Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 27, 2023
8:00 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.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite One
The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell Celebrant
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
The Word of God
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 323 People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity and the Summary page 323
Gloria in Excelsis page 324
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with thy spirit. Celebrant Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
The First Reading Romans 12:1-8
Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 16:13-20
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory be to thee, O Lord.
After the Gospel reading, the Deacon says The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise be to thee, O Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Canon Bradley VarnellThe Nicene Creed page 326
The Prayers of the People Form III, page 387
The General Confession page 331
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And with thy spirit.
The People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Holy Communion
Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And with thy spirit.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them up unto the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
People It is meet and right so to do.
Sanctus and Benedictus
Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 341
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
You do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Holy Communion. Communion is received either kneeling or standing 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; ask at the altar rail.
Prayer after Communion page 339
The Blessing
Deacon Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. People Thanks be to God.
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
The Old Testament Exodus 1:8-2:10
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
The Epistle Romans 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--
what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
The Gospel Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Carter Roberts Boyd.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for her marriage to the late Roy Nolen by Evelyn Nolen.
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
Links available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/weekdayservices
Welcome
Sunday, August 27. 2023
Announcements
TODAY
Rally Day Ministry Fair • Our theme for 2023 is “Grace in Motion: praising - growing - serving - giving - belonging - caring.” Join us today in Reynolds Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and learn about the many ways God is at work in our community! See what your Cathedral has in store at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/rallyday
Labor Day Weekend Popsicle Event • Come cool off with your Cathedral family! Grab a popsicle in Reynolds Hall and enjoy some relief from the heat! Sunday, September 3, at 10 a.m.
Bible Studies • The Cathedral will offer several Bible studies this fall beginning September 5. Learn about your options and how to participate at www.christchurchcathedral.org/biblestudies
Sunday School Returns • Sunday School resumes meeting September 10. Each Sunday we gather together as a community and grow in our faith through teaching and discussion. Classes are offered for children and youth each Sunday from 10-11 a.m. and Latino ministries from 1-2:30 p.m. Learn more and register at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/sundayschool
It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit • This three part Dean’s Hour series runs through September and offers a look at the next chapter in the life of the Cathedral. Sundays at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
On Sept 10 we explore the calls of Abraham, Jesus, and Paul, asking how we might faithfully say “Yes” to God in this exciting time.
On Sept 17, we will thank our vestry for its work over the past fourteen months, reflect on the interim journey we’ve walked over the last year, and prepare ourselves for the arrival of Dean Nathaniel Katz.
On Sept. 24, we will get to know a little more about our next dean and also thank our search committee for bringing him to the Cathedral.
Destination Unknown • Our popular Lock-In for middle school youth returns with an action-packed adventure where we will explore some exciting things in Houston. September 22 from 6–11:30 p.m. Registration available soon. Contact Minister for Youth, Marcia Quintanilla for more information at: mquintanilla@christchurchcathedral.org
Deans Katz’s First Sunday • Join us in welcoming Dean Katz on his first Sunday at the Cathedral — Sept. 24. He will preach the morning services at 8, 9, and 11 a.m. and will be at the Dean’s Hour that morning. Several opportunities to get to meet and know him are planned. Details at: www. christchurchcathedral.org/deankatz
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
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 and on the third Sunday of each month after the 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. services. If you would like a tour, meet the Tour Guide by the eagle lectern.
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.