Sunday, May 17 5 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral Houston, Texas
Sixth Sunday of Easter five o’clock in the evening The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean Officiant We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship.
Interlude on a Tune by Turlough O’Carolan
The Word of God Welcome to this holy place. Friend and stranger, saint and sinner, all who gather here. Come all who hunger, all who thirst for life in all its fullness. Come with hope or hesitation; come with joy or yearning; come. People Generous God and generous Savior, touch us through your Spirit. Officiant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Officiant Let us pray. Officiant People Officiant
Stay with us, Lord, since the day is far spent and the night is coming; kindle our hearts on the Way, that we may recognize you in the scriptures, in the breaking of the bread, and in each other. Amen.
First Reading Reader
Acts 17:22–31
A Reading from the Acts of Apostles.
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him — though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an 1
image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Reader People
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Interlude on a Tune by Turlough O’Carolan The Holy Gospel
John 14:15–21
Deacon A Reading from the Gospel according to John.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Deacon The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Reflection
The Rev. Becky Zartman, Canon Missioner for Welcome and Evangelism
Interlude on a Celtic Aire “Ag Chriost An Siol” Expression of Faith Lord, you have always given bread for the coming day; And though I am poor, today I trust in you. Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day; And though I am weak, today I trust in you. Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day; And though of anxious heart, today I trust in you. Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials; And now, tried as I am, today I trust in you. 2
Lord, You have always marked the road for the coming day; And though it may be hidden, today I trust in you. Lord, You have always lightened this darkness of mine; And though the night is here, today I trust in you. Lord, You have always spoken when time was ripe; And though you may be silent now, today I trust in you.
Prayers of the People (The People may remain seated) The Leader begins
As evening falls and courage sometimes falters, let us turn our hearts to God in prayer. Silence
We pray for those gathered here and all that lies heavy on our hearts. We pray that you would know our needs even before we recognize them. Grant us those good things for which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot, ask. Silence
We pray for those in positions of leadership in the world, our nation, our state, and our city. Grant them the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice, that they may promote the well-being of all people. Silence
We pray for the sick, the bereaved, the oppressed, and the homeless, that they may be comforted by your Holy Spirit, who brings light to the darkest places. Silence
We pray for the broken and torn fabric of the earth as it yearns for healing, trusting that you make all things new. Silence
We pray for this and all communities of faith. We pray that you would open the hearts of your faithful to seek your truth and pursue it in love. Silence
We pray that you would disturb us, Lord, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little; when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the water of life. Push back, we pray, the horizons of our hopes, and move us into your future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
The Confession and Absolution Officiant
Let us confess our sins.
God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, 3
opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that ensnares us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen. Officiant
Through the cross of Christ, God have mercy on you, pardon you, and set you free. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. God strengthen you in all goodness and keep you in life eternal. Amen.
Interlude on a Traditional Scottish Tune The Dismissal Officiant People
Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. The Book of Remembrance This week we remember Martha Moore Cuenod.
The Beauty of Flowers The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of their parents, Priscilla Rodman Wandel and John Philip Wandel, by Gail Wandel Hendryx and Deborah Wandel Francis.
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Welcome
Sunday, May 17, 2020 Announcements Please fill out an important COVID-19 survey on returning to church • A Cathedral task force is at work preparing a plan for our return to in-person worship on the Cathedral campus. Please take the brief survey, available in the Dean’s weekly email and also on our website (on a blue button under the images on the homepage), to help us know your hopes, preferences, and concerns. When information is available, Dean Thompson will update everyone on the plans. Virtual worship continues until June 1. On Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom, learn how to help make masks • Please join the Mission Outreach Council in our effort to make masks to contribute to Houston Responds’ Masks for All Project. We need sewers, cutters, runners, and materials; fill out the form on the Cathedral website (under “Registrations”) to let us know how you would like to serve. We’ll send you an email and connect you to other volunteers to share progress, ask or answer questions, and find fellowship over Zoom. Email the Rev. Greg Seme at gseme@christchurchcathedral.org to get the Zoom link for this Tuesday’s meeting. Order your books now for Cathedral Reads, which is starting this June • We’re so excited for another summer of Cathedral Reads. This year, adults are reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, and youth and children are reading R.J. Palacios’ Wonder. You can order both books from our Bookstore, for pick-up or for delivery. Order online by filling out the form on our website (look for the Cathedral Reads banner or look under “Registrations”). The Cathedral is hosting a socially distanced, safe blood drive on Sunday, May 31 • A blood drive is one of the many ways we can support others during this time. One donation has the ability to save three lives. Our safe blood drive will be Sunday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall. People can give by appointment only. Go to our website under “Registrations” for the link to sign up. How to make a donation online • It is simple to make a donation on the Cathedral website, as an Easter offering or for any other reason. Look for the tab at the top of the site that says, “Give.” Click on the tab for a variety of ways to make a gift to the Cathedral. We are now offering options to pay via PayPal as well as a new “text-to-give” option. Simply text “Give” to 888-998-1634, and follow the instructions. If you have questions, contact Chief Administrative Officer and Minister for Stewardship Karen Kraycirik at kkraycirik@christchurchcathedral.org or 713-590-3338. For more information about these and other events at the Cathedral, visit christchurchcathedral.org, or cccathedraltx
After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332 5
The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Kai Ryan, Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Hector Monterroso, Assistant Bishop The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean The Rev. Arthur A. Callaham, Canon Vicar The Rev. Simón Bautista Betances, Canon Missioner for Latino Ministries The Rev. Becky Zartman, Canon Missioner for Welcome and Evangelism The Rev. Gregory Seme, Curate The Rev. John A. Logan Jr., Canon Emeritus The Rev. Edward L. Stein, Assisting Priest The Rev. Jim Morgan, Pastoral Associate, Chaplain at The Beacon Robert L. Simpson, Canon for Music Daryl Robinson, Cathedral Organist Thomas Marvil, Organ Scholar Lucy Chambers, Bookstore Manager
1117 Texas Avenue • Houston, Texas 77002 • 713-222-2593 christchurchcathedral.org Portions of this service are adapted from the Iona Community Worship Book and the Prayer Books of the Church of Ireland, the Anglican Church of New Zealand, and the the Northumbrian Community. Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.