Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany-February 5, 2023

Welcome to Trinity Episcopal Church

Good morning and “welcome home” to Trinity! Whether you are new to our community or have found yourself coming back again and again, we want you to know you are both welcome and wanted here among us. For some, church is as comfortable and familiar as a good pair of jeans, or like coming back to your childhood home (if it is one filled with good memories). For others, church might be like visiting a foreign country where you experience unfamiliar language or customs. And then, sadly, for some, church has become equated with feelings of hurt, shame or rejection. We get all of that and believe church can be different. We are a diverse community of seekers, believers, and doubters held together by the hope that together we are better, kinder, and more courageous when we stand side by side and face into the challenges of our lives and in the world together.

We challenge the practices of our tradition that have at times kept others out and instead embrace Jesus’ mandate to welcome all, no exceptions, as a core value. And, we get that if people are brave enough to either walk through the doors of a big gothic-looking church in downtown Toledo, or tune in to Trinity@Home on line, we better be serious about being explicitly progressive, inclusive and creative in all we say and do.

We love our Episcopal tradition, AND we love people from all walks of life even more! It is our hope and prayer that together we will navigate our way through each gathering, worship service, opportunity to serve, class, meal and social time together with humility, grace and laughter all infused with radical hospitality.

So thank you for being here today; for trusting the yearning that brought you through those ancient doors. May we all find our way into the heart of God’s love as we make room for each other in this community and this world- we believe we are better and love more when diversity is celebrated and the bounds of God’s love are stretched wide

This bulletin is a guide to accompany you through the “liturgy”- meaning the “work of the people”- which is how our tradition approaches worship. It does indeed take a village bringing all of its gifts together to create our expression of gratitude and devotion week after week.

Here is a quick little guide to help you follow along as we worship together:

• Italicized Print = singing

• Bold Print = everyone is invited to join in reciting a prayer/reading

• Bold & Italicized Print = everyone is invited to join in singing.

Welcome Home!

May you never forget you are loved,

Lisa

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector www.trinitytoledo.org

 The Liturgy of the Word 

Prelude Go Light Your World Kathy Troccoli (Kim Buehler and Grace Mauk)

Welcome The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Opening Hymn Longing for Light

MHSO #59

Opening Collect

Leader: The Lord be with you

People: And also with you.

Leader: Let us pray.

Israel’s jealous God, giver of love’s law, in whom there is no blandness, no dullness of oppression; liberate us from all that numbs compassion to find in your commands light undimmed and flavor restrained; through Jesus Christ, fulfiller of the law. Amen.

Reader: A reading from Isaiah.

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.

“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.

Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself?

Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm

Psalm 112:1-9

Psalms for Praying

The cantor will sing the first line, and the congregation is invited to join on the bolded text.

Praises be to You, O Gracious One! Blessed are those who reverence the Holy One, who delight in Love Consciousness!

For they dwell with the Beloved, and their children will learn of peace and justice. Abundance and wholeness will be their heritage, and truth will be their banner.

Light penetrates the darkness for those who face their fears; Love stands by them with mercy and forgiveness.

It goes well for those who are loving and kind, who live their days with justice and integrity. They become co-creators with the Divine One; they bless the world with their presence.

In times of trouble, they know not fear; their hearts are firm, trusting in your Loving Companion Presence.

Yes, their hearts are steady, they are not afraid, even their enemies are blessed by their love.

They are generous and give freely; the needy are offered shelter and food; justice and mercy make their home there; and their righteousness endures forever.

The unloving are witness to this who knows when the Seed will find a fertile heart? The fruits of those who know Love are blessing to all!

The second Lesson

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 Reader: A reading from Corinthians.

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Gradual Jesus the Light of the World Geo. D. Elderkin, arr. All are invited to join on refrain below. Verse offered by soloist.

THE GOSPEL Matthew 5:13-20

Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Affirmation of Faith Liturgy for the Whole Church: Multigenerational Resources

We believe in God who said, “Let there be light,” and there was! With that light, God made the world and all people in whom, and through whom, the Light burns on, strong and true.

We believe!

We believe in Jesus, the true Light, who went down to darkness to overcome death, and rose again, to unveil our own brightness, in the victory of whose love a path shines home to God’s heart where all will live forever.

We believe!

We believe in the Spirit, blazing with hope, speaking the truth into every darkness, warming our lives with God’s gifts and call.

We believe!

