Sunday, May 24 5 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral Houston, Texas
Seventh Sunday of Easter five o’clock in the evening The Rev. Becky Zartman, Canon Missioner for Welcome and Evangelism Officiant We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship.
Interlude on a Tune By James Scott Skinner
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 1:6–14
A Reading from the Acts of Apostles.
When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, 1
James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. Reader People
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Interlude on a Tune By Turlough O’Carolan The Holy Gospel
John 17:1–11
Deacon A reading from the Gospel according to John.
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” Deacon The word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Reflection
The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean
Interlude on a Traditional Welsh Tune 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. 2
Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials; And now, tried as I am, today I trust in you. 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 3
Let us confess our sins.
God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, 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 the Traditional Irish Hymn Tune “Slane� 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 Thomas Woodward Houghton.
The Beauty of Flowers The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of their parents, Joy and Norman Kittrell and Harvey Shepherd, and in thanksgiving for Emily Shepherd by Norman and Frances Kittrell.
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Welcome
Sunday, May 24, 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. Join a small group to discuss this year’s Cathedral Reads pick, A Prayer for Owen Meany • 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, where you can also sign up for a weekly discussion group (look for the Cathedral Reads banner or look under “Registrations”). There will be monthly discussion groups as well. 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 each of the three remaining meetings. The Cathedral is hosting a socially distanced, safe blood drive next 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.