Welcome to the Monastery Chapel. We warmly invite you to participate fully in our worship.
Entrance Hymn Praise the Lord through every nation Next page (2) Opening Acclamation
T HE T HIRTEENTH S UNDAY AFTER P ENTECOST THE HOLY EUCHARIST
Presider Blessed be God who creates all things. People God’s love is new every morning.
Collect for Purity Presider Almighty God, People to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prelude Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Johann Gottfried Walther
September 4, 2022
T HE S OCIETY OF S AINT J OHN THE E VANGELIST 980 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 617.876.3037 www.SSJE.org
2 Entrance Hymn Praise the Lord through every nation Hymnal 484
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4 Hymn of Praise Glory to God in the highest Congregational Mass by John Lee
5 Collect of the Day Presider Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. People Amen.
Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
Gradual Psalm Psalm 1
6 THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading Deuteronomy 30:15 20
Second Reading Philemon 1 21
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my Forbrother.thisreason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
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Sermon
The Holy Gospel Luke 14:25 33 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."
9 The Nicene Creed Hymnal S 105
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11 Prayers of the People Confession and Absolution of Sin As announced
Presider
Let us confess our sins against God and God’s creation. Holy and merciful God, People we confess that we have failed to honor you by rightly claiming our kinship with all your creatures. We have walked heavily on your earth, overused and wasted its resources, taken for granted its beauty and abundance, and treated its inhabitants unjustly, holding future generations hostage to our greed. Have mercy on us and forgive us our sin. Renew in us the resolve to keep and conserve your earth as you desire and intend, with grateful and compassionate hearts, through your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sam, do you desire to be received as a Student Monastic Resident of this Society?
Presenter I present to you Sam Bailey, Aidan Houston, Siana Monet, and Meghan Murphy to be received as Student Monastic Residents.
Sam I do. Presider Aidan, do you desire to be received as a Student Monastic Resident of this Society? Aidan I do.
Reception of Residents
Presider Sam, Aidan, Siana, and Meghan, you have accepted God’s call and our Society’s invitation to spend an academic year living in community alongside us. You have come desiring a season of immersion and formation in monastic spirituality. You have come to offer yourselves in ministry and service. You have come as pilgrims, in a spirit of curiosity and adventure. And you have come for reasons known only to God, to be discovered in these days of reflection, discernment, challenge, and Wegrowth.thank God that you have come, and we pray that he will bless, shape, and use your time among us in ways greater than we could ask or imagine.
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Presider Meghan, do you desire to be received as a Student Monastic Resident of this Society? Meghan I do.
Presider Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Presider Siana, do you desire to be received as a Student Monastic Resident of this Society? Aidan I do.
The Collection of Gifts and Offerings
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Residents We will. Taking the right hand of each, in turn
Your financial gifts support the Brothers’ life and ministry to those at our monastery in Cambridge as well as to many others whom we reach with our publications, livestreaming services, online offferings, and in our travels on mission.
We are now allowing the option of offering the peace using physical contact. If you choose to do so please graciously observe the preference of those who prefer to offer the peace through a prayerful gesture without contact.
Presider We receive you, Sam, as a Student Monastic Resident. We receive you, Aidan, as a Student Monastic Resident. We receive you, Siana, as a Student Monastic Resident. We receive you, Meghan, as a Student Monastic Resident. Presider Let us pray. Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and for ever. Amen. The peace of the Lord be always with you. The Peace We greet one another, sharing the peace of Christ
Presider We promise to uphold you by our prayers and companionship, day by day. Will you pray for us and continually seek God’s grace as you enter our rhythm of prayer and worship, study and reflection, hospitality, and service?
14 Offertory Hymn Not here for high and holy things Hymnal 9
15 THE HOLY COMMUNION The Great Thanksgiving Sanctus Congregational Mass by John Lee
16 The Lord’s Prayer Hymnal S 148, alt.
17 Fraction Anthem Congregational Mass by John Lee
People Thanks be to God.
