Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost - September 10, 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, rejection, shame or rejection. We get all of that and believe church can be different. We are a diverse community of seekers, believers, 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 walk through the doors of a big gothic-looking church in downtown Toledo 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.

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 at the Table of love set for us week after week.

Special Note from Lisa Beloved Friends,

Kim and I began our journey with you on Sunday, September 10, 2017. Exactly 6 years ago we could have never known the impact this community would have on each of our lives that day. We had hopes and dreams of course, but now, on this day, as we say goodbye, we realize our journey among you has surpassed every expectation and desire. You have let us into your lives, welcomed us into your homes, shared the highs and lows of daily life as well as the momentous events of baptisms, weddings, funerals, parties, parades and protests. We have laughed and cried, prayed and played well together. In short you have changed us for good and for God. As I said in my final blog post in July, for all the things I said and did that fell short of what you needed or wanted in your priest, I ask for forgiveness. For all the things I might be blamed for or given any undue credit in the days ahead, I ask they too be held lightly trusting the goodness of my heart’s intent.

But above all, thank you for keeping on, for being the progressive, inclusive, creative expression of God’s love in the world going forward. The world needs you and we can’t wait to witness the next chapter; we will be praying and watching, loving and learning as you model the Way of Love.

And, may you never forget you are loved,

Lisa The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Prelude Operator The Manhattan Transfer

(The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray and Trinity Section Leaders)

The 23rd Psalm Bobby McFerrin

(The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray and Trinity Section Leaders)

Blackbird Paul McCartney

(The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray and Kim Buehler)

Testimony Ferron (The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray)

You Are Mine David Haas

(The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray)

For Good from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz (The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray and Chelsie Cree)

He Never Failed Me Yet Robert Ray (The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Trinity Choir, Brian Buckner, Will Schneider and Brandon Benson)

Friends Michael W. Smith (Kim Buehler and Brian Buckner)

Procession & Opening Hymn Please rise. This is the Day Leon Roberts

Members of the Procession represent some of the amazing leaders forming the backbone of Trinity ministry: Vestry members: Becky Koskinen, Karen Keune, Leah Reed, Dennis Degnan, Jamie Paul, Fritz Hany

Current & Former vestry wardens: Donna Steppe, Jeffrey Albright, Alice Todd, Hugh Grefe, Gary Franklin, Keith Burris

Trinity Staff: Heather Meyer, George Benson, Chelsie Cree, Grace Mauk

Trinity’s kids- our future leaders

Altar party: Rev. Robert Gahler, Deacon Meribah Mansfield, Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Collect of the Day Prayers for the Inclusive Church Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you. Leader: Let us pray.

Lord of the church, you call a broken people around your table: in times of disagreement teach us to listen, loose us from prejudice and bind us to your way of forgiving grace; through Jesus Christ, who stands at the heart of our gathering. Amen.

Please be seated.

The First Reading

Reader: A reading from Ezekiel

Ezekiel 33:7-11

You, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

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

Welcome

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who live with spiritual integrity! Blessed are those who honor the Inner Being, who follow You with their whole heart, REFRAIN

Who enfold the world with love and walk on peaceful paths! You have shown us the way of Truth, the way that leads to freedom. O, that I might ever reflect the Light! Then I shall know inner peace, As I surrender myself into your Hands. REFRAIN

I will praise You with a grateful heart, as I lean on your great kindness. As I forsake the path of darkness, O have mercy on me!

REFRAIN

The SECOND READING Romans 13:8-14

Reader: A reading from Romans.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

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

The Psalm Psalm 119 Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill REFRAIN Please join the choir on the refrain and they will offer the verses.

Over my head I hear music in the air

Over my head I hear music in the air

Over my head I hear music in the air

There must be a joy somewhere

Over my head I hear singing everywhere

Over my head I hear singing everywhere

Over my head I hear singing everywhere

There must be a joy somewhere

Over my head I hear music in the air

Over my head I hear singing everywhere

Over my head I hear music in the air

There must be a joy, there must be a joy, there must be a joy somewhere.

The Gospel Matthew 18:15-20

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

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray

Musical Reflection Walk with Me Goldford (Tajj Crowder and Trinity Musicians)

Affirmation of Faith

Please rise as you are able.

We are not alone, we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

Adapted from prayers created for the Ministry of Justice & Reconciliation by the Episcopal Standing Committee on Liturgy & Music

Intercessor: God of love, we pray for your church: Equip us with compassion and love, to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world. God of love,

People: Hear our prayers for the church.

Intercessor: God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love. God of freedom,

People: Hear our prayers for the world.

Intercessor: God of justice, we pray for the earth, your creation entrusted to our care: Stir up in us a thirst for justice that protects the earth and all its resources, that we may leave a legacy of beauty and abundance honoring all you have given us.

God of justice,

People: Hear our prayers for the earth.

Intercessor: God of peace, we pray for this community: Give us courage to strive for justice and peace among all people, beginning here.

God of peace,

People: Hear our prayers for this community.

