St. John’s Episcopal Church

An Episcopal Congregation since 1847

Pentecost Four
June 21, 2026
Morning Prayer I

St. John’s Mission Statement

St. John’s Episcopal Church strives to teach God’s word and do God’s work to improve the spiritual and physical well-being of its congregation and the surrounding community.

Hymnal Number ANNOUNCEMENTS Prayer Book Page
PRELUDE
537 HYMN IN PROCESSION — CHRIST FOR THE LORD WE SING!
OPENING SENTENCES PAGE 40
CONFESSION OF SIN PAGE 41
INVITATORY AND PSALTER
INVITATION PAGE 42
S-4 INVITATORY CANTICLE: VENITE PAGE 44

Psalm 69:8-20

(Please read alternating by half verse broken at the asterisk)

8 Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *
and shame has covered my face.

9 I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *
an alien to my mother's children.

10 Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *
the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.

11 I humbled myself with fasting, *
but that was turned to my reproach.

12 I put on sack-cloth also, *
and became a byword among them.

13 Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *
and the drunkards make songs about me.

14 But as for me, this is my prayer to you, *
at the time you have set, O LORD:

15 "In your great mercy, O God, *
answer me with your unfailing help.

16 Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; *
let me be rescued from those who hate me
and out of the deep waters.

17 Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,
neither let the deep swallow me up; *
do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.

18 Answer me, O LORD, for your love is kind; *
in your great compassion, turn to me.'

19 "Hide not your face from your servant; *
be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.

20 Draw near to me and redeem me; *
because of my enemies deliver me.

THE LESSONS

FIRST LESSON: ROMANS 6:1B-11

Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

S-183 CANTICLE BENEDICTUS ES DOMINE PAGE 49

SECOND LESSON: MATTHEW 10: 24-39

Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

S-199 CANTICLE NUNC DIMITTIS PAGE 51
SERMON — PRESENTED BY TIM BROOKE
APOSTLE’S CREED PAGE 53
OFFERTORY
FOLLOWING THE OFFERTORY, THE PEOPLE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING.
380 HYMN — PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW (VS. 3)

THE PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER PAGE 54
SUFFRAGES A PAGE 55
COLLECT OF THE DAY PAGE 55

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

COLLECTS PAGE 56-58
GENERAL THANKSGIVING PAGE 58
PRAYER OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM AND CLOSING GRACE PAGE 59
372 HYMN IN RECESSION — PRAISE TO THE LIVING GOD
POSTLUDE

The flowers are given to the Glory of God and in honor of
Sally and Landon McDowell on their anniversary, by Dick and Betsy Thomas.

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.
  • Thank you to Tim Brooke for leading worship 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.
  • We be Jammin’ in June: For the month of June we will be collecting peanut butter and jelly to benefit Bedford Christian Ministries. Please bring your donations and leave them in the collection bin outside the parish hall.
  • Bible study will resume next month. Bible study will take place on July 8th and 22nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Rectors office. All are welcome.
  • Staff Schedule: Wilson will be out of the office thru June 24th. Jenny will be out of the office June 24th- 26th for a minor medical procedure. The office will be closed on June 24th.
  • Mary McGlothlin’s ashes will be interred at 4 p.m. on Sunday June 28th at St. James Episcopal Church, 4515 Delray St NW, Roanoke, VA, A reception will follow.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rev. F. Wilson Brown- Rector
Jennifer Horne- Parish Administrator
Mary Anne Eubank-Organist
Tracey Goff-Sexton

314 N. Bridge Street
Bedford, VA 24523
Tel: 540-586-9582

Website: https://stjohnsbedford.org
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ST. JOHN’S VESTRY

  • MARSHA EAST - Senior Warden
  • CHRISTOPHER EY - Junior Warden
  • KATE BURKS MCNEELY - Clerk
  • BETSY THOMAS
  • RHETTA WATKINS
  • SHANNON MCGUIRK
  • MARTHA NOWLIN
  • PHILIP BAKER
  • CRAIG MCCRACKIN

LAY MINISTERS OF THE DAY – 10:00 AM

LAY LEADER: TIM BROOKE
LAY READER: SHANNON MCGUIRK
USHERS: ROB JARVIS AND RICK REYNOLDS
ACOLYTE: JEFF EAST
ALTAR GUILD: MARY ANNE EUBANK, ALLYSON EY, MARSHA EAST, ANNETTE KENDALL, MARY JEAN GARRETT
SOUND/AV: STEVE WANDREI
COFFEE HOUR HOST: MARTHA NOWLIN
VESTRY PERSON OF THE MONTH: CHRISTOPHER EY


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