The Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost Morning Devotion Trinity@316 September 4, 2022 10:00 am
And may you never forget you are loved, Priest Lisa
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.
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 together, week after week.
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 offeredmusic, 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.
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.
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.
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Good morning and “welcome home” to Trinity!
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 Soourselves.thankyou 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.
3 Prelude Horn Improvisation Will Schneider (Will Schneider, horn) Welcome Worship Convenor Opening Hymn All Are Welcome GIA Edition #4166 Please rise.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
4 Collect of the Day Prayers for the Inclusive Church
The First Reading
Leader: The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray. Jealous God, you call us to hate the life that is an echo of death and a whisper of fear: give is the courage to pass through shadow and count the cost of a love beyond measure; through Jesus Christ, the one who is fully alive. Amen. Please be seated. Deuteronomy 20
30:15
Reader: A reading from Deuteronomy. Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
People:
Blessed are those who walk hand in hand with goodness, who stand beside virtue, who sit in the seat of truth; For their delight is in the Spirit of Love, and in Love’s heart they dwell day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, that yield fruit in due season, and their leaves flourish; And in all that they do, they give life.
The unloving are not so; they are like dandelions which the wind blows away.
Turning from the Heart of Love they will know suffering and pain. They will be isolated from wisdom; for Love knows the way of truth, the way of ignorance will perish as Love’s penetrating Light breaks through hearts filled with illusions: forgiveness is the way.
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The Psalm Psalm 1 Psalms for Praying
The cantor will offer the first line and the congregation is invited to join on the second.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
6 The SECOND READING Philemon 1 21 Reader: A reading from Philemon
When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Sermon Donna Steppe, Trinity member Your
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.
Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."
7 Gradual Bless the Lord Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin Please rise.
The Gospel Luke 14:25-33
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
People: May they know the power of your healing love.
You have always been with us.
You are with us now. You are God. You, O God, are Holy Spirit You empower us to be your gospel in the world.
Intercessor: Breathe fresh life into your people.
Please rise as you are able.
People: That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.
The Prayers of the People
Affirmation of Faith From The New Zealand Prayerbook
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Intercessor: Creator of All, you have promised to hear when we pray in the name of your Son. Therefore, in confidence and trust we pray for the Church. God, enliven the Church for its mission:
Intercessor: Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.
Intercessor: God of truth, inspire with your wisdom those whose decisions affect the lives of others, People: That all may act with integrity and courage.
People: May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
People: Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.
Intercessor: We pray for those on our Trinity Prayer List, and those we now name silently or aloud. God of hope, comfort and restore all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
Intercessor: Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.
People: Teach us to care creatively for its resources.
You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, good beyond all measure. You came to us before we came to you. You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again.
You are our God. We worship you. Amen.
You reconcile and heal; you overcome death.
You, O God, are supreme and holy. You create our world and give us life. Your purpose overarches everything we do.
Intercessor: Creator of all, lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.
People: That we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.
Intercessor: We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory.
People: Grant that we may walk in your presence: your love in our hearts, your truth in our minds, your strength in our wills; until, at the end of our journey, we know the joy of our homecoming and the welcome of your embrace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Confession of Sin & Absolution Celtic Confession
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.
Intercessor: Make us willing agents of your compassion.
People: Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.
Intercessor: Lord, you have called us to serve you.
Leader: Let us confess our sins to God.
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.
OffertoryAnnouncementsInvitation
People: Bring them peace in their time of loss.
Deacon: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.
People: May their example inspire and encourage us.
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 attitudes be no associate in the condemnation of another. Lord, let our tongues be no accomplice in the judgment of another.
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Intercessor: Give comfort to those who mourn.
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.
THE PEACE
The Lord’s Prayer James Burklo Please rise.
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.
Sending Hymn I’ve Got Peace Like a River LEVAS #201 See next page.
Offertory Widmung Robert Schumann (1810 1856) (Chelsie Cree, Will Schneider and Grace Mauk)
Dismissal Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
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People: Thanks be to God!
Yours alone is the universe and all its majesty and beauty. So it is, 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.
Leader: And now let us pray together this contemporary version of the Lord’s prayer.
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.
Sending Hymn I’ve Got Peace Like a River LEVAS #201
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 Facebook.com/TrinityEpiscopalToledowww.trinitytoledo.org1231
