The Eighth Sunday After Pentecost Morning Devotion
Trinity@316
July 31, 2022
10:00 am
Good morning and “welcome home” to Trinity! This morning’s Trinity@316 service will be a Morning Devotion. This format is a part of our ancient Episcopal tradition and the format we are invited to use when a priest is not present to celebrate the Eucharist (also known as Communion). All the other elements of the service will be offered- music, prayers, scripture and a sermon. This is a wonderful opportunity to lift up and celebrate the gifts of leadership in our congregation. We are so glad you are here to join us today. 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, rejection, or shame. We get all of that, and we believe that church can and should be different. We hold in real tension the beauty of our tradition with Jesus’ mandate to welcome all, no exceptions. And we understand that if people are brave enough to walk through the doors of a big, Gothic-looking church in downtown Toledo, we’d better be serious about being progressive, inclusive and creative. In our faith community, we believe in the important work that is our shared musical language. We work to choose music and lyrics encompassing many walks of life; to give voice to different perspectives of Divine Love using both traditional and contemporary interpretation. Our hope is that the chosen words of our imperfect languages may resonate with you an eternal Truth, with all pronouns seen as holy and an expression of the expansive nature of Love. We love our Episcopal tradition, but 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, outreach activity, class, meal and social time with humility, grace and laughter. Our reason for being is bigger than any one of us and together we strive to be about something greater than ourselves. So thank you for being here today; for trusting the yearning that brought you through those ancient doors, and for giving this place, these people, this expansive and ancient tradition an opportunity to take root in your heart. May we all find our way into this community of Love as we intentionally make room for each and all of us drawing the circle wider, and wider still still together, week after week. And may you never forget you are loved, Priest Lisa 2
Prelude
Celtic Medley
Traditional Celtic Songs
(Stan and Sande Corfman)
Welcome
Deacon Meribah Mansfield
Opening Hymn
God, Your Gift of Peace is Precious
Please rise.
Collect of the Day Leader: People: Leader:
Gifts of Love Carol Winfrey Gillette
Prayers for the Inclusive Church
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
Lord of abundance, you demand our life entire and whole: lead us out from prisons of greed to a place of riches uncontained and always new; through Jesus Christ, our common wealth. Amen.
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The First Reading Reader:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
A reading from Ecclesiastes.
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me -- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
Reader: People:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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The Psalm
Psalm 49:1-11
Psalms for Praying
The cantor will offer the first line and the congregation joins on the second.
Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the earth, both low and high, rich and poor together! My mouth shall speak wisdom! The meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to the Word; I will solve my problems through the whispers of the Heart’s voice. Why should I give up in times of trouble, when the stubbornness of my fears surround me, Fears that give birth to greed and lead to exploitation? Truly I cannot save myself or offer a haven of peace to another, when my home is like a hornet’s nest, a hive of restless fears, Turning to you, O guiding spirit, Is my strength and my support, A stronghold in times of trouble. Yes, even the wise are not immune to fear; yet, unlike the ignorant, the wise face their fears with resolve. Not running away, nor projecting them onto others, they trace them to the source, Rooting them out as weeds from a rose garden. Thus, they do not trust in the riches of the world, but in the treasure hidden in the heart. Others are arrogant in their ignorance, proud of their own council. Like sheep led to slaughter, their fears compel them to walk in darkness, Guiding them onto unholy paths, into webs of intrigue, Where despair and destruction make their home. Yet does the Spirit of Truth abide within, veiled by bulwarks of pain.
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The SECOND READING Reader:
Colossians 3:1-11
A reading from Colossians.
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things-- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Reader: People:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gradual
Take, O Take Me as I Am
MHSO #46
Please rise and sing together 3 times.
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The Gospel Deacon: People:
Luke 12:13-21
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke. Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
Deacon: People:
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon Affirmation of Faith
Becky Roth, Trinity member From The Iona Abbey Book of Worship
Please stand as you are able. We believe in the God of Life, who creates and loves people, who acts in history. We believe in Jesus of Nazareth, who is our brother, who wants not to be idolized but to be followed. We believe that we dwell in the presence of the Holy Spirit; without Her we are nothing; filled with Her we are able to become creative, lively and free. We believe in the Church of Jesus Christ, a community where we find companions and courage for the struggles of life, where we grow in our understanding of the faith, through worship, prayer, nurture and service. We believe that God has a use for us in this time and place, that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we are called to be instruments of God’s peace. We believe in living, hoping, laughing, and enjoying the good of the earth. We believe that people can change, and that God keeps pulling us to life and to a new world of joy and peace. Amen.
