Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 16, 2023
9:00 a.m.
We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship. To learn more about the ministries we share in this place, you are invited to fill in one of the welcome cards found in the pew rack. Masks are available at all welcome tables, and the south transept (to the right) usually has room for those desiring physical distancing. We are glad you are here!
The Cathedral is equipped with a hearing loop for assisted listening via telecoil.
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar Celebrant
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
Opening Voluntary
Adagio in E Major Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
Hymn 48 Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein
The Word of God
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 355 People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity page 355
Gloria in Excelsis S 278 William Mathias (1934-1992)
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray.
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Genesis 25:19–34
Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 530 Gott sei Dank
The Holy Gospel Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After the Gospel reading, the Deacon says The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar
The Nicene Creed page 358
The Prayers of the People Form III, page 387
The General Confession page 360
The Peace
Celebrant
The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.
The People greet one another in the name of the Lord, after which the people are seated for brief announcements.
The Holy Communion
Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
At the Offertory
Anthem
Edward Thomas Chapman (1902-1981)
All creatures of our God and King. Lift up your voice and with us sing: Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thou burning sun with golden beam: Thou silver moon with softer gleam: O praise Him; Alleluia. Thou rushing wind that art so strong: Ye clouds that sail in heaven along; O praise Him; Alleluia.
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice: Ye lights of evening, find a voice: O praise Him; Alleluia.
—adapt. St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer A, page 361
Sanctus and Benedictus S 128
William Mathias
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 362
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand and the Wine either by drinking from the cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.
At the Administration
Anthem Calvin Hampton (1938-1984)
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty. There is welcome for the sinner, and more graces for the good; there is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in His blood.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven; there is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given. There is plentiful redemption in the blood that has been shed; there is joy for all the members in the sorrows of the Head.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word; and our life would be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.
Prayer after Communion page 365
The Blessing
Hymn 390 Lobe den Herren
The Dismissal
Deacon Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. People Thanks be to God.
Closing Voluntary Prelude in B Major Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)
Visitor information and refreshments are available in Reynolds Hall.
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
The Old Testament Genesis 25:19–34
These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to
inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
The Epistle Romans 8:1–11
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law — indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
The Gospel Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; continued on next page
continued from previous page
yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember John Barnett Baird.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of our friend Wendy Larson, who was an amazing and dedicated chair side assistant for 26 years by Diana and John Smith.
Weekday Services
Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m., Monday-Friday on Zoom
Evening Prayer, 6 p.m., Monday- Friday on Zoom
Oración del Mediodía, lunes y jueves en Facebook
Contemplative Prayer, 11:15 a.m., Mondays in Mellinger Room
Holy Eucharist, Noon, Wednesdays in Golding Chapel
Bilingual Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m., Wednesdays in Golding Chapel
Links available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/weekdayservices
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral!
We are blessed by your presence. If you are new to the Cathedral, please fill out the WELCOME card in your pew and put it in the offering plate or give it to an usher.
Tours of the Cathedral are available every Sunday following the 11 a.m. service. If you would like a tour, meet the Tour Guide by the eagle lectern.
Welcome Team members are in the Cathedral Bookstore after the service to visit with you and answer any questions you may have.
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. Please be advised that our services are livestreamed to Vimeo and Facebook. Your participation in the service serves as your consent to the broadcast of your image and voice and to the broadcast of the image and voice of your participating minor children.
TODAY
Welcome
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Announcements
Farewell Celebration for Daryl Robinson • Today is Daryl’s last Sunday as the Cathedral Organist. Please join us as we recognize his work over the past six years during this morning’s Summer Place at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
Summer Place • Come meet new folks and old friends at Summer Place. Cathedral councils will take turns hosting this special coffee hour each Sunday at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. Join us this morning as the Latino Ministry Council hosts today. All are welcome!
July Bible Study: One Hit Wonders of the Bible • Join us for a four-week summer Bible study exploring what some of the shortest books of scripture have to teach us. Led by Canon Bradley Varnell. Sundays, July 9-30 from 10-11 a.m, in Jeffers Conference Room. Please read the designated book in advance of each meeting. More information at: www.christchurchcathedral. org/onehitbiblestudy
Wednesday Tours at the Cathedral • Tour guides are here to welcome you at the bell tower from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. You may spend your time alone or the guide will share the Cathedral’s rich history with you. If you’re interested in learning about becoming a tour guide, contact Valerie Meisel at: vhmtexas@ gmail.com
Parks and Rec for Cathedral Kids • Join us for summer 2023’s best way to reconnect with your Cathedral family in a proven equation: Great Folks + Cool Park = FUN! Bring the kids and your lawn chairs. Events will take place July 25 and August 6. More information at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/parksrec
You Are Invited • The Parish Choir extends a warm invitation for you to join its ranks any week this summer at the 9 o’clock Sunday Eucharist. No previous musical experience or long-term commitment is needed. Come to Sanders Hall by 8:20 a.m. on Sunday mornings for rehearsal. For more information, contact Canon for Music Robert Simpson at 713-590-3311.
Cathedral Choir Tour Preview Evensong • Christ Church Cathedral invites you to a Choral Evensong presented by the Cathedral Choir and featuring music they will sing on tour in Scotland and Ireland. This special service begins at 5 p.m. on July 16, and replaces The Well that evening.
Cathedral Reads • Cathedral Reads, our summer reading program for adults, will dive into The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. Join us on Zoom July 18 and 25 (English and Spanish), and don’t miss our final discussion August 13. Recordings and additional information at: www.christchurchcathedral. org/cathedralreads
Episcopal Night at the Ballpark • Support the Astros July 28 and watch them beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park. The night begins at 5 p.m. with a cookout in the Bishop’s Courtyard complete with hot dogs, sodas, and cracker jacks - all free of charge! Learn more and purchase tickets at: www. christchurchcathedral.org/astros
MOC Blood Drive • The Mission Outreach Council (MOC) of Christ Church Cathedral is hosting a blood drive on July 30. Sign up for a time to donate in advance. Learn more at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/giveblood
After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332