[Image: Line drawing of St. John's Episcopal Church building]

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 Prayer Book Page

Announcements

Opening Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

The Word of God

Collect of the Day

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

The First Reading: Isaiah 25:1-9

O LORD, you are my God;
     I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
     plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
     the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
     it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
     cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
     a refuge to the needy in their distress,
     a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
     the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
     the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples
     a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
     of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
     the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
     the sheet that is spread over all nations;
     he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces,
     and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
     for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
     let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

The Gradual: Psalm 23

(please read in unison)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; *
     I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
     and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *
     and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
     for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
     you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
     and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The Epistle: Philippians 4:1-9

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

The people stand

Sequence Hymn: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

The Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Sermon The Rev. Wilson Brown

The Nicene Creed Page 358

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;
      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.

The Prayers of the People Form V

Deacon or other leader
In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy”…

After every petition the People respond:
People: Lord, have mercy

The Confession of Sin

The Deacon or Celebrant says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.
Minister and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in 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.

The Priest, stands and says
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.

The Peace

The Holy Communion

The people stand.

OFFERTORY

Give Thanks

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A

The Breaking of the Bread

Communion Music

One Bread, One Body
Presented by Ken and Carol Schryver

Post Communion Prayer

Celebrant and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen

Benediction

Closing Hymn: Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing

Dismissal

Announcements

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

• St. John’s Stewardship Drive begins next Sunday! Thank you for your generous support of St. John’s
• Socktober and Undie Sunday: For the month of October the Outreach committee is collecting new underwear and socks to benefit Bedford Christian Ministries, the Warming Shelter and the Domestic Violence Shelter. Please leave your donations in the collection basket outside the parish hall.
• Adult Forum on October 18th will be on Abraham’s journeys presented by Don Royster.
• St. John’s Monthly Drive Thru Dinner is taking place on Thursday Ocotber 15th from 5-7 p.m. Please contact Tim or Melissa Brooke to volunteer.
• Bishop Karin MacPhail will be visiting on Sunday October 25th. There will be several confirmations. Please join us in welcoming the bishop.
• All Saints lists: All Saints Sunday is November 1st. Online in the weekly email update, you will find a link for adding names to the All Saints list for publication on All Saints Sunday. Please include down all names you would like to have included.

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