Intercessor: God of mercy, we pray for all in any kind of need or trouble: For refugees and prisoners; for the sick and suffering, the lonely and despairing; for those facing violence; for all held down by prejudice or injustice.

God of mercy,

People: Hear our prayers for all who are in need.

Intercessor: God of grace, we pray for those who have died: Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light. God of grace, People: Hear our prayers for those who have died.

Intercessor: God of all, you have called us to serve you: Grant that we may walk in your presence with your love in our hearts, your truth in our minds, your strength in our wills. All this we ask as we walk the Way of Love day by day. Amen

The Confession of Sin & Absolution

Priest: 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.

Celtic Confession

Priest: Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you. Pardon and deliver you from all our sins, confirm and strengthen you is all goodness, and keep you in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PEACE

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

Announcements & Welcoming of New Members:

Lexi & Brooklyn Haas, Annie Elizabeth Petlow, Megan, Abbott & George Skelding

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/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

Israel and New Breed (Trinity Choir, Kim Beuhler solo with Will Schneider and Brandon Benson)

More Than Enough

The Liturgy of the Table 

The Great Thanksgiving A Wee Worship Book, Iona Community

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

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

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

We praise you, O God, whom eternity cannot contain, for coming to earth and entering time in Jesus. We praise you for his life which informs our living, for his compassion which changes our hearts, for his clear speaking which contradicts our harmless generalities, for his disturbing presence, his innocent suffering, his fearless dying, his rising to life breathing forgiveness and restoring us forever to you. For these gifts we praise and worship you.

All that is spectacular, all that is plain have their origin in you. All that is lovely, all who are loving, point to you as their fulfillment. Therefore we gladly join our voices to the song of the Church on earth and in heaven:

Warren Brown

Jesus was always the guest. In the homes of Peter and Jairus, Martha and Mary, Joanna and Susanna, he was always the guest. At the meal tables of the wealthy where he pled the case of the poor, he was always the guest. Upsetting polite company, befriending isolated people, welcoming the stranger, he was always the guest.

But here, at this table, he is the host. Those who wish to serve him must first be served by him. Those who want to follow him must first be fed by him. For this is the table where God intends us to be nourished.

Sanctus

This is the time when Christ can make us new. So come, you who hunger and thirst for a deeper faith, for a better life, for a fairer world. Jesus Christ, who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be his guests.

On their last night together, and as they were sitting at a meal, Jesus gave thanks, took a piece of bread and broke it. He gave it to the disciples saying, “This is my body. It is broken for you. Do this to remember me.”

Later, after they had eaten, he took a cup of wine, gave thanks and said, “This cup is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death. Drink this all of you, to remember me.”

So now we do as Jesus did.

We offer this bread and this wine to each other, and proclaim the mystery of faith: Celebrant and People

Christ has died.

Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

We ask that these signs of your love be filled with the fullness of Jesus. Let that same love rest on us, converting us from the patterns of this passing world, until we conform to the shape of him whose food we now share. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer version by James Burklo

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we pray this version of the Lord’s Prayer:

Dear One, closer to us than our own hearts, farther from us than the most distant star, you are beyond naming. May your powerful presence become obvious not only in the undeniable glory of the sky, but also in the seemingly base and common processes of the earth. Give us what we need, day by day, to keep body and soul together, because clever as you have made us, we still owe our existence to you. We recognize that to be reconciled with you, we must live peaceably and justly with other human beings, putting hate and bitterness behind us.

We are torn between our faith in your goodness and our awareness of the evil in your creation, so deliver us from the temptation to despair. Yours alone is the universe and all its majesty and beauty. Amen.

The Fraction: Breaking of the Bread Enriching Our Worship

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.

Invitation to Communion

Please be seated until you are invited to come forward to receive communion. Please let us know if you would like the bread brought to you or if you would like a gluten free option.

Communion Music

I Believe I’ll Go Back Home/Lordy, Won’t you Help Me Traditional (Bradley Baker and Dana Baker)

Take Me to the Alley Gregory Porter (Kim Buehler, Bradley Baker and Grace Mauk)

What You Need from It’s Only Life by John Bucchino (Michael Barlos and Grace Mauk)

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

Benediction Light of Grace Andy Beck (Trinity Choir and Merwin Siu)

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 Hymn Seasons of Love from RENT by Jonathan Larson

Please see insert.

Dismissal

Deacon: Go in peace to serve our Loving, Liberating, Life-Giving God!

People: Thanks be to God!

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

Karen Keune, Clerk, Margaret Baehern, Treasurer

Dennis Degnan, Becky Koskinen, Fritz Hany, Leah Reed & Jamie Paul

Parish Staff

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector

Heather Meyer, Director of Operations and Community Development

George M. Benson, Director of Community Engagement

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 by Nan Merrill

The Great Thanksgiving: Prayer 3, Enriching Our Worship

Lord’s Prayer: James Burklo

Bulletin Image: Collage by Lisa Tucker-Gray

Fraction, Breaking of the Bread: Enriching Our Worship. Post Communion Prayer: Written by Lisa Tucker-Gray

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