Welcome & Announcements
We welcome everyone to our worship for the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Although we can’t be in our beautiful church during this time, it’s always our prayer that God will meet you right where you are as we worship God together. As you can see, our liturgical color is still green, for “Ordinary Time”. In Godly Play, Ordinary Time is the “green, growing time.” We never expected a pandemic like this to shape our ordinary time, but we pray for growth as we lean in to allow God to grow us, comfort us, and sustain us during this season.
This week our worship is led by Father Will Holt, with music supplied by Rhonda Stanton and Zoë Pouliot. The scriptures in our service are read by members of Grace.
Next Sunday, if we were meeting in person, we would have had the joy of welcoming Bishop Phoebe Roaf as our celebrant, followed by sharing a fellowship meal all together. She will be with us in spirit, however and will be providing our sermon. You can make the day special at home — perhaps treat yourself to a special brunch after the service!
Keep our Capital Campaign in mind! As long as we cannot meet in our beautiful church building, we’re going to address some needed repairs. Participate by sending a gift to Grace Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 447, Paris TN, 38242, or for online convenience: https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/4835
Children’s Resources
- Lectionary-based readings and activities for families for the week of August 23
- Coloring Page to Download and Print (Relates to the gospel reading.)
- Story video: You Belong Here (A Godly Play instructor breaks from our traditional story format to read a lovely picture book.)
Opening Hymn: 680 O God our help in ages past
1 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
2 Under the shadow of thy throne,
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all our years away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
6 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.
Opening Acclamation
Collect of the Day
First Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10
Psalm 124
Second Reading: Romans 12:1-8
Gospel Hymn: 518 Christ is made the sure foundation
1 Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious,
binding all the Church in one;
holy Zion’s help for ever,
and her confidence alone.
2 All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.
3 To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
with thy wonted loving-kindness
hear thy servants as they pray,
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.
4 Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they ask of thee to gain;
what they gain from thee, for ever
with the blessèd to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory
evermore with thee to reign.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
Sermon
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 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.
Hymn: 810 in the Wonder, Love, and Praise hymnbook
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”
And I will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of my hand
Snares of the fowler will never capture you
And famine will bring you no fear
Under God’s wings your refuge,
with faithfulness your shield
And I will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of my hand
For to the angels God’s given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon their hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone
And I will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of my hand
Prayers of the People
Form III
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and
Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations
of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions.
Collect after Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn: 707 Take my life and let it be
1 Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
2 Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Blessing and Dismissal