St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John’s Episcopal Churh

Helena, Arkansas

 

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

January 30, 2022

 

 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST RITE TWO

Entrance Rite, Eucharistic Prayer B

 

The Word of God

 

ENTRANCE RITE

 

Entrance Hymn                                     God is Love, let heaven adore him               (H 379)

 

Opening Acclamation

The people standing, the Celebrant says

Celebrant	Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People	And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

The Celebrant may say

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Opening Anthem of Praise

The following read, all standing

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. Amen.

 

Celebrant	The Lord be with you.
People	And also with you.
Celebrant	Let us pray.

 

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THE LESSONS

 

First Reading                                                 Jeremiah 1:4-10

The people sit.

A Reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.

⁴Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ⁵“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  ⁶Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” ⁷But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. ⁸Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”  ⁹Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

 

Reader	The Word of the Lord.
People	Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm                                                         Psalm 71:1-6

Remain seated and read in UNISON.

¹In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; *
  let me never be ashamed.
 

²In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
  incline your ear to me and save me.
 

³Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
  you are my crag and my stronghold.
 

⁴Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
  from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
 

⁵For you are my hope, O Lord God, *
  my confidence since I was young.
 

⁶I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
 from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; *
  my praise shall be always of you.

 

Second Reading                                       1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The people sit.

A Reading from Paul's First letter to the Church in Corinth.

¹If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.    ⁸Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; ¹⁰but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. ¹³And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

 

Reader	The Word of the Lord.
People	Thanks be to God.

 

 

Sequence Hymn                                         O love, how deep, how broad, how high       (H 448)

All stand.

 

Gospel                                                          Luke 4:21-30

All stand.

Priest	The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People	Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

²¹[Jesus] began to [speak in the synagogue in Nazareth:] “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”²²All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” ²³He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ”  ²⁴And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. ²⁵But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; ²⁶yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. ²⁷There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. ²⁹They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. ³⁰But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

 

Priest	The Gospel of the Lord.
People	Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

The Sermon                                             Rev. Teresa Cantrell

 

The Creed

All stand.

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.

 

The Prayers of the People

All remain standing or kneel.

My fellow pilgrims, the Lord is our strong rock, a castle to keep us safe. In confidence, let us pray, “In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge; let us never be ashamed.”

Increase our love, O God. Deliver your Church from boastfulness and arrogance.

Fill us instead with patience and kindness.

Silence

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

Increase our love, O God. Deliver this nation from pride and fear. Give us eyes to see your hand at work in all nations and peoples. God, bless the world.

Silence

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

Increase our love, O God. Let it not be limited only to other human beings but spread to all that you have made.

Invite the congregation to add their thanksgivings, followed by silence

 

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

Increase our love, O God. May we seek and serve Christ in our neighbors, in family, friends, and strangers.

Silence

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

Increase our love, O God. By the power of your great love, heal those who are ill; strengthen those who are struggling to endure pain, remembering those who suffer from Covid – 19, their caregivers and families. We pray that, as we lift our brothers and sisters to you in prayer, they will, even now, feel our love.

Invite the congregation to add their petitions, followed by silence

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

Increase our trust in your love, O God. May those who have died find in your presence everlasting and overwhelming love, remembering especially Duane Saba.

Silence

In you, O Lord, have we taken refuge;

Let us never be ashamed.

LEM continues

O God, who has blessed and sustained us through the years; we ask that you continue to lead us, stretch us, and direct us, in our search for a new rector.  Raise for us, we pray, a priest, and pastor who will boldly proclaim your Gospel, faithfully administer your sacraments, and serve your people with love and compassion, that we may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ and be a beacon of love and hope to our community and the world.  To the glory of your holy name. Amen.

The Celebrant adds a concluding collect.

Lord, hear the prayers of your people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Confession of Sin

The Celebrant says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People

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.

 

The Priest stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

 

The Peace

All stand.

Celebrant	The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People	And also with you.

 

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements and birthday and anniversary blessings.

 

The Holy Communion

 

Offertory Sentence

The Celebrant says

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. 

 

Offertory Music

 

Doxology

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

 

The People remain standing.

