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The St. Augustine’s eCho
Mission Statement St. Augustine’s Church is a Christ-centered ministry where everyone is
invited and welcome. We are a loving Christian body that seeks to en-
hance spirituality and community. We confirm this by developing minis-
tries that empower the mind, body and soul. We are nurtured through
service to others and one another.
BCP (Book of Common Prayer) LEVAS (Lift Every Voice & Sing) Hymnal 1982 OSOP (One Song of Praise)
Weekly Services and Programs
Summer Sundays
9:00 AM Holy Eucharist
Wednesdays
12 Noon Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
Fourteenth Sunday after
Pentecost:
A Par ish of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Holy Eucharist Serv ice—Year B
AUGUST 30, 2015
9:00 AM Holy Eucharist
ORDER OF SERVICE
Processional Hymn #423 (1982 Hymnal)
THE WORD OF GOD
Opening Acclamation BCP p. 355
Gloria in Excelsis
Collect: Proper 17 BCP p. 233
The Old Testament Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm 15 BCP p. 599
The Epistle James 1:17-27
Sequence Hymn #72 (LEVAS)
The Gospel Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
The Sermon: Christian By Tradition
The Reverend Nathanael Saint-Pierre
The Nicene Creed BCP p. 358
Prayers of the People: (Available on screen only)
Confession of Sin BCP p. 359
The Peace BCP p. 360
THE HOLY COMMUNION: Eucharistic Prayer A
OFFERTORY
Offertory Hymn #594 (1982 Hymnal)
The Doxology
The Great Thanksgiving BCP p. 361
Sanctus
Memorial Acclamation BCP p. 363
The Lord’s Prayer BCP p. 364
The Fraction Anthem
Agnus Dei
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Administration of the Sacrament
Communion Hymn #138 (LEVAS)
Homeless/Soup Kitchen Offering
Welcome & Announcements
Post Communion Prayer BCP p. 365
Recessional Hymn #344 (1982 Hymnal)
Dismissal BCP p. 366
2
Fourteenth Sunday af ter Pentecost August 30, 2015
Every time I have the chance to welcome young children into the Christian faith (perform baptism
that is), I almost always ask the same question to the parents and sponsors during the instructions:
“Why do you want your child to be baptized?”. The answer that is the most popular is that they want
their children to be raised with the same set of moral values that they have been raised with. Some
would go to the extent of telling how many generations of their family were baptized in the church.
Some would ask me to go to the baptismal fonts and not use a vessel at the altar because they want
their children to walk in the steps of the many generations who were baptized at the fonts.
What does the lectionary selection of readings tell us today? In Deuteronomy, Moses invites Israel to
be a nation under God. He asks them to keep God's statutes and be a great nation of wise and dis-
cerning people. In the Epistle, James wrote to the church that God’s people need to “be doers of the
word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves”. Jesus, in the Gospel, topped it all by quoting
Isaiah:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
In vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
Jesus goes on to teach us that we need to stop worshiping God from the outside: putting up a show that is not carried over with
authenticity and integrity. We are not Christians to comfortably sit and perpetuate the doctrines of our forefathers. We are Chris-
tians because we are called to carry our own cross; that means to take it where Jesus left it and continue the transformation
and the redemption of the world. The Right Rev. Michael Curry in his book “We Need Some Crazy Christians” wrote this:
“following Jesus means changing the world from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intends.” Christian faith is not
passively repeating invariably the same gestures we have received from our predecessors, dressing a certain way, bowing in
front of altars and genuflecting in front of the Holy Sacrament. We need to find our own sense and purpose. Being Christian is
not having a membership in a selected club of salvaged; it is to actively seek for collective salvation in daily acts of kindness. It
is not conformism; it is to have the audacity to risk knowing that:
“By himself, God won't.
By ourselves, we can't.
But together with God, we can.”
(Attributed to St Augustine of Hippo whom we are celebrating this week)
After my sermon last Sunday, a few people came to me saying they were under the impression I was telling the church to stop
providing for those in need. May God help me to be clearer when he puts his words in my mouth. What I meant to say is that
love does not always say yes. Helping someone, an institution or a country, cannot and should not last forever or else it be-
comes dependence and addiction. When a baby falls, it is a normal human reaction to rush and try to pull him up. But there is
also a time to let the baby pull himself up and try to learn that falling and rising are part of his life. Falling and rising are part of
our Christian faith. We are not going to have a perfect ride to Heaven, there will be some bumps on our way; but we need to
learn that together with one another and with God we can bounce back into the dream God intends for us. Traditions are fine,
but they don’t define who we are. Going to church every Sunday does not make us Christians; carrying a bible in our homes
does not make us Christians. Wearing a cross made of whatever historic or meaningless material around our necks is just sim-
ply jewelry, not exactly the expression of our faith. Singing the Gloria on Sundays and/or the Kyrie during Lent; forgetting and
saying "Alleluia" during penitential season; dressing the altar with the wrong color; or whatever liturgical mistakes, will not make
us all land up or down in Hell. Our daily actions: how we care for one another and love even our enemies… the craziness - so
deep in The Right Rev. Michael Curry’s teaching - that when our actions push us to risk everything in order to gain collective re-
demption, is what makes us Christians. As long as we don’t make sure that our actions are always and consistently motivated
by love, we are just creatures of habit, perpetuating customs that may have lost their significance. Faith is not to go after cer-
tainty; It is against all odds to believe that with God on our side we should keep at it because it is possible… not certain, but
possible.