We believe in the church, where God’s Light is praised, and from where we are sent to love and serve the world. We believe!

We ask today that a gentle breath blow from above on the light that is in us, the light that is among us, and enflame us anew with the courage of love. Enflame us, O God! Amen.

Prayers of the People

Intercessor: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. You who by the leading of a star, guided the Magi to the brightness of the Holy Child of Bethlehem, lead us to the light of revelation, that we may value and honor the varied gifts of our sisters and brothers. Christ, be our light;

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who framed the brightness of the first light in creation, dispel the arrogance, animosity, and anger that shatter the unity of your holy Church. Fill your faithful people with the radiant light of truth. Christ, be our light;

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who delivered your people from the misery of bondage in slavery to the land of promise, set us free from enslavement to division, disunity, and distrust in our public life and labor. Illumine those in authority with the light of vision. Christ, be our light;

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who patterned the stars and called the sun into being, who appointed the moon and chartered the cosmos, pattern the hearts of people everywhere to see in each other the beauty of the universe and the splendor of creation, that divisions of race, class, gender, and ethnicity may be recreated into one common humanity. Christ, be our light

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who shower comfort and hope to the lowest, the lost, and the least, shower the light of compassion on the sick, the sorrowful, and the suffering, especially those on our Trinity Prayer list. Help us to be your compassion and hope in the world. Christ, be our light

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who welcome into the brilliant light of eternity those who have died, welcome those whose lives have been cut short by violence, warfare, and strife, especially those on our Trinity Prayer list. Shine the light of hope. Christ, be our light

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: You who delight in the complexity and splendor of creation, help us to delight in the diversity of this earth, our island home. Inspire your people to care for all you have made. Christ, be our light

People: Shine in our hearts.

Intercessor: May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find us ever burning with the light of love, the spirit of truth, and the wellspring of hope. Amen.

The Confession of Sin & Absolution Wonderings Through Life and Other Such Nonsense

Priest: Let us confess the ways in which we have rejected God’s vision of wholeness. God of light and darkness, we have seen the glimmer of your star-light beckoning to us, but we have turned away and followed other paths. We confess that we have not loved you with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, Holy One.

Strengthen our faltering steps and guide us in your holy way of peace.

Priest: Lift up your eyes and see the grace of God poured out into our lives.

People: The light of God shines through the darkness. Our hearts rejoice for Christ is in our midst. Amen.

THE PEACE

Deacon: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

Announcements & Offertory Invitation

Loose offerings (cash or checks) can be placed in the Offertory Plate as it is passed during the Offertory or deposited in our Giving Box stationed at the back of the sanctuary.

To give Online, use the attached QR code or visit www.trinitytoledo.org/onlinegiving/ choose GIVE NOW and today’s date. You can also text the word “Give” to 419-OMG-LOVE (419-664-5683) to make your weekly offering.

Offertory

Let Your Little Light Shine

Pamela Warrick-Smith (Trinity Choir)

 Liturgy of the Table 

The Great Thanksgiving Enriching Our Worship Prayer 1

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to fullness of life. Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we sing:

SanctuS Holy, Holy, Holy

Ken Canedo

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace.

But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so, we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us and prepared the way of salvation for all people.

Through Abraham and Sarah, you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from captivity, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.

On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said:

“Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said:

“Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured our for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine.

By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:

Fraction & Invitation to Communion

Celebrant: We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ.

People: We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

Celebrant: The Gifts of God for the people of God; holy food for holy people. (Please be seated until you are invited to come forward to receive communion.)

Communion Music

This Little Light of Mine

The Post Communion Prayer (Please rise.)

Celebrant: Let us pray.

See insert.

Jesus, we have feasted on the bread of life. Together we have tasted the love of your kin-dom here on earth. In your risen power you have united us with all of those who have come before, with those gathered today, and with those yet to find their way to this table of love set and ready to welcome all. May the sense of a new heaven and a new earth strengthen and renew us today and in the days to come. Now, send us out into the world to do the work you have given us to do offering your fearless love and priceless peace to all we meet in the name of our loving, liberating life-giving God. Amen.

Blessing

May the rain fall off your shoulders when you’re caught in a storm. When the frost comes a callin’ may it find you safe and warm. May your place be set, and may your promises be kept. And may you never forget that you are loved.

Sending Song

Dismissal

Make Me a Blessing

Deacon: Go in peace to serve our loving, liberating, life-giving God

People: Thanks be to God.

See insert.