Rector's Message: Saturday, 9 May 2020 - Preparing for Sunday Worship

Included in today's update: A Message from Father Keith with a prayer for Mother's Day, Liturgy for Sunday 10 May Worship, Sunday Worship Music, Another Lessons Learned... ​

FROM THE RECTOR

Saturday, 9 May 2020

Dear Friends:

As I anticipate the coming weekend, with Sunday being Mother's Day, I am saddened by the prospect of not being able to see my own mother on this day dedicated to the women in our lives who gave us life and nurtured us through the years. In this time of forced isolation and quarantine, I am certainly not alone as I am sure many among you are also in the same boat of having to celebrate the day without the usual hugs and kisses. But do not let our current situation keep you from finding a way to reach out by phone or Skype or Zoom or other modern technology and express your love and appreciation to the one who gave you birth, as well as the many other women in your life who have nurtured and sustained you in so many ways through the years.

Here is a prayer that is appropriate for the day, written by The Rev. Leslie Nipps, published in the book, Women's Uncommon Prayers:

A Prayer for Mother’s Day

On this Mothers Day,

we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms.

Let us pray for all the mothers among us today:

• for our own mothers, those living and those who have passed away;

• for the mothers who loved us and those who fell short of loving us fully;

• for all who hope to be mothers someday and for those whose hope to have children has been frustrated;

• for all mothers who have lost children;

• for all women and men who have 'mothered' others in any way …

• those who have been our substitute mothers,

• and we who have done so for those in need.

We pray this all in the name of God:

our great and protecting Father,

our gentle and loving Mother.

Amen.

In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ,

and our God who wants only health and wholeness for his children,

I send you blessings, peace and grace in these uncertain, confusing and anxious times.

- Keith

LITURGY FOR TOMORROW'S WORSHIP

Fifth Sunday of Easter

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Response: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

SONG OF PRAISE

Alleluia!

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.

Alleluia! Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

LESSONS: Acts 7:55-60 1

Peter 2:2-10

John 14:1-14

PSALM 31

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame; *

deliver me in your righteousness.

Incline your ear to me; *

make haste to deliver me.

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,

for you are my crag and my stronghold; *

for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

Take me out of the net they have secretly set for me, *

for you are my tower of strength.

Into your hands I commend my spirit, *

for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.

My times are in your hand; *

rescue me from the hand of my enemies,

and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me.

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all this 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 of the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Each petition ends as follows:

Intercessor: Blessed be the risen Christ.

Response: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

SUNDAY WORSHIP MUSIC

Be sure to check out the weekly music and carillon recordings. Use the link from the weekly Service page or go to the Gallery tab on the parish website; select videos; there you will find hymns selected for the day, along with Messiah's church bells ringing out the Good News of the Easter season. This music is presented each week by Hannah Albrecht and Sam Frenkel. Thank you, Hannah and Sam!

SUNDAY SERMON AVAILABLE EACH WEEK

Each week, the text of the Sunday sermon is posted to the website. Feel free to print it out if you find that helpful. And perhaps you might also print a copy and send to someone who doesn't have computer access. This would be greatly appreciated and provide a way for these parishioners to also stay connected.

MORE LESSONS LEARNED

Here is another response to my call for "lessons (being) learned" through the unusual times we are living in. I have also been referred to an online article titled "21 Life-Changing Lessons from Maya Angelou," and I recommend it to you.

• In three short months, it’s just like He did with the plaques of Egypt. God has taken away everything we worship. You want to worship athletes, I will shut down stadiums and arenas. You want to worship musicians, I will shut down every venue. You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market. You want to worship your own bodies, I'll close the gyms. You want to worship your own intellect and pat yourself on the back with graduation, I'll close down the schools. You want to trust in your friends and not in Me. I'll make sure you can't even meet with them physically. You don't want to worship me and seek my face then I'll close the churches. 2nd Chronicles 7:14

'FORWARD DAY BY DAY'

DEVOTIONALS ARE HERE

Many of you enjoy reading the quarterly devotional, Forward Day by Day. Booklets for the months of May through July have arrived. You may pick up a copy from the church office (9-1, Mon-Thur); or a copy can be mailed to you. Simply call me (215-699-9204) or send your email request to rector@messiahgwynedd.org, with your name and address.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR PLEDGE UP TO DATE

Thank you to all of you who have dropped off or sent in your pledge over the past several weeks! Your faithfulness has allowed us to stay current with payroll and bill payment. Now that we are in a new month - can it really be May already? - please remember to submit this month's pledge. Thank you!