Sometimes, you will feel the urge to fix the crooked candles at one’s altar, some days you may feel that you need to smell burn-
ing incense in order to have a full prayer experience, some days you may see the priest washing his hands (performing ablution)
after the peace instead of before consecration. Some priests knock at their chest three times before communion, some don’t.
Some people are fully immersed in water at baptism, some only receive a cup of water on their forehead. These are important
liturgical options, but they are not essential; they provide just a glimpse of who we are to outsiders. What we are inside, the way
we carry out our commission, by revealing God’s love to the world, is what matters. Being baptized and becoming Christians is
to bear witness that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon (me) us, because he has anointed (me) us to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent (me) us to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty all those who are
Meditation
The Clergy’s
Corner
The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre
Priest-In-Charge
The Reverend Nat hanael Sain t -Pierre
3
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fourteenth Sunday af ter Pentecost August 30, 2015
Welcome Visitors: We welcome you this
morning. We are happy that you have come to
worship with us. If you have no church home,
we invite you to unite with us. Please ask an
usher for Parish Census Form. After you have
filled in the form, you may give it to an usher
and we will be in touch with you very soon. If
you are just passing through, we are honored
by your presence, and we wish you Godspeed
as you complete your journey.
Daily Lectionary Readings:
Monday: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Psalm 96;
Luke 4:16-30
Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Psalm 27:1-
6,17-18; Luke 4:31-37
Wednesday: Colossians 1: 1-8; Psalm 34:9-22;
Luke 4:38-44
Thursday: Colossians 1: 9-14; Psalm 98; Luke
5:1-11
Friday: Colossians 1: 15-20; Psalm 100; Luke
5:33-39
Saturday: Colossians 1: 21-23; Psalm 54; Luke
6:1-5
Mr. Doadie Brown: A beloved member of our
church, passed away on Tuesday, August 25.
His funeral was yesterday, August 29, here at
St. Augustine’s. We extend our deepest
condolences to his daughters Susan, Linda and
Annie, grandchildren, great grandchild, rela-
tives and friends.
Doadie was born in 1916 in Mississippi and
moved to New York to be with his love, Thelma,
in 1946 when he was honorably discharged
from the army in 1945. He entered the seg-
regated armed forces in 1941 to what had
been called “The generation that saved the
world”. He married the love of his life, Thelma
in 1946 and stayed in NY to raise his family.
He was known as “Mr. Fix it” to friends and
neighbors as he took apart all their appliances
and got them working again, probably better
than before. He never charged a fee. He loved
coming to church and the community he found
here. Mr. Brown will be truly missed by every
member of St. Augustine’s Church. May he
Rest In Peace!
Mr. Vernell Langley, brother of Mrs. Vernestine
Exum, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, in
Richmond, VA. We extend our deepest condo-
lences to his family, relatives and friends. May
he Rest In Peace!
Join Us for the Healing Service every Wednes-
day at 12:00 noon. We gather in the Common
Room. Entrance on 333 Madison Street.
Spanish Ministry: There is no Spanish service
during the summer.
SCOPE- “Senior Citizen (Church) Outreach
Program and Eldership” is seeking volunteers.
Bingo is now the only activity we have for the
Senior Citizens. Please contact Ms. Irene Al-
ladice or Father Nat for assistance. It would be
great to have some help and to develop this
ministry to include other health and
recreational activities.
The Men’s Guild “Oldies, but Goodies” Reunion
Dance on Friday, September 25, from 9 pm—2
am. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Raffle tickets are on sale. Jackpot $100. See
any guild member or call the office for tickets.
Bishop Dietsche will preside over the service at
St. Augustine’s on Sunday, October 25, 2015,
to Baptize, Confirm and Receive those desiring
to fully integrate into our church.
Need Prayer? Call the church office and re-
quest that your name be added to our prayer
list. Let us know when you are available so we
may visit you or pray with you over the phone.
If you are celebrating a special
occasion; birthday, anniversary,
graduation, etc. Please let us know so
we may offer congratulations to you.
The Parish Hall and common room are
available for conferences and for recreational
group use. These spaces have capability for
projection and Internet access.
Our website is being revamped and you are
invited to provide feedback. Now available to
download online are the Bulletins and the Or-
der of Service.
We are accepting Articles and Advertisements
to publish in the St Augustine's eCho.
During our worship, please remember
to put your phone on vibe or silent. But
we invite you to use them if you want to
record the entire (or part of) the ser-
vice, take pictures, post video on Facebook,
Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. Let your friends
know you are at St Augustine’s. We are a
Techno-Friendly Church.
Moving forward, let us get together as a team,
and put our time, talents and treasure to the
service of our church.
Weekly
Collections
August
23rd
August 16th
Pledges 307.00 1572.00
Open Plate 23.00 21.00
Special Services 35.00 0.00
Regular Support 0.00 0.00
Special Offerings 9.00 30.00
Tenants 1500.00 2400.00
Rentals 190.00 1100.00
Jackie’s Fund 0.00 200.00
Other Sources 0.00 101.78
Fundraising 0.00 0.00
Soup Kitchen 46.00 44.00
SCOPE/Bingo 105.21 211.00
Total $2,215.21 $5,679.78
Happy Birthday, Father Nat
Welcome
Bienvenido
Bienvenue
Nou kontan wè w
oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18,19) Until we understand baptism in these words we are
just Pharisees and scribes. We sit and over-analyze the proclaimed words to find the mispronounced syllable and the politically
incorrect sentence that can be used to avoid real wisdom and discernment. “Therefore rid (y)ourselves of all sordidness and rank
growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save (y)our souls.” We are not saved
by rituals and correctness; we are saved by praxis. Jesus is the only one who has gone to that extent, the gift and sacrifice of him-
self. My prayer is that we will pull up our sleeves to be Christians by ACTIONS. Now, let’s GO!
4
Fourteenth Sunday af ter Pentecost August 30, 2015
C H U R C H I N T E R C E S S I O N S
Shut-Ins & Homebound: Ellen Bradley, Robert & Mittiefrances Combs, Eleanor Suriel.
Prayers: Frederick Albritton, Mr. Basile, Doadie Brown, Sandra Brown, Juan Cosme,
Minnie Curry, Ellen Daley, Maybelle & Sanford Daly, Nichole Dunn, Diane Ellis, Robert & Vernestine Exum, Rev. Deacon Nydia Flores, Luis & Annie Garcia, Mildred Hancock, Dorothy Henderson, Bernice Henry, Rev. Deacon Edgar Hopper, Joyce Johnson, Kenny Johnson, The Krauser Family, Norberta Mieles, The Mussenden Family, Marissa Nicolo, Jacynth Paterson Orridge, James Rainge, Lawrence Rainge, James Robinson-Parran, Terri Rogers, Beverly Rosario, Nancy Scott, Ruth Strother, Rodger Taylor, Walford Fam-
ily, Marlene Ward-Torain, Tyrone Wong.
Armed forces: Bobby Carter, Andrew Davis, Francis Heard, Frank Magezi Johnson,
Todd LeGroan, Brian Robertson, Kevin Ruddell.
We remember those celebrating their birthday during the month of August, espe-
cially: August 1st Aiesha Clyde, Celia Harley, Jonathan Perez; 2nd Mary Scott, Ella Styron; 3rd Monica Jones; 5th Maurice Cuprill, Tracy Graham; Ellen Bradley, Nicholas Cromwell, Fred Errol Harvey, Angelica Marrero, Raymond Rogers, Kermit Scott, Kermit Sullivan, Cyril Taylor, Richard Williams; 6th Joseph Daley, Christina Gonzalez, Lauren Harris; 7th Nkenge Foster, Eleanor Murray, Ricardo Sanchez, Olivette Taylor; 8th Jasmine Agudo, Kimberly Agudo, Zamora McGee, ; 9th Selena Daley, Steven Daley, Curtis Saltes; 10th Rasheedah Bradley, Gladys Brown; 13th Jordan Tolbert; 14th Desiree Saltes; 15th Michael Garcia; 16th Betina Hall, Bernard Mack, Shawn Mayo, Jonathan Worthy, Leon Wright, ; 17th Laura Curry, Tracy Dickerson, Matthew Hernandez, Armand Pretlow, Donnaq Riley, Garnet Strother; 18th Antara Haggins;
19th Charisse King; 20th Rendall Kelly, Raven Malachi; 21st Yvette Brown, Shilynn Fogle; 23rd Symphone Ellison, Brenda O’Neal, C. Vody Ryan, Christine Walford; 24th Teangelo McGee, Hunter Petaway, Kiara Williams; 25th Irene Alladice, Gloria Gooden, Winnifred Johnson, Nathanael Saint-Pierre, Eleanor Suriel; 27th Angel Cruz, Janell Jones, Piena Washington; 30th Dawn Harris, Andrea Murray; 31st Giovanna Gordon,
Jason Jeffrey.
We pray for those who have died: Doadie Brown, Ronald Brown, Kathleen Davis, Frances Diaz, Harry & Dorothy Fiyalko, Rev. Charles Henry Howell, Vernell Langley, Geraldine Newkirk, Evelyn Newlin, Alice Saltes Richards, Dorothy Rodriguez, Alma
Suarez, Lucille Williams.
We pray for Justice and Peace in all lands: Especially: Afghanistan, Africa, China, Darfur, Haiti, the Holy Land, India, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, Sierra Leone,
The Sudan, This Nation and the United Nations.
The St . Augustine ’ s eCho is a newsletter to keep our members and the larger com-
munity informed about what is happen ing a t S t August ine’s and beyond. We we lcome s tory contr ibu tors to submit a r t ic les , poe try , advert is ing , and any in format ion one may want to share. Please submit your contr ibu t ion by e -mai l to in [email protected] no la ter than on Wednesdays fo r the Sunday ed it ion .