We will now administer Holy Communion by both Bread and Wine. If you feel uncomfortable receiving the Wine, please remember that the Church catholic has always taught that the fullness of the Sacrament is received even when only one form is received. For public health reasons, Diocesan policy does not allow for Intinction (dipping the Bread into the Wine). Please refrain from this practice.
18 Invitation Presider The Gifts of God for the People of God.
Ministration of Communion
19 Closing Hymn Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion Hymnal 472
Blessing & Dismissal Postlude Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Samuel Scheidt
20 Prayer after Communion Presider
Let us Lovingpray.God, People we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
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Student Monastic Residents 2022–23 Our cohort of student residents moved in this past week. Sam Bailey, Aidan Houston, Siana Monet, and Meghan Murphy will live alongside us for the academic year. Today we formally receive them and pray God’s blessing on their time with us this year.
Welcome
Season of Creation
We are delighted to welcome you to the Monastery today, either in person or online. If you are a visitor, or new to the Monastery or Community, please take a moment to introduce yourself to one of the Brothers following the Eucharist. If you are joining us online, please drop us a note telling us from where you are joining us.
Student Tuesdays Starting this Tuesday, September 6, we re open our weekly Tuesday evening student group. We invite local students to join us each week for the Eucharist, supper, discussion, and Compline, in any combination. Information and registration can be found at ssje.org/students.
Program Retreats Registration for program retreats has begun. You can view the offerings and make a request at www.ssje.org/programs. We look forward to offering these themed retreats again in the winter and spring. Offerings for 2023 will be available in December.
Announcements
The Season of Creation is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. In 1989 Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitros I proclaimed September 1 as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation. Subsequently, the World Council of Churches (WCC) extended the celebration until October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. In turn, in 2015 Pope Francis made the Season of Creation official for the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction.
See Brother Michael for more information if interested.
We are now offering refreshments after the Sunday Eucharist in the Guesthouse Garden. If you would like to volunteer to bring baked goods, a sign up sheet in the narthex is available.
Gluten Free Wafers at Holy Communion
The community’s next retreat day is Wednesday, September 7. We will not pray Compline on Tuesday, September 6 or Morning Prayer and Compline on Wednesday, September 7. Our retreat day in October will be Wednesday, October 5.
Please indicate to the Brother administering Holy Communion if that is your preference.
Livestreaming
Dates of availability for self led retreats in the guesthouse from September 2022 through July 2023 are now available online. You can view them and make a request at www.ssje.org/reservation. We look forward to welcoming you for a time of quiet, prayer, and rest. We ask that all guests be fully vaccinated and boosted for Covid and willing to follow our most current health and safety protocols.
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Post Sunday Eucharist Refreshments
We livestream Evening Prayer and Compline throughout the week, as well as the Sunday and Tuesday Eucharists. If you cannot join us in person, please join us online.
Monastery Guesthouse
Saturday Evening Prayer is especially beautiful. Now that the chapel is open again, why not make attending Evening Prayer on Saturday, or another evening during the week, part of your regular pattern.
Saturday Evening Prayer Evening Prayer (Evensong) is one of the glories of Anglicanism. The community sings Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM Wednesday through Saturday and at 4:00 PM on Sunday.
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Sabbatical for Brother James
For more information about the Society, stays in the Guest House, or to subscribe to Brother Give Us A Word, or our occasional news update, please check our website at www.SSJE.org
After his election as Superior in May for a third term, the community granted our brother, James several weeks of sabbatical. He departed on August 24 for the UK where he will spend some time in Oxford and London, exploring places associated with the history of SSJE. He’ll also be walking two sections of the Wales Coast Path from Chester, England to Porthmadog, Wales over a period of 5 weeks. Before returning to the Monastery on October 31 he’ll spend two weeks with his family in Toronto. Please keep Brother James in your prayers during this time, as well as Brother Keith who, as Deputy Superior, is covering for James in his absence.
Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net:
Congregational Mass by John Lee
THEMONASTERYASSANCTUARY
Br. Jonathan Maury, Acolyte
❖ Br. Luke Ditewig, Presider & Preacher
#A 725463
Mr. James Woodman, Monastery Organist ❖
We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission.