[Image: Sketch of St. John's Episcopal Church]
St. John’s Episcopal Church
An Episcopal Congregation since 1847
Pentecost Eight
July 19, 2026
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
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."
The Word of God
| Hymnal / Music | Service Element | Prayer Book Page |
|---|---|---|
| PRELUDE | ||
| 365 | HYMN IN PROCESSION: COME, THOU ALMIGHTY KING | |
| THE WORD OF GOD | PAGE 355 | |
| S-280 | SONG OF PRAISE: GLORIA |
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The people sit.
THE LESSONS
THE FIRST READING: ISAIAH 44:6-8
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
Do not fear, or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
There is no other rock; I know not one.
THE GRADUAL: PSALM 86:11-17
(We will read alternating by half verse, broken at the asterisk)
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; *
knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.
12 I will thank you, O LORD my God, with all my heart, *
and glorify your Name for evermore.
13 For great is your love toward me; *
you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.
14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent men seeks my life; *
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, O LORD, are gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *
give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *
because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
THE EPISTLE: ROMANS 8:12-25
Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
| 482 | SEQUENCE HYMN: LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS |
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43
Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”
| SERMON | THE REV. WILSON BROWN | |
| THE NICENE CREED | PAGE 358 | |
| THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (FORM IV) | PAGE 388 | |
| THE PEACE | PAGE 360 |
The Holy Communion
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 GREAT THANKSGIVING: EUCHARISTIC PRAYER C | PAGE 369 | |
| 858WLP | SANCTUS | |
| THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD | PAGE 364 | |
| 764WLP | FRACTION ANTHEM: TASTE AND SEE (REFRAIN ONLY) |
At Communion, the first chalice is for sipping, the second chalice is for dipping.
If you want to receive communion and you choose to remain in your pew for any reason, please let the ushers know.
COMMUNION HYMNS
| 329 | HYMN: NOW MY TONGUE, THE MYSTERY TELLING | |
| 336 | HYMN: COME WITH US, O BLESSED JESUS | |
| POST COMMUNION PRAYER | PAGE 366 | |
| BENEDICTION | ||
| 541 | HYMN IN RECESSION: COME, LABOR ON | |
| DISMISSAL | ||
| POSTLUDE |
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.
- ➢ 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.
- ➢ Wilson will be out of the office July 21st.
- ➢ Kaky West is organizing the reception for the funeral for Barbara Murphy on July 25 at 10 AM. If you are able to help or to contribute, please contact Kaky at 540-583-2348.
- ➢ We are invited to an ice cream party to celebrate John’s Waff’s 83rd Birthday immediately after church in the parish hall today! Come and be a kid again! Take a photo, eat an ice cream bar, and enjoy the music!
- ➢ Bible study will take place on July 22nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Rectors office. All are welcome.
- ➢ Creating Change: Bring your loose change on Sunday July 26th for a special collection to benefit the Shower and Suds program!
✠ LAY MINISTERS OF THE DAY – 10:30 AM ✠
Lay Reader: Irene Catlin
Ushers: Mary Reynolds and John Waff
Acolyte: Merri Willis
Coffee Hour Host: Katy Craig
Oblation Bearers: TBD
Altar Guild: Revelle Hamilton, Cathey Burks, Heather Garrett
Sound/AV: Steve Wandrei
Vestry Person of the Month: Shannon McGuirk
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