The Staff
The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre,
MIS, MCPD, Priest-In-Charge
(917) 232-9583
Ms. Nancy Jeffrey, Administrative
Assistant ([email protected])
Ms. Sandra Joseph, Bookkeeper
Ms. Carolyn Bensen,
Director of Music
Mr. Roberto Perez, Sexton
Mr. Oland Saltes, Verger
The St. Augustine’s Project
Mr. Rodger Taylor, Chair
Ms. Minnie Curry, Vice Chair
www.staugsproject.org
The Vestry
Ms. Irene Alladice, Warden
Ms. Susan Brown, Warden
2016
Ms. Barbara Allie
Mr. Christopher Morris
Ms. Gwendolyn Pereira
Ms. Bobby Wright
2017
Mr. William Gordon
Ms. Raquel Murray
Ms. Sharifah Seña
Mr. Rodger Taylor
2018
Mr. William (Kim) Curry
Ms. Annette Dudley
Ms. Barbara H. King, Clerk
Mr. Oland Saltes, Treasurer
In an effort to reach a broad audience, St. Augustine’s Church occasionally records, through video and photography, its services for publication on the Internet. Your atten-
dance at a service or event constitutes your consent to be included in any filming, photographing, audio recording or broadcast and for any other use in whole or in part, includ-
ing publicity and promotion.
S E R M O N N O T E S :
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Office Hours
9:00-12:00/1:00-4:00
Church: 286-290 Henry Street
Office: 333 Madison Street
New York, New York 10002
T: (212) 673-5300 -- F: (212) 673-5201
Email: [email protected]
Website:
http://www.staugnyc.org
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/staugnyc
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two: Eucharist Prayer A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year B, RCL August 30, 2015
1
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
Opening Hymn: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE (4 v) #423 (1982 Hym nal)
The Word of God BCP p. 355
The people standing, the Celebrant says
Blessed be God: Fat her , Son, and Holy Spir it .
People And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen
The Celebrant may say
Alm ight y God, t o you all hear t s are open, all desires know n, and f rom you no
secret s are h id : Cleanse t he t hought s of our hear t s by t he insp irat ion of your
Holy Spir it , t hat w e m ay per fect ly love you, and w or t h ily m agnify your ho ly
Nam e; t hrough Chr ist our Lord. Amen.
When appointed, the following hymn or some other song of praise is sung or said, all standing.
Gloria in Excelsis
The Collect of the Day
The Celebrant says t o t he people
The Lord be w it h you.
People And also w ith you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
The Celebrant says the Collect.
Proper 17 BCP p. 233
Lord of all pow er and m ight , t he aut hor and g iver o f all good t h ings: Graf t in our
hear t s t he love of your Nam e; increase in us t rue relig ion; nour ish us w it h all
goodness; and br ing for t h in us t he f ru it o f good w orks; t hrough Jesus Chr ist
our Lord, w ho lives and reigns w it h you and t he Holy Spir it , one God for ever and
ever . Amen
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Moses urges t he Israelit es t o observe t he law w it h care, avoid ing t he ido lat ry t hat
leads t o dest ruct ion.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two: Eucharist Prayer A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year B, RCL August 30, 2015
2
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Joshua:
Moses said: So now , Israel, g ive heed t o t he st at ut es and ord inances t hat I am
t eaching you t o observe, so t hat you m ay live t o ent er and occupy t he land t hat
t he LORD, t he God of your ancest ors, is g iving you. You m ust neit her add
anyt h ing t o w hat I com m and you nor t ake aw ay anyt h ing f rom it , but keep t he
com m andm ent s o f t he LORD your God w it h w hich I am charg ing you.
You m ust observe t hem diligent ly, for t h is w ill show your w isdom and
d iscernm ent t o t he peop les, w ho, w hen t hey hear all t hese st at ut es, w ill say,
"Surely t h is great nat ion is a w ise and d iscern ing people!" For w hat o t her great
nat ion has a god so near t o it as t he LORD our God is w henever w e call t o h im ?
And w hat o t her g reat nat ion has st at ut es and ord inances as just as t h is ent ire
law t hat I am set t ing before you t oday?
But t ake care and w at ch yourselves closely, so as neit her t o forget t he t h ings
t hat your eyes have seen nor t o let t hem slip f rom your m ind all t he days of your
life; m ake t hem know n t o your ch ildren and your ch ild ren 's ch ildren .
Hear w hat t he Spir it is saying t o God ’s peop le
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm 15 Page 599, BCP
1. LORD, w ho m ay dw ell in your t abernacle? *
w ho m ay abide upon your ho ly h ill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does w hat is right , *
w ho speaks the truth from his heart .
3 There is no guile upon h is t ongue;
he does no evil t o h is f r iend; *
he does not heap cont em pt upon h is neighbor .
4 In his sight the w icked is rejected, *
but he honors those w ho fear the LORD.
5 He has sw orn t o do no w rong *
and does not t ake back h is w ord.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does t hese t h ings *
shall never be over t hrow n.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two: Eucharist Prayer A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year B, RCL August 30, 2015
3
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit : *
As it w as in the beginning, is now , and w ill be for ever. Amen.
