Third Sunday After the Epiphany, January 22, 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 Bright Morning Star

The Wailin’ Jennys (Melissa Toth, Kim Buehler and Chelsie Cree)

Welcome

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Opening Hymn The Summons GIA #5410

Opening Collect

Leader: The Lord be with you

People: And also with you.

Leader: Let us pray.

God of all people. You sent your Son into the shrouded world, into the borderland; may their dawning light give hope to the broken, the persecuted, the alien and the excluded, that we might feel the kin-dom drawing near and turn to follow them; through Jesus Christ, the morning star. Amen.

The First Lesson Isaiah 9:1-4

Reader: A reading from Isaiah. There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

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

Psalm

Psalm 27:1,5-13

Psalms for Praying

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

Love is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Love is the strength of my life, Of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing have I asked of Love, that I shall ever seek: That I might dwell in the Heart of Love all the days of my life, To behold the Beauty of my Beloved, and to know Love’s Plan.

For I shall hide in Love’s heart in the day of trouble, As in a tent in the desert, Away from the noise of my fears. And I shall rise above my struggles, my pain, Shouting blessings of gratitude in Love’s Heart and singing melodies of praise to my Beloved.

Hear, O my Beloved, when I cry aloud, be gracious and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart responds, “Your face, my Beloved, do I seek; hide not your face from me.”

Do not turn from me, You who have been my refuge. Enfold me in your strong arms, O Blessed One. Though my father and mother may not understand me, You, my Beloved, know me and love me.

The First Lesson 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Reader: A reading from Corinthians.

There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

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 4:12-23

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

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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.

 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

Offertory Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land Glenn Edward Burleigh (Trinity Choir)

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

I come with joy to meet my Lord

See Insert. Lead Me, Lord

The Post Communion Prayer (Please rise.)

Celebrant: Let us pray. 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

I've Decided to Make Jesus My Choice

Deacon: Go in peace to serve our loving, liberating, life-giving God. People: Thanks be to God.

See insert.

Jeff Stott, Truth Applied blog image