Hymnal Number (left) · Prayer Book Page (right)

Order of Service

Announcements

Prelude

473 Hymn in Procession: Lift High the Cross

Confirmation — Page 413

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The people sit.

The Lessons

The First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

The Gradual: Psalm 1

(We will read in unison)

1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
    nor lingered in the way of sinners,
    nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

2 Their delight is in the law of the LORD, *
    and they meditate on his law day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
    bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
    everything they do shall prosper.

4 It is not so with the wicked; *
    they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
    nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, *
    but the way of the wicked is doomed.

The Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

505 Sequence Hymn: O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God

The Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

The Holy Communion

Offertory: Christ be our Light

The Congregation is invited to sing the chorus with the choir

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your Church gathered today.

following the offertory the people stand for the presentation of the offering.

380 Hymn: Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow (vs 3)

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A — Page 361

S-129 Sanctus

The Breaking of the Bread — Page 364

Fraction Anthem (spoken)

At Communion, the first chalice is for sipping, the second chalice is for dipping.
Gluten free wafers are available.

If you want to receive communion and you choose to remain in your pew for any reason, please let the ushers know.

Communion Hymns

336 Hymn: Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus
707 Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be
711 Hymn: Seek Ye First

Post Communion Prayer — Page 365

Benediction

370 Hymn in Recession: I Bind unto Myself Today

Dismissal

Postlude

The flowers on the altar today are given to the glory of God and in memory of The Rt. Rev. Frank H. Vest and James A. Vest by Rob Jarvis.

Announcements

WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS!
CHILDREN ARE WELCOME IN WORSHIP AT ST. JOHN’S SERVICES.

• Don’t forget to join us each week for coffee hour immediately following the service.
• Children are invited to join us for Children’s chapel each Sunday if they wish. Parents are welcome to accompany them. Children will be invited to attend following the collect and will return before communion.
• Please join us in welcoming the Rt. Rev. Karin MacPhail, Bishop of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia to St. John’s today! The loose plate offering today will be given to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.
• Congratulations to Olivia Funk, Annette Kendall, and Craig McCrackin on their confirmations and to Bonnie McCrackin as she is received today!
• If you would like to give flowers for the altar the cost is $40.00. Please sign up on the calendar located in the Parish Hall entrance.
• Stuffing to Talk about: Outreach is collecting holiday meal fixings for the month of November (canned vegetables/stuffing/ Macaroni and cheese/corn bread or biscuit mix/canned ham/etc.) to benefit Bedford Christian Ministries. Please leave your donations in the bin outside the parish hall.
• Lunch Buddies will take place on Wednesday October 28th at 11:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Please sign up on the sheet outside the parish hall if you plan to attend.
• Evening Bible Study will take place on Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30 p.m. in the Rector’s office. All are welcome.
• St. John’s Annual Stewardship Campaign is underway! Please take a moment to complete a pledge card and turn it in as soon as possible. Our ingathering will be November 8th.
• All Saints Sunday is November 1st. Today is the last day to add names to the All Saints list for publication next Sunday. At the back of the church and in the parish hall, you will find a sheet for you to write down any names you would like included. Please print legibly.