James 1:17-27
Jam es urges Christ ians t o put t heir belief in t o pract ice, lest t heir w ords ring
hollow .
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of James:
Every generous act o f g iving, w it h every per fect g if t , is f rom above, com ing
dow n f rom t he Fat her o f light s, w it h w hom t here is no var iat ion or shadow due
t o change. In fu lf illm ent o f h is ow n purpose he gave us b ir t h by t he w ord o f
t ru t h, so t hat w e w ould becom e a kind of f irst f ru it s o f h is creat ures.
You m ust underst and t h is, m y beloved: let everyone be quick t o list en, slow t o
speak, slow t o anger ; for your anger does not produce God 's r ight eousness.
Therefore r id yourselves of all sord idness and rank grow t h o f w icked ness, and
w elcom e w it h m eekness t he im plant ed w ord t hat has t he pow er t o save your
souls.
But be doers of t he w ord, and not m erely hearers w ho deceive t hem selves. For
if any are hearers of t he w ord and not doers, t hey are like t hose w ho look at
t hem selves in a m ir ror ; for t hey look at t hem selves and, on going aw ay,
im m ediat ely forget w hat t hey w ere like. But t hose w ho look in t o t he per fect
law , t he law o f liber t y, and persevere, being not hearers w ho forget but doers
w ho act -t hey w ill be b lessed in t heir do ing.
If any t h ink t hey are relig ious and do not br id le t heir t ongues, but deceive t heir
hear t s, t heir relig ion is w or t h less. Relig ion t hat is pure and undef iled before
God, t he Fat her , is t h is: t o care fo r o rphans and w idow s in t heir d ist ress, and t o
keep oneself unst ained by t he w or ld .
Hear w hat t he Spir it is saying t o God’s people
People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn: JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE (3 v) #72 (LEVAS)
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Jesus rebukes t he Pharisees for elevat ing hum an precept s t o doct rinal
im port ance. Jesus rebukes t he Pharisees for elevat ing hum an precept s t o
doct rinal im port ance.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two: Eucharist Prayer A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year B, RCL August 30, 2015
4
Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying
The Holy Gospel o f our Lord Jesus Chr ist , accord ing t o Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ .
Now w hen t he Phar isees and som e of t he scr ibes w ho had com e f rom Jerusalem
gat hered around Jesus, t hey not iced t hat som e of h is d iscip les w ere eat ing w it h
def iled hands, t hat is, w it hout w ashing t hem . (For t he Phar isees, and all t he
Jew s, do not eat un less t hey t horoughly w ash t heir hands, t hus observing t he
t rad it ion of t he elders; and t hey do not eat anyt h ing f rom t he m arket un less
t hey w ash it ; and t here are also m any o t her t rad it ions t hat t hey observe, t he
w ashing of cups, pot s, and bronze ket t les.)
So t he Phar isees and t he scr ibes asked h im , "Why do your d iscip les not live
accord ing t o t he t rad it ion of t he elders, but eat w it h def iled hands?" He said t o
t hem , "Isaiah prophesied r ight ly about you hypocr it es, as it is w r it t en ,
'Th is people honor Me w it h t heir lips, but t heir hear t s are far f rom Me; in
vain do t hey w orship Me, t each ing hum an precept s as doct r ines.'
You abandon t he com m andm ent of God and hold t o hum an t rad it ion."
Then he called t he crow d again and said t o t hem , "List en t o m e, all o f you, and
underst and: t here is not h ing ou t side a person t hat by go ing in can def ile, but
t he t h ings t hat com e out are w hat def ile. For it is f rom w it h in , f rom t he hum an
hear t , t hat evil in t ent ions com e: forn icat ion, t hef t , m urder , adult ery, avar ice,
w ickedness, deceit , licent iousness, envy, slander , pr ide, fo lly. All t hese evil t h ings
com e f rom w it h in , and t hey def ile a person."
The Gospel o f t he Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ
The Sermon: The Reverend Nathanael Saint -Pierre
CHRISTIAN BY TRADITION…
Every t im e I have t he chance t o w elcom e young children in t o t he Chr ist ian
fait h (perform bapt ism t hat is), I alm ost alw ays ask t he sam e quest ion t o
t he parent s and sponsors dur ing t he inst ruct ions: “Why do you w ant your
ch ild t o be bapt ized?” . The answ er t hat is t he m ost popular is t hat t hey
w ant t heir children t o be raised w it h t he sam e set o f m oral values t hat
t hey have been raised w it h . Som e w ould go t o t he ext ent o f t elling how
m any generat ions of t heir fam ily w ere bapt ized in t he church. So m e w ould
ask m e t o go t o t he bapt ism al font s and not use a vessel at t he alt ar
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two: Eucharist Prayer A Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year B, RCL August 30, 2015
5
because t hey w ant t heir children t o w alk in t he st eps of t he m any
generat ions w ho w ere bapt ized at t he font s.
