Saints of the Old Testament
T HE H OLY E UCHARIST Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Welcome to the Monastery Chapel. We warmly invite you to participate fully in our worship. Prelude
Improvisation
Entrance Hymn
Singing songs of expectation
Robert Humphreville Next page (2)
Opening Acclamation Presider People
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed be God's kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Purity Presider People
Almighty God, 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.
THE SOCIETY OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST 980 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 617.876.3037 www.SSJE.org
Entrance Hymn
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Singing songs of expectation
Hymnal 527
Song of Praise
“Glory to God in the highest”
Wonder, Love & Praise 900
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Collect of the Day Presider
People
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Almighty God, in the midst of your people Israel you raised up many saints who through faith in your eternal covenant conquered kingdoms, did justice, and won strength out of weakness. Grant us to hold in glad remembrance their holy lives and fearless witness, that by your grace we may press on towards the goal for the prize of our heavenly calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading
Hebrews 11:1–3, 8–12, 23–28, 32–12:2
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths 5
of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Gradual Psalm
The Holy Gospel
Psalm 37:28–36
Matthew 22:23–32
The same day some Sadducees came to him saying there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question: “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.” Jesus answered them, “You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead but of the living.”
Sermon Prayers of the People
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Confession and Absolution of Sin
As announced
Presider People
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Presider
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
People
The Peace
We greet one another, sharing the peace of Christ
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.
The Collection of Gifts and Offerings 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.
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Offertory Hymn
How clear is our vocation, Lord
Common Praise 466
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THE HOLY COMMUNION The Great Thanksgiving Sanctus
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Wonder, Love & Praise 854
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymnal S 148, alt.
Fraction Anthem
Hymnal S 169
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Invitation Presider People
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.
Ministration of Communion 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.
Closing Hymn
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For thy dear saints, O Lord
Hymnal 279
Prayer after Communion Presider People
Let us pray. Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal Postlude
Improvisation
Robert Humphreville
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Announcements Welcome 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, drop us a note telling us where you are joining us from. Update to Covid Safety Practices Since reopening the monastery chapel to guests in late August, we have maximized air flow by opening all the Chapel windows during our liturgies. Please note that we will be adjusting this practice as fall temperatures grow colder. For the time being, during our service of Holy Eucharist on Tuesday at 5:30 PM, Wednesday at 12:30 PM, and Sunday at 9:00 AM, we will continue to maximize air flow by opening the Chapel windows. These tend to be our most highly attended liturgies. However, we will begin leaving windows closed during all other liturgies. This includes the Daily Office throughout the week and the daily Eucharist on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We will make an additional public announcement when temperatures drop significantly enough to merit closing windows at all services. As has been our practice, we continue to fully support those who may choose to wear a mask for any reason. Retreat Day The community’s next retreat day is tomorrow, Wednesday, November 9. We will not pray Compline this evening, Tuesday, November 8 or Morning Prayer and Compline tomorrow, Wednesday, November 9. Our retreat day in December will be Wednesday, December 7. Student Tuesdays For 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 www.ssje.org/students. Gluten-Free Wafers at Holy Communion Please indicate to the Brother administering Holy Communion if that is your preference.
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Ministry at Emery House We are excited to announce that, after several years of prayerful discernment, the community has made the decision to revive our ministry at Emery House. As a first step in that process, a small group of brothers will re-establish a residential community there in January. We anticipate opening our guest ministry at Emery House sometime in the spring of 2023. We will be making an announcement about further steps later in the fall. We ask for your patience as those details emerge, and for your prayers and support as we respond to God’s call in West Newbury. 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. Livestreaming 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 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. 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. Saturday and Sunday Evening Prayer are especially beautiful. Now that the chapel is open again, why not make attending Evening Prayer on Saturday or Sunday, or another evening during the week, part of your regular pattern? For more information about the Society, stays in the guesthouse, or to subscribe to Brother Give Us A Word, or our occasional news update, please check our website at www.SSJE.org
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❖ Br. Luke Ditewig, Presider & Preacher Br. Jim Woodrum, Acolyte Mr. Robert Humphreville, Monastery Organist ❖
Wonder, Love & Praise 900, Music: John Rutter (b. 1945) Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net: #A-725463
THE MONASTERY AS SANCTUARY 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.