COLLECT OF THE DAY

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; 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: JONAH 3:10-4:11

When God saw what the people of Nineveh did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.

The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” Then the LORD said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

THE GRADUAL: PSALM 145: 1-8

(We will read in unison)

THE EPISTLE: PHILIPPIANS 1:21-30

To me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 20:1-16

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

OFFERTORY

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

FRACTION ANTHEM (SPOKEN)

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• > 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.
• > Holy Rollers: Outreach will be collecting toilet paper for Bedford Christian Ministries for the month of September. Please leave your donations in the bin outside the parish hall.
• > Stockings for Seniors: Irene Catlin is collecting items for Stockings for Seniors project that will provide each Bedford County Nursing home resident with a Christmas sack of holiday treats! If you would like to contribute items for the sacks, a collection box is located outside the parish hall. Lists of needed items can be found on the collection box.
• > There will be an Ice Cream Social today immediately following the service. Join us for fun and fellowship.
• > Where there’s a Will there’s a way! Adult Forum on September 27^th will be led by Wilson Brown and Frank West and will be a presentation on end-of-Life Preparations.
• > Bible Study will take place on September 23^rd at 6:30 p.m. in the Rector’s office. All are welcome!
• > Lunch Buddies will take place on September 30^th at 11:30 a.m. We will meet at the Liberty Station Restaurant. Please sign up on the sheet outside the parish hall so we know how many to expect.
• > Blessing of the Animals will take place on Sunday October 4^th at 5:00 p.m. All Pets are welcome.