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The Prayers of the People Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor: People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
Iona Community & Eggs & Ashes
Spirit of fire, inflame in us a passion for justice and equality. That we may know the cleansing of our prejudices and fears and proclaim your freedom, boldly caressing your Earth with humility. Hear our prayers for freedom and justice for all. Spirit of compassion, infuse us with your longings for wholeness and deep joy. That we may reach out to those who are hurting and alienated, enfolding one another with your love and tenderness. Hear our prayers for healing and wholeness. Spirit of wisdom, be within us in our journeying, gently guiding us along life giving paths. That we may be led towards transformation and new beginnings in our world. Hear our prayers for courage to begin again. Spirit of gentleness, touch us anew, releasing in us all that we are afraid of in this uncertain time. That we may know your acceptance of us, and freely accept and embrace others. Hear our prayers for peace and acceptance. Spirit of power, hold us in our powerlessness. That we may know your strength and become a voice for the voiceless, healing for the wounded and empowerment for the weak, and lost, and confused. Hear our prayers for mercy and grace. Spirit of judgement, be tender with us and show us your mercy. That we may humbly learn of you and not be afraid to be your prophets in the world. Hear our prayers for the gift of witness. Spirit of comfort, draw near to us in all grief, confusion and pain; in your graciousness, bring hope, consolation and renewal. That many may look inside and out and discover you in the midst. Hear our prayers for consolation and comfort.
People:
Spirit of dance, be our playfulness and source of deep joy. That we may leap and laugh and enter moments of new life as we work to breathe deeply again. Hear our prayers for gifts of life and joy.
Intercessor: People:
Give us confidence in life and assurance in death. In God’s many names we pray, AMEN.
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The Confession of Sin & Absolution
Enriching our Worship 2
Leader:
Let us confess our sins to God.
People:
To you Lord, all hearts are open, no secrets are hidden. Forgive our secret sins; Forgive our habitual sins; Forgive our unnoticed sins; Our sins against ourselves, Our sins against others, Our sins against you. Lord, let our memory provide no shelter for bitterness against another. Lord, let our minds provide no foothold for prejudice against another. Lord, let our hearts provide no harbor for hatred of another. Lord, let our attitudes be no associate in the condemnation of another. Lord, let our tongues be no accomplice in the judgment of another.
Leader:
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on us. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us is all goodness, and keep us in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE PEACE Deacon: People:
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Announcements Offertory Invitation Loose offerings (cash or checks) can be placed in the Offertory Plate as it is passed through the congregation 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/online-giving/, 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
Amazing Grace
Traditional
(Bradley Baker and Stan and Sande Corfman)
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The Lord’s Prayer
Stephen Best Please rise. Leader: And now let us pray together this contemporary version of the Lord’s prayer. Great Love; the root and sap of our evolving fullness, Nudge us forward in our creative potential So we may flourish for the common good. In each mindful moment, help us recognize that We free ourselves from the ghosts of our past In the release we grant those who have harmed us. Keep us focused on what is right Make us thirsty for what is just. For it is love, that knows the way, Shows the way, becomes the way, To the fulfilment of our eternal call. Amen
Sung Benediction 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 Hymn
Some Folk Would Rather Have Houses and Land
See next page.
Dismissal Deacon: People:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia
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Sending Hymn
Some Folk Would Rather Have Houses and Land
LEVAS #68
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Trinity’s Daily Bread- As a community of faith, we are called to love and be loved; to serve and be served, to give and to receive. In short, we don’t want anyone to “fall behind or drop out.” In this season of connecting in new ways, we are introducing Trinity’s Daily Bread. Please let us know if you need prayer, assistance, or connection by filling out our Daily Bread form on our website, www.trinitytoledo.org!
Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Leadership Donna Steppe, Sr. Warden, Jeffrey Albright, Jr. Warden Leah Reed, Clerk, Gary Franklin, Treasurer Dennis Degnan, Becky Koskinen, Fritz Hany, Karen Keune & Jamie Paul
Parish Staff The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector Heather Meyer, Director of Operations and Community Development Chelsie Cree, Director of Music and The Arts Grace Mauk, Trinity@316 Accompanist Brian Buckner, Trinity@Home Accompanist ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & COPYRIGHT INFO: Collect of the Day: Prayers for an Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare. Readings and Gospel from: Revised Common Lectionary: lectionarypage.net, 2021. Psalm: Psalms for Praying, Nan Merrill. The Great Thanksgiving: Prayer 3, Enriching Our Worship Lord’s Prayer: Parker Palmer Bulletin Image: Photo shared by The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray. Fraction, Breaking of the Bread: Enriching Our Worship. All printed music from The Hymnal 1982, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, My Heart Sings Out, Wonder, Love, and Praise was used by permission through purchase of ritesong.org. All other printed music permission through purchase of CCLI Copyright license #20577215 Size B Streaming License #20577284 Size B Secular music permission through purchase of CCS WORSHIPcast Copyright license #13190 All printed music from Gather permission through purchase of onelicense.net License # A-700000
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH PROGRESSIVE INCLUSIVE CREATIVE
DOWNTOWN
316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 (419) 243-1231 www.trinitytoledo.org Facebook.com/TrinityEpiscopalToledo