PREPARING FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP Saturday, 15 August 2020 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Included in today's update: A Message from Father Keith, the Liturgy for Tomorrow's Worship, Birthdays in the Week Ahead, and more.

FROM THE RECTOR

Saturday, 15 August 2020

Dear Friends:

In looking through a resource book I haven't used in quite some time, I ran across a 3x5 card that had been passed along by my mother. On it, she had written a quote that she had found helpful. It comes from an ancient book attributed to Lao-Tzu, a Chinese philosopher who lived in the 6th century B.C.E. He is credited with founding the philosophical system known as Taoism. The quote below comes from his major work, titled Tao-Te-Ching, translated as The Way of Virtue.

Watch your thoughts - they become words;

Watch your words - they become actions;

Watch your actions - they become habits;

Watch your habits - they become character;

Watch your character - it becomes your destiny.

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.

Blessings! Peace! Grace! And love!

- Keith

BIRTHDAYS IN THE WEEK AHEAD

O God, our times are in your hands: Look with favor, we pray, on these your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

August 16 … Julia Patterson

August 18 .... Jean London

August 18 … Sawyer Steinbauer

August 19 … Woody Woodbury

August 20 … Jim Calore

August 20 … Perry Selheimer

August 20 … Jane Murray

August 20 … Lynn Mangan

August 20 … Lori Ryan

August 21 … John Harrison

August 21 … Tiffany Reichley

August 22 … Dianne Boldt

August 23 … Heather Merritt

LITURGY FOR TOMORROW'S WORSHIP

ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

OPENING PROCLAMATION

The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you. Alleluia!

And also with you. Alleluia! Alleluia!

COLLECT FOR THE DAY (Proper 15)

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

COLLECT FOR CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH

Gracious God: through your Fatherly goodness, make Church of the Messiah a Christian community united to serve others; enrich our life in Christ, that we might celebrate and share Christ’s love with the world; and send your Holy Spirit to give us strength and courage to proclaim the Good News of your grace through word and deed. Amen.

LESSONS

Isaiah 56:1-8; Romans 11:1-2a,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

PSALM 67

May God be merciful to us and bless us, *

show us the light of his countenance and come to us.

Let your ways be known upon earth, *

your saving health among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide all the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *

let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has brought forth increase; *

may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

May God give us blessing; *

and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

APOSTLES' 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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Response: Hear us, O God.

PRAYER FOR NATIONAL HEALING AND UNITY

O God, who created all peoples in your own image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and peoples who have come together in this great nation, and strengthened our culture with the many gifts, talents, perspectives and flavors they have each brought and shared. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, abolish all prejudices that separate us, open our eyes to recognize, and acknowledge, and celebrate your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION

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.

SUNDAY WORSHIP MUSIC

Be sure to check out the weekly music and carillon recordings. Go to the Gallery tab on the parish website; select videos; there you will find hymns selected for the day, along with the ringing of Messiah's church bells. This music is presented each week by Hannah Albrecht, Sam Frenkel and friends. Thank you, Hannah and Sam - and all who contribute each week!

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.

BISHOP GUTIERREZ PREACHES EACH SUNDAY

Bishop Gutierrez continues to broadcast Sunday morning Eucharist services. You can watch at 9 a.m. on YouTube or Facebook, (@Episcopal PA) and any time afterward on the Diocesan Website (DIOPA.org)

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. Can it really be midway through August already? Please remember to submit this month's pledge.

Thank you!