Living on the Continuum of Health, Justice, and Freedom

18 Pentecost, C proper 23, October 12, 2025
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Psalm 111
2 Tim. 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19

Lectionary Link

Our Scripture readings laid out before us today presents us with two utterly different situations of human existence, both calling for a radical redefinition of faith: one defined by exile and imprisonment, the other by disease and isolation. How does one express faithful living when one is ill and shunned and when one is oppressed without significant agency for resistance? 

One of the most terrifying situations of faith is being forced to adjust to situations of oppression and injustice.  The history of the world includes the history of people having to adjust to situations of injustice.  The people of Israel were conquered and carried into exile several times in their history.  They had no military means of defense or freedom from their conditions.

And what about the many African American slaves who for years were forced into their condition?  What about the conquered native people of America who were forced from their lands and imprisoned on designated reservations within the land that once was their own?

The birth of Christianity came to a minority people within the Roman Empire.  The notion of slavery was so pronounced that "being a slave" became a prominent metaphor within the Jesus Movement.  The thinking might have been, "if we live in the social condition of slavery and oppression, then let us accept the only valid condition of slavery, "namely being a slave or servant of God, even as Jesus the Son accepted the conditions of human slavery, of being the divine emptied into human life."

How do people who profess being slaves and servants of God live in a world which practices slavery and oppression because in a kind of social Darwinism, "Might makes Right, so deal with it?"

To survive in this world, Native Americans and African American slaves were forced to live in their conditions.  From their situation Native American spirituality helped to keep their identity as peoples of the Great Spirit.  From their situation of slavery, African American with their spirituality lived the essence of the Beatitudes of Jesus far better than their white slave owners could even dream about.  From the position of Justice being what is Normal about good human living, it is horrifying to think about the kinds of adjustments forced upon Native Peoples and African Americans in slavery.

We find a similar compromising solution to Israelites in captivity offered by the words of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah encouraged the exiled peoples to make peace with their conditions, and live winsomely and gain the favor of their overlords with life examples.  The alternative was to be in open resistance and lose their lives.

Israel in exile created what we know that Judaism has become, and the exile also influenced what the Jesus Movement became.  While in exile, crucial theological insights borrowed from Babylon and Persia came into the tradition; things like resurrection, heaven, hell, messianism, and the eschatology which created the conditions for the apocalyptic genre of literature which so defined the ministries of John the Baptist, Jesus, and St. Paul.

As the people of Israel lived winsomely in exile, they won the right of return to their land, and they brought with them an identity which had become supplemented without having access to the Temple and their homeland.  From abroad they were able to build the myth of a homeland and a past which formed their identity as a people which became the spiritual cement of their survival.

If being a slave of God and Christ became a major metaphor of the New Testament, one could also say that salvation is a major theme of the New Testament.  In some circles salvation is reduced to the post-death event of being "saved" and going to heaven, or being "unsaved," and going to hell.  Such are trivializing of the holistic notion of health which is implied in a true Gospel which meets its definition of being "good news."

The stories of Jesus are presented as indicating that God is the God of health and salvation for all people.  They are presented as rebukes to people who present God as one who shuns certain people, especially ones own "enemies."

The story of the lepers healed by Jesus instantiates several theological themes of the early Jesus Movement.  First, health is a universal need.  No one's community deserves it more than another community of people.  Jesus is presented as the one representing a God who offers health to all and not just to a "supposed favored" community.  The story also includes an embarrassing poke: one's enemy can actually be more thankful about God's healing and goodness.  It is a rebuke to those who think that our own community deserves health and salvation more than others, hence why should we be thankful for what we think we deserve as God's favored people?  

The story reminds us that we all live on the continuum of degrees of health, and as such we need both the grace of an inclusive God and an inclusive community to help us live on the continuum of health, a life that ultimately will know the entropy of death.

Finally, we are reminded about a favorite metaphor of St. Paul, which is reiterated in the reading from Second Timothy : the prisoner.  Paul was a prisoner for Christ and for the Gospel.  Paul regarded this as part of his identity of being a servant or slave of Christ.  His spiritual life involved him knowing himself to be in an identity with Christ, with his life, death, resurrection, ascension and glorification.

St. Paul saw his identity with Christ as his way of adjusting to the prison conditions of life, the conditions of oppression, the conditions of affliction, and the condition of being exiled from his heavenly abode.

The Gospel challenge for us today might be this: Let us not be those who oppress, shun, enslave and imprison.  Let us be those who proclaim God as the welcoming one for the salvation and health of all.  And to the degree that we know sickness, shunning, enslavements, or oppression, let us seek grace to know how to live with faithful winsomeness.  But let us never forget to be thankful because Thanksgiving is the sealing of the relationship between the giver and the receiver.  Amen.

Sunday School, October 12, 2025 18 Pentecost C proper 23

 Sunday School, October 12, 2025    18 Pentecost  C proper 23

Themes:

Health, Thanksgiving and Inclusion

Health is both about a person and about the community which a person lives in.

We know about infectious diseases.  When one child get a cold or the flu, the virus or the germs spread and sometimes many of the classmates get sick too.   When one is sick, one has to stay at home to get better but also so as not to spread the germs of sickness.

In the time of Jesus, there were people who had a skin disease of leprosy.  Whenever the skin of a person showed the signs of a skin disease, the priests had a system of rules which required them to keep the person with leprosy away healthy people.  So a sick person could be made to feel doubly bad.  He was had a disease but he also was kept about from people who could care for him.  He would have to go live with other sick people until he became better.  And people who were not sick would be afraid of how a person with a skin disease looked.  They would avoid that person.

Jesus was not afraid of people who were sick.  He did not think that they should be separated from people.  He healed 10 men who had leprosy.  He told them to go and show themselves to the priests.

Out of the 10 men who were healed, only one of them returned to say “thank you” to Jesus.  The one who said, “thank you” was a Samaritan.  The Samaritans and the Jews were enemies.  Jesus was a Jew but he did not treat this Samaritan man with leprosy as his enemy.  And this Samaritan did not treat Jesus as his enemy.  He returned to say “thank you.”  Jesus told him that his faith had made him well.

What does it mean to be well?

To be well means to have faith.   In our lives we can get sick many times and there are many people who have very serious illness.   So how can we be well, even when we are sick?  By having faith.  We can also be well as a community of people who care for people who are sick.  Today we have hospitals, doctors and nurses and many others who help people get better.  We as a parish community need to be well; we need to have the kind of faith in the goodness of Christ to take care of each other when we are sick.

Being well is having faith as a person but also as community of people who care for each other and include people who are sick in our prayerful care.

Sermon:

  How many of us like to be left out?

  What if I said today, only the people wearing the color red today can come and receive communion today?  How would you feel?

  What would you think about that kind of rule?

  You would think that rule was unfair.  You would think that rule does not make any sense.

  Some times in our life we get left out.  And one of the times that we get left out, is when we are sick.

  When we’re sick, we can’t go to school or to church.  And so we get left out.  We don’t get to go to public places when we’re sick.

  But when we’re sick, does everyone leave us out?   No, our moms and dad take care of us.  They give us medicine and orange juice.  They take us to the doctor.  They give us special attention to help us get better.  So even though we are left out of school when we’re sick, we’re not left out of the care of our family and friends.

  During the time of Jesus, there were people who had some skin diseases that did not make them look good, and so people were so afraid of them, that even the priests had made rules to make those sick people live outside of the towns and cities.  They had to beg to get food.

  What did Jesus do?  He was not