PREPARING FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP Saturday, 26 September 2020 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Included in today's update: Reopening Church Message, The Liturgy for Tomorrow's Worship,

Birthdays in the Week Ahead, and more.

FROM THE RECTOR

Saturday, 26 September 2020

Dear Friends:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH

9:30 A.M.

IN THE CHURCH

That is the date and time Bishop Gutierrez has approved the reopening of Church of the Messiah for in-person worship services! We will be resuming services at 50% capacity, 125 worshippers.

A letter to all parishioners has been mailed with more details concerning guidelines and restrictions. Please be on the lookout for this information. I am looking forward to welcoming many of you back to church, but if you choose not to return until more time has passed, please be assured that your decision is understood and respected.

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.

• Clarence Wurts

• Jeanne Shirk

• Barbara Harvey

• Lauren Marsh

• Nikola Baker

• Virginia Ashenfelter

• Zachary Bruno

• John Myers

• Cora DiMauro

LITURGY FOR TOMORROW'S WORSHIP

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

27 September 2020

** At a time convenient for you, open the church website - www.messiahgwynedd.org - for the video presentation of the Sunday service; then use the liturgical pieces below to actively participate. The video is available all week.

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 21)

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ 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

Exodus 17:1-7; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

PSALM 78:1-4, 12-16

Hear my teaching, O my people: *

    incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable; *

    I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.

That which we have heard and known,

and what our ancestors have told us, *

    we will not hide them from their children.

We will recount to generations to come

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, *

   and the wonderful works he has done.

He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *

    in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

He split open the sea and let them pass through; *

    and made the waters stand like walls.

He led them with a cloud by day, *

    and all the night through with a glow of fire.

He split the hard rocks open in the wilderness, *

    and gave them drink abundantly as from the great deep.

He brought forth streams out of the cliff, *

    and the waters gushed out like rivers.

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. Please remember to submit this month's pledge. Thank you!