Celtic Evening Prayer

Sunday, August 2, 2020 Online 5:30 pm

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Officiant: May this evening of sacred music, quiet prayer and reflection be a time of devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prelude This is My Father’s World Hymnal 651

Candle Lighting

Leader: I will light a light in the name of the Maker, who lit the world and breathed the breath of life for me.

All: I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.

Leader: I will light a light in the name of the Son, who saved the world and stretched out his hand to me.

All: I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.

Leader: I will light a light in the name of the Spirit, who encompassed the world and blessed my soul with yearning.

All: I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.

We will light three lights for the Trinity of Love: God above us, God beside us, God beneath us; The beginning, The End, The everlasting one.

Opening Prayer St. Columba

All: Kindle in our hearts, O God, the flame of love that never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others.

May we shine forever in your temple, Set on fire with your eternal light, Even your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

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Leader: Please join in singing our Opening Hymn – Hymn 791 in the Wonder, Love and Praise hymnal

Opening Hymn Peace Before Us WLP 791

(verses 1, 2, and 4)

Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet.

Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.

Love before us, love behind us,

love under our feet. Love within us, love over us,

let all around us be love.

Christ before us, Christ behind us, Christ under our feet.

Christ within us, Christ over us, let all around us be Christ.

Let all around us be peace. Let all around us be peace.

Words: David Haas (b. 1957), based on a Navaho prayer ; Music: David Haas (b. 1957)

A Prayer for the Evening

All: O Christ of the least and the homeless,

O Christ of the lost and the betrayed,

O Christ of the wanting and the lonely,

Come close to us as we worship

That we may come close to you. Amen.

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The First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Reader: The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the

one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have

made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful

giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by

always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As

it is written,

‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;

his righteousness* endures for ever.’

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your

seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in

every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through

us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also

overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you

glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the

generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and

pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be

to God for his indescribable gift!

Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

All: Thanks be to God.

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Gospel Lesson: Mark 3:20-30

Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Leader: And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’

Leader: The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you Lord Christ. Reflection by a Devoted Member of our Epiphany Youth Group Meditative Music Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Hymnal 686

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Prayers for Ourselves and Others

Leader: Let us pray for ourselves and others.

Leader: Loving God, because we are better together, even as we are apart, enliven the Church to do your work.

All: That we may take up our cross and follow you, Lord God.

Leader: Breathe fresh life into your people.

All: Give us courage to reveal you, Christ, in word and action.

Leader: Creator of all, lead us and every people into the ways of justice and peace.

All: That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.

Leader: Embolden in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.

All: Teach us to care creatively for our fragile world.

Leader: God of truth, inspire with your wisdom those whose decisions affect the lives of others.

All: That all may act with integrity and courage.

Leader: Be among us, to bring light in the darkness.

All: Forgive us our wrongs. Those done and those left undone.

Leader: Give grace to all those whose lives are linked with ours.

All: May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Leader: Let us now name before God those for whom we offer our personal prayers, either silently or aloud.

All are invited to add their own intercessions either silently or aloud.

Leader: We pray for those impacted by the Coronavirus:

God of the present moment,

God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart;

bring hope and courage to all who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,

for your will is health and wholeness;

Restore wellness in body, mind and spirit,

for you are God, and we need you.

In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

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Leader: We pray for Peace and Justice

Almighty God, you have given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly ask that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will.

Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people, regardless of race, ethnicity or language, remembering that You love us all, no exceptions.

Provide wisdom to those to whom we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth.

When we are blessed with prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness; when we are troubled, help us to trust in You.

All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All: Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work or watch or weep this night.

Give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ, give

rest to the weary. Bless the dying. Soothe the suffering. Pity the afflicted.

Shield the joyous, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

A period of silence is kept.

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The Lord’s Prayer

Leader: And now, as our Savior Jesus Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

All: 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing

Leader: May God’s extravagant love consume you,

Christ’s life and passion inspire you,

And the Spirit compel you to do ordinary things

with extraordinary love.

We go out in peace

in the courage and grace of Christ

to share God’s extravagant love.

And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy

Spirit be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen

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Leader: Please join in singing our Sending Hymn – Hymn 178 in the 1982 hymnal

Sending Hymn Alleluia, Alleluia, Hymnal 178

Give Thanks to the Risen Lord

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Words: Donald Fishel (b. 1950); Music: Alleluia No. 1, Donald Fishel (b. 1950); arr. Betty Pulkingham (b. 1928), Charles Mallory (b. 1950) and George Mims (b. 1938)

Dismissal

Leader: Go out into the world in peace, have courage, hold on to what is good, return no one

evil for evil, strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering, honor everyone,

love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

All: Thanks be to God.

Postlude The Church’s One Foundation Hymnal 525

A special thank you to Art Buck for officiating tonight,

to Rebecca McLain for her reading, to the giver of tonight’s Reflection and to our guest musician

for making this evening’s worship very special.

The content of Celtic Worship is drawn from Frontier Services Sunday 2013, A Celtic Liturgy compiled by Pat Robson; A Celtic Primer compiled by Brendan O’Malley; Wild Goose Worship Group, A Wee Worship Book.

Music Copyright Acknowledgements: All rights reserved.Except where otherwise noted, music in today's bulletin that is not in the public domain is reprinted under One-License.net # A-723865 and CCLI license #2895248.

Principal Musician: Ji-Yoon “Jiji” Park Minister of Music: Cathy Lard Communications Director: Nadia Baker

Epiphany Episcopal Church is building a Christ-centered community, growing in God’s grace, welcoming all in love, and providing for God’s world.

3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Oak Hill, VA 20171 | www.epiphanyec.org | (703) 466-5200