St. John's Episcopal Church

                                                                                            

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Helena, Arkansas

 

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

 

January 23, 2022

 

 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST RITE TWO

Entrance Rite, Eucharistic Prayer B

The Word of God

ENTRANCE RITE

 

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.

 

Collect for Purity

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 is 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.

 

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THE LESSONS

 

First Reading                           

The people sit.

A Reading from the book of the prophet Nehemiah.

¹All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. ²Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. ³He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. ⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁸So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.  ⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

 

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

 

Psalm                                                           Psalm 19

Remain seated and read responsively by whole verse.

 ¹The heavens declare the glory of God, *
  and the firmament shows his handiwork.

 ²One day tells its tale to another, *
  and one night imparts knowledge to another.

 ³Although they have no words or language, *
  and their voices are not heard,

 ⁴Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
  and their message to the ends of the world.

 ⁵In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
  it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
  it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

 ⁶It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
 and runs about to the end of it again; *
  nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

 ⁷The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
  the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

 ⁸The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
  the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

 ⁹The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 ¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
  sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

 ¹¹By them also is your servant enlightened, *
  and in keeping them there is great reward.

 ¹²Who can tell how often he offends? *
  cleanse me from my secret faults.

 ¹³Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
 let them not get dominion over me; *
  then shall I be whole and sound,
  and innocent of a great offense.

 ¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *
  O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

 

 

Second Reading                                           1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

The people sit.

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

¹²Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  ¹⁴Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.  ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ^31aBut strive for the greater gifts.

 

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

 

Sequence Hymn                                      O Spirit of the living God                             (H 531)

All stand.

 

Gospel                                                          Luke 4:14-21

All stand.

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

 

¹⁴Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
  ¹⁶When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
 ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
  because he has anointed me
   to bring good news to the poor.
 He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
  and recovery of sight to the blind,
   to let the oppressed go free,
 ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

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

People may stand or kneel.

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially those suffering from Covid-19, their families and their caregivers; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, remembering especially, Allen and Frances Keesee, Mary Elizabeth Miles and Gladys Key Keesee, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

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 wedding anniversary blessings.

 

The Holy Communion

 

Offertory Sentence

The Celebrant says

Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into his courts. 

 

Offertory Music

 

DOXOLOGY   (No Singing Just Music)

 

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, St. Paul, 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.

 

Invitation

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                         Christ for the world we sing                      (H 537)

 

Dismissal

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

 

POSTLUDE

 

A Note on Today’s Readings

Welcome to our parish. The season of Epiphany celebrates the manifesting of Christ in his ministry. Today we focus on his preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Jesus did not simply tell about the Kingdom. He was and is the Kingdom, embodied. When he preached in his home synagogue for the first time, this was the theme. He reads Isaiah’s passage foretelling the role of Messiah in bringing about the reign of God. Then he tells the people, “This day this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The first reading recounts that period in the fifth century B.C. when, as the central event in the reconstituting of Israel as God’s Kingdom, Ezra the priest and others read the Word of God to all the people. Some scholars believe that this came about because of the final formulation of the Torah as the definitive written Word of God. That event established Judaism as the religion of the Book. It is in this event that the foundations were laid for the ministry of Jesus as the preacher and teacher of the Kingdom.

Christianity is not simply a message about what once happened. In baptism, we are empowered to join Christ in proclaiming the Good News to the whole world. That ministry of ours is Paul’s concern as he uses the image of the human body with all its parts and organs—all of which are essential for it to function. In the same way, Paul tells us, each of us has an essential role in the Body of Christ. Each of us is baptized in order that each may be the fulfillment of the Kingdom now. In our celebration of Eucharist, we are built into that Body, so that God’s salvation may be made manifest in us.

 

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

 by welcoming all, loving all and serving all.

 

Welcome to St. John’s.  We are so glad you’re here to worship and celebrate with us today.  We are very pleased to have back with us today violinist Alice Hasen to play her beautiful music.

 

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.

 

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

Violinist – Alice Hasen

 

Lay Eucharist Minister – Allison Biederman

Acolyte – Eli Pillow

Altar Guild – Susan Carter

Ushers – Dana Kurts & Tait Owens

Facebook Live –Paulette Parker

 

 

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

And in memory of Allen & Frances Keesee,

 Gladys Key Keesee, & Mary Elizabeth Miles.

Given by The Keesee Girls