What does t he lect ionary select ion of readings t ell us t oday? In
Deut eronom y, Moses invit es Israel t o be a nat ion under God. He asks t hem
t o keep God's st at ut es and be a great nat ion of w ise and d iscern ing
people. In t he Epist le, Jam es w rot e t o t he church t hat God’s people need
t o “be doers of t he w ord and not m erely h earers w ho deceive
t hem selves”. Jesus, in t he Gospel, t opped it all by quot ing Isaiah:
“This people honors m e w it h t heir lips, but t heir hear t s are far
f rom m e. In vain do t hey w orship m e, t eaching hum an precept s
as doct r ines.”
Jesus goes on t o t each us t h at w e need t o st op w orshiping God f rom t he
out side: put t ing up a show t hat is not carr ied over w it h aut hent icit y and
in t egr it y. We are not Chr ist ians t o com fort ab ly sit and perpet uat e t he
doct r ines of our forefat hers. We are Chr ist ians because w e are called t o
carry our ow n cross; t hat m eans t o t ake it w here Jesus lef t it and cont inue
t he t ransform at ion and t he redem pt ion of t he w or ld. The Right Rev.
Michael Curry in h is book “We Need Som e Crazy Chr ist ians” w rot e t h is:
“ fo llow ing Jesus m eans changing t he w o r ld f rom t he n ight m are it o f t en is
in t o t he dream t hat God in t ends.” Chr ist ian fait h is not passively repeat ing
invar iably t he sam e gest ures w e have received f rom our predecessors,
dressing a cer t ain w ay, bow ing in f ront o f alt ars and genuf lect ing in f ront
o f t he Holy Sacram ent . We need t o f ind our ow n sense and purpose. Being
Chr ist ian is not having a m em bership in a select ed club of salvaged; it is t o
act ively seek for co llect ive salvat ion in daily act s of kindness. It is not
conform ism ; it is t o have t he audacit y t o r isk know ing t hat :
“By him self , God w on't .
By ourselves, w e can 't .
But t oget her w it h God, w e can.”
(At t ribut ed t o St August ine of Hippo w hom w e are celebrat ing t h is w eek)
Af t er m y serm on last Sunday, a few people cam e t o m e saying t hey w ere
under t he im pression I w as t elling t he church t o st op providing for t hose
in need. May God help m e t o be clearer w hen he put s his w ords in m y
m out h. What I m eant t o say is t hat love does not alw ays say yes. Helping
som eone, an inst it u t ion or a count ry, cannot and should not last forever
or else it becom es dependence and addict ion. When a baby falls, it is a
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norm al hum an react ion t o rush and t ry t o pu ll h im up. But t here is also a
t im e t o let t he baby pull h im self up and t ry t o learn t hat falling and r ising
are par t of h is life. Falling and r ising are part of our Chr ist ian fait h. We are
not go ing t o have a per fect r ide t o Heaven, t here w ill be som e bum ps on
our w ay; but w e need t o learn t hat t oget her w it h one anot her and w it h
God w e can bounce back in t o t he dream God in t ends for us. Tradit ions are
f ine, but t hey don’t def ine w ho w e are. Going t o church every Sunday does
not m ake us Chr ist ians; carrying a b ib le in our hom es does not m ake us
Chr ist ians. Wear ing a cross m ade of w hat ever h ist or ic or m eaningless
m at er ial around our necks is just sim ply jew elry, not exact ly t he expression
of our fait h . Sing ing t he Glor ia on Sundays and/ or t he Kyr ie dur ing Lent ;
forget t ing and saying "Allelu ia" dur ing penit ent ial season; dressing t he
alt ar w it h t he w rong co lor ; or w hat ever lit urg ical m ist akes, w ill not m ake
us all land up or dow n in Hell. Our daily act ions: how w e care for one
anot her and love even our enem ies… t he craziness - so deep in The Right
Rev. Michael Curry’s t eaching - t hat w hen our act ions push us t o r isk
everyt h ing in order t o gain collect ive redem pt ion, is w hat m akes us
Chr ist ians. As long as w e don’t m ake sure t hat our act ions are alw ays and
consist ent ly m ot ivat ed by love, w e are just creat ures of habit ,
perpet uat ing cust om s t hat m ay have lost t heir sign if icance. Fait h is not t o
go af t er cer t ain t y; It is against all odds t o believe t hat w it h God on our side
w e should keep at it because it is possible… not cer t ain , but possib le.
Som et im es, you w ill feel t he urge t o f ix t he crooked candles at one’s alt ar ,
som e days you m ay feel t hat you need t o sm ell burn ing incense in order t o
have a fu ll prayer exper ience, som e days you m ay see t he pr iest w ashing
h is hands (per form ing ablut ion) af t er t he peace inst ead of before
consecrat ion. Som e pr iest s knock at t heir chest t hree t im es before
com m union, som e don ’t . Som e people are fu lly im m ersed in w at er at
bapt ism , som e only receive a cup of w at er on t heir forehead. These are
im port ant lit urgical opt ions, but t hey are not essent ial; t hey provide just a
g lim pse of w ho w e are t o out siders. What w e are inside, t he w ay w e carry
out our com m ission , by revealing God’s love t o t he w or ld , is w hat m at t ers.
Being bapt ized and becom ing Chr ist ians is t o bear w it ness t hat “The Spir it
of t he Lord is upon (m e) us, because he has anoint ed (m e) us t o preach
good new s t o t he poor . He has sent (m e) us t o proclaim release t o t he
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capt ives, recovery of sight t o t he b lind, t o set at liber t y all t hose w ho are
oppressed, and t o proclaim t he accept able year of t he Lord.” (Luke 4:18,19)
Unt il w e underst and bapt ism in t hese w ords w e are just Phar isees and
scr ibes. We sit and over -analyze t he proclaim ed w ords t o f ind t he
m ispronounced syllable and t he polit ically incorrect sent ence t hat can be
used t o avoid real w isdom and discernm ent . “Therefore r id (y)ourselves of
all sord idness and rank grow t h of w ickedness, and w elcom e w it h
m eekness t he im plant ed w ord t hat has t he pow er t o save (y)our souls.” We
are not saved by r it uals and correct ness; w e are saved by praxis. Jesus is
t he only one w ho has gone t o t hat ext ent , t he g if t and sacr if ice of h im self .
My prayer is t hat w e w ill pu ll up our sleeves t o be Chr ist ians by ACTIONS.
Now , let ’s GO!
On Sundays and other Major Feasts there follows, all standing
The Nicene Creed BCP p. 358
We believe in one God, t he Fat her , t he Alm ight y, m aker of heaven and ear t h , o f
all t hat is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Chr ist , t he only Son of God, et ernally begot t en of
t he Fat her , God f rom God, Light f rom Light , t rue God f rom t rue God, begot t en ,
not m ade, o f one Being w it h t he Fat her . Through h im all t h ings w ere m ade. For
us and for our salvat ion he cam e dow n f rom heaven: by t he pow er of t he Ho ly
Spir it he becam e incarnat e f rom t he Virg in Mary, and w as m ade m an.
For our sake he w as crucif ied under Pont ius Pilat e; he suf fered deat h and w as
bur ied. On t he t h ird day he rose again in accordance w it h t he Scr ip t ures; he
ascended in t o heaven and is seat ed at t he r ight hand of t he Fat her . He w ill com e
again in g lory t o judge t he living and t he dead, and h is kingdom w ill have no
end. We believe in t he Ho ly Sp ir it , t he Lord, t he g iver o f life, w ho proceeds f rom
t he Fat her and t he Son. Wit h t he Fat her and t he Son he is w orshiped and
g lor if ied. He has spoken t hrough t he Prophet s.
We believe in one holy cat holic and apost o lic Church. We acknow ledge one
bapt ism for t he forg iveness of sins. We look for t he resurrect ion o f t he dead,
and t he life o f t he w or ld t o com e. Amen.
The Prayers of the People: (Unknow n Source)
Deacon or other leader
Let us pray for peace in t he Church and in t he w or ld .
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Wit h all our hear t and all our m ind, w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Make us instruments of your peace.
For t he peace of t he w or ld ; t hat a sp ir it o f respect and forbearance m ay grow
am ong nat ions and peoples, w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
For our enem ies and t hose w ho w ish us harm , and for all w hom w e have in jured
or o f fended, w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Where there is injury, let us sow pardon.
For all w ho fear God and believe in you, Lord Chr ist , t hat our d ivisions m ay cease
and all m ay be one as you and t he Fat her are one, w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Where there is discord, let us sow union.
For t hose w ho do not yet believe, for t hose w ho have lost t heir fait h , and t hose
in despair and darkness t hat t hey m ay receive t he light o f t he fait h , w e pray t o
you, O Lord:
Where there is doubt, let us sow faith.
For t he poor , t he persecut ed, t he sick, especially t hose w ho have asked of our
prayers, for all w ho suf fer and t hose w ho are in danger ; t hat t hey m ay be
relieved and prot ect ed, w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Where there is despair, let us sow hope.
For t he m ission and m in ist ry o f t he Episcopal Church especially in t h is d iocese of
New York and at St . August ine’s Church , t hat in fait h fu l w it ness w e m ay preach
t he Gospel t o t he ends of t he ear t h , w e pray t o you, O Lord:
Where there is darkness, let us sow light .
For all w ho have d ied in t he hope of t he resurrect ion, for all t he depar t ed and
t hose w ho are gr ieving, m ay t hey f ind com for t and be at peace, w e pray t o you,
O Lord:
Where there is sadness, let us sow joy.
Let us pray for our ow n needs and t hose of o t hers (people m ay of fer t heir
prayers, eit her silent ly o r aloud).
SILENCE
Grant that w e may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be
understood, as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that w e
receive; it is in pardoning that w e are pardoned; and it is in dying that w e are
born to eternal life. Amen.
The Deacon or Celebrant says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor .
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Silence may be kept. Minister and People
Confession of Sin BCP p. 359
Most merciful God, w e confess that w e have sinned against you in thought,
w ord, and deed, by w hat w e have done, and by w hat w e have lef t undone. We
have not loved you w ith our w hole heart ; w e have not loved our neighbors as
ourselves. We are truly sorry and w e humbly repent. For the sake of your Son
Jesus Christ , have mercy on us and f orgive us; that w e may delight in your w ill,
and w alk in your w ays, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Alm ight y God have m ercy on you, forg ive you all your sins t hrough our Lord
Jesus Chr ist , st rengt hen you in all goodness, and by t he pow er of t he Holy Sp ir it
keep you in et ernal life. Amen.
