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Blessing
And may the peace of God, which passes all understanding,
keep my heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God, and
of his Son Jesus Christ my Lord; and the blessing of God
Almighty, + the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be
with me now and always. Amen.
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If you’re
interested in some more about Spiritual Communion, check out
the links I have included in the right-hand column. I hope
y’all find this addition to worship as useful as I have; a
complement to our weekly streaming services.
Gail Hendrickson
Traveling Mercies editor
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Readings
for January 17
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
The Collect
Almighty
God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of
the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your
Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of
Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and
obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and
reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. |
For the Kids
FROM TRUWAY KIDS
This week we will begin
our Bible lessons for children by studying the account
of creation founTd in Genesis 1. As we study the
creation of the world, some of the key points we will
learn are:
- God created all life.
- God is in charge of all life.
- God is powerful and spoke the world into existence.
- We should love and honor God.
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View our latest streaming/shared offerings…
Sunday January 10, 2021
Special Services shared from our family of Episcopal Churches
Sunday January 10, 11am
Trinity by-the-Sea Episcopal Church,
Port Aransas, Texas
Sunday January 10, 10:15am
National Cathedral,
Washington, D.C.
Sunday January 10, 2021
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church,
Burke, Va
email
stpetersbythesea@bellsouth.net
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Donations and Offerings for 2021
can be made on our website or by mailing your check to the church
NEEDED:
plastic grocery bags
Drop off at the church office
January 10- January 16
Birthdays
10th Joy Jennings
11th Dona Long
12th Billy Ruble
12th Jack Watson
12th Rowland Yonko
13th Amelia Edrington
13th Lottie Hastings
15th Austin Gottschlich
16th Collin Moorefield
16th Maria Watson
Anniversaries
10th Hardy & Katherine Thames
January 17- January 23
Birthdays
17th Hardy Thames
18th Samantha Dobson
23rd Marie Porter
Anniversaries
17th David & Lee Hood
From the Diocese of Mississippi
Ugandan Mission
While
our in-person mission to Uganda had to be cancelled this year, the
need continues, and past Senior Warden and missionary to Uganda, Jane
Glenn received this message from Fr. Ezra:
"The
May floods affected the Kasemire Community income, hence the
Christians have failed to complete the construction of the school
which you built for their children. The walls of the school building
which you started at the foundation need to be plastered. The
classrooms’ floor need to be cemented. Currently, the classrooms are
dusty and they are infecting the children with flue and cough.
Constructing the classrooms floor and plastering the walls need 630
bags of cement ; and each bag costs $9 (9 dollars) We therefore humbly
request you to mobilize Christians, friends and well wishers to
generously contribute some bags of cement for a strong Church founded
School building.
God bless you abundantly.
Peace and good health to you all.
Your friend in Christ’s service, Fr Ezra.
Uganda "
We
will be accepting donations to help, though our
website
choose "UGANDA" from the fund dropdown menu
For more information on Spiritual Communion
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