Celebrant	The Lord be with you.
People	And also with you.
Celebrant	Lift up your hearts.
People	We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People	It is right to give him thanks and praise.

 

 

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of your glory in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

 

Sanctus

All read

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

The People stand or kneel.

The Celebrant continues

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

Celebrant and People

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,

We await his coming in glory;

The Celebrant continues

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with St. John the Evangelist, the Blessed Mary, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant

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,

forever and ever. Amen.

 

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Fraction Anthem

All read

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

 

The Celebrant says

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

 

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread is given to the communicants with these words

The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life. [Amen.]

 

Communion Music

 

Post-Communion Prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Blessing

May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest in you, that your lives may be a light to the world; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

 

Post-Communion Hymn                           Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (Truro)  (H 436)

 

Dismissal

 

Celebrant	Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People	Thanks be to God

 

 

 

A Note on Today’s Readings

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany—Year C

Welcome to our parish. In today’s liturgy, we continue the account of Jesus’ sermon in his home synagogue in Nazareth and its results. The congregation immediately discounts his teaching because he is known to them. Jesus points out that the prophets and teachers of the past were rejected by their own people and so took their message to others. This enrages the congregation and he barely escapes with his life.

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah is called by God and demurs at first because of his youth. But God implants the word in Jeremiah and commissions him to bring a message of challenge to all peoples. Subsequently Jeremiah, like Jesus, was rejected by those to whom he was sent.

The second reading today carries on Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about the proper use of spiritual gifts. After speaking of various gifts of the Spirit, he explains that all of them are empty and meaningless without love, which is the greatest of all gifts, and the only one that lasts. This well-known passage, justly loved by Christians, is also a challenge to all of us to judge our gifts by the love they build up in the church, which is the body of Christ.

We gather in Eucharist to meet Christ and to hear his message. Today’s readings carry a warning to us that those who reject the message will find its promises going to others. We too are to bear that message and to state it clearly. We may be rejected, but like Jesus and the prophets before him, we continue to go to all people and to proclaim that message by word and deed so that all people may hear it and accept it.

From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.

 

Welcome to St. John’s.  We are so glad you’re here to worship and celebrate with us today. 

Please keep the following in your prayers:  Debra Richardson, Kathy Sullivan, Parker Pace, Courtney Turner, Jo Boone Wild, Gloria Higginbotham, Kathleen Gibson, Cole Jefferies, Carol Spencer, Bonnie & Charles Rowland, Jo Liddy, Janet Juengel, Vivian Wright, Jim Howe, Cliff Clark, Linda Dowling, Susan Taylor, Sylvia Ross, Sawyer Barry Smith, and Gretchen Barry.

Grace Food Pantry: plastic bags go in the labeled container in the narthex.

Thank you for your donations.  They are all greatly appreciated and needed.

 

 

Our mission is to know God, love God, and serve God

 by welcoming all, loving all and serving all.

 

Contact info:

Email:  rector@saintjohnshelena.org                

St. John’s Church Office:

Phone:  870-338-8115   

Email:   office@saintjohnshelena.org 

Mailing address:  P.O. Box 770, Helena, AR 72342

Street address: 625 Pecan St;, Helena, Arkansas

 

 

The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Rt. Reverend Larry R. Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas

The Rev. Teresa Cantrell

 

The Vestry of St. John’s Church, Helena

Allison Biederman, Senior Warden (2022)

Ed Pat Wright, Junior Warden (2023)

Brooke Tappan, Clerk (2023), Tap Jennings (2023)

 Mark Rogers (2022), Susan Carter (2022)

West Hornor (2024), Ned Pillow (2024)

Walter Morris, Treasurer

 

Pianist –Dagmar Bergan

Organist – Dr. Gabriel Statom

 

Lay Eucharist Minister – Susan Carter

Acolyte – Eli Pillow

Altar Guild – Maureen Jones

Ushers – Ben Pittman & Mike Fielder

Facebook Live – Angie Fielder

 

 

The flowers in the church today are given to the glory of God

And in memory of Duane Saba.

Given by Madge Saba