The Peace BCP p. 360
All stand. The Celebrant says to the people
Celebrant The peace of t he Lord be alw ays w it h you.
People And also w ith you.
Then the Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Holy Communion
The Celebrant may begin the Offertory with one of the sentences on page 376, or with some other sentence of Scripture.
Offertory Sentence
Walk in love, as Chr ist loved us and gave h im self for us, an of fer ing and sacr if ice
t o God. Ephesians 5:2
The Offertory
Offertory Hymn: GOD OF GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY! (4 v) #594 (1982 HYMNAL)
The Doxology
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The people remain standing. The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest, faces them and sings or says
The Lord be w it h you.
People And also w ith you.
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Celebrant Lif t up your hear t s.
People We lif t them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us g ive t hanks t o t he Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
It is r ight , and a good and joyfu l t h ing, alw ays and everyw here t o g ive t hanks t o
you, Fat her Alm ight y, Creat or o f heaven and ear t h .
Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.
Proper Preface BCP p. 377
For you are t he source o f light and life, you m ade us in your im age, and called us
t o new life in Jesus Chr ist our Lord.
Therefore w e praise you, jo in ing our vo ices w it h Angels and Archangels and w it h
all t he com pany o f heaven, w ho for ever sing t h is hym n t o proclaim t he g lory of
your Nam e:
Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow er and might , heaven and earth are full of
your glory. Hosanna in the highest . Blessed is he w ho comes in the name of
the Lord. Hosanna in the highest .
The people stand or kneel.
Then the Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Fat her : In your in f in it e love you m ade us fo r yourself ; and,
w hen w e had fallen in t o sin and becom e subject t o evil and deat h, you, in your
m ercy, sent Jesus Chr ist , your on ly and et ernal Son, t o share our hum an nat ure,
t o live and d ie as one of us, t o reconcile us t o you, t he God and Fat her of all.
He st ret ched out h is arm s upon t he cross, and of fered h im self in obedience t o
your w ill, a per fect sacr if ice for t he w hole w or ld .
At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it or lay a hand upon it;
and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel
containing wine to be consecrated.
On t he n igh t he w as handed over t o suf fer ing and deat h, our Lord Jesus Chr ist
t ook bread; and w hen he had g iven t hanks t o you, he broke it , and gave it t o h is
discip les, and said , “Take, eat : Th is is m y Body, w hich is g iven for you and for all.
Do t h is for t he rem em brance of m e.”
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Aft er supper he t ook t he cup of w ine; and w hen he had g iven t hanks, he gave it
t o t hem , and said, “Dr ink t h is, all o f you: Th is is m y Blood of t he new Covenant ,
w hich is shed for you and fo r all for t he forg iveness o f sins. Whenever you dr ink
it , do t h is for t he rem em brance of m e.”
Therefore w e proclaim t he m yst ery o f fait h :
Celebrant and People
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ w ill come again.
The Celebrant continues
We celebrat e t he m em or ial o f our redem pt ion, O Fat her , in t h is sacr if ice of
praise and t hanksgiving. Recalling h is deat h, resurrect ion, and ascension, w e
of fer you t hese g if t s.
Sanct ify t hem by your Holy Spir it t o be for your people t he Body and Blood of
your Son, t he holy food and dr ink of new and unending life in h im . Sanct ify us
also t hat w e m ay fait h fu lly receive t h is ho ly Sacrament , and serve you in un it y,
const ancy, and peace; and at t he last day br ing us w it h all your saint s in t o t he
joy of your et ernal kingdom .
All t h is w e ask t hrough your Son Jesus Chr ist . By h im , and w it h h im , and in h im ,
in t he unit y o f t he Holy Spir it all honor and g lo ry is yours, Alm ight y Fat her , now
and for ever . AMEN.
And now , as our Savior Chr ist has t aught us, w e are bo ld t o sing :
People and Celebrant
Our Father, w ho art in heaven,
Hallow ed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy w ill be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As w e forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptat ion, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the pow er, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept. Then may be
said
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[Allelu ia.] Chr ist our Passover is sacr if iced for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast . [Alleluia.]
Agnus Dei
Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation
The Gif t s of God fo r t he People o f God.
and m ay add Take t hem in rem em brance t hat Chr ist d ied for you, and feed on
h im in your hear t s by fait h , w it h t hanksgiving.
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the
people.
Communion Hymn: LORD, I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN (5 v) #138 (LEVAS)
When necessary, the Celebrant consecrates additional bread and wine, using the form on
page 408.
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 w ith spiritual
food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the w orld in
peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you w ith gladness
and singleness of heart ; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Recessional Hymn: LORD, DISMISS US WITH THY BLESSING (3 V) #344 (1982 HYMNAL)
The Deacon, or the Celebrant, dismisses them with these words
Let us go for t h in t he nam e of Chr ist .
Allelu ia! Allelu ia!
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!