PreludeI sing the almighty power of God H398

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.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.

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St. James’ Episcopal ChurchSeptember 6, 2020

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Wherever you are on this journey of faith, you are welcome at this table. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome at this

table.

Gloria S280

The Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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The Psalm Psalm 119: 33-40Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; I shall keep it with all my heart.

Make me go in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.

Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain.

Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; give me life in your ways.

Fulfill your promise to your servant, which you make to those who fear you.

Turn away the reproach which I dread, because your judgments are good.

Behold, I long for your commandments; in your righteousness preserve my life.

The Reading Romans 13:8-14A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

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We are one in the Spirit Sholtes

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The Gospel Matthew 18:15-20

The Holy Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, Lord Christ!

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, Lord Christ!

Sermon The Rev. Eileen O’Brien

Musical MeditationJesu, Jesu

The Nicene Creed

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;

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        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.

Celebrant Jesus said, “The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

In the silence, we are invited to examine the brokenness in our own lives and in the world and to pray that, with God’s merciful help, we might set our feet upon paths of repentance.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against youin 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.

Celebrant 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.

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The Prayers of the People

Intercessor Father, enliven the Church for its missionPeople that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.

Intercessor Strengthen us for the never ending work of caring for your people and yourworld.

People Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.

Intercessor We pray for the world:(Pause to offer prayers)Creator of all, lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.

People That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.

Intercessor We pray especially for communities dealing with unrest, in Kenosha,Portland, Los Angeles, and in our own backyards.

People May your peace which passes understanding envelop us all.

Intercessor Awaken in us a sense of urgency to diligently care for our fragile earthly home.

People Teach us to care creatively for its resources.

Intercessor We pray for the communities in which we live and work:(Pause to offer prayers)

Intercessor God of truth, inspire with your wisdom all elected leaders, our bishops, and all clergy.

People that all may act with integrity and courage.

Intercessor Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.People May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Intercessor God who teaches us, be with all students as they begin this new school year.

People Comfort them when they are unsure, strengthen them when they stumble, and may your light shine in all places.

Intercessor Pour out your spirit on all teachers, administrators, bus drivers, janitors, andall who keep our schools running,

People that they may be examples of your loving kindness and wisdom.

Intercessor Cover all caregivers and parents with your wisdom and patience as they make difficult decisions.

People Give them joy, peace, and safety as they navigate this new year.

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Intercessor We pray for those in need. For whom shall we pray?(Pause to offer prayers)God of hope, comfort and restoreall who suffer in body, mind or spirit.

People May they know the power of your healing love.

Intercessor Make us willing agents of your compassion.People Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.

Intercessor We remember those who have died and those who mourn.  For whom shall we pray?(Pause to offer prayers) 

Intercessor We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faithof Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.

People Father, into your hands we commend them.

Intercessor Give comfort to those who mourn.People Bring them peace in their time of loss.

Intercessor We praise you for all your saintswho have entered your eternal glory.

People May their example inspire and encourage us.

Intercessor We pray for the church.  What shall we pray?(Pause to offer prayers)

Here we pray for those marking milestones in their lives. We pray for those celebratingbirthdays, and for those taking new steps in their journeys of vocation.

Celebrant And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,People 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.

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Celebrant Let us pray.Loving God, we give you thanks for gathering us and for pouring out your presence among us through your abundant Spirit. Now send us forth a people forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Celebrant Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you now and remain with you always. Amen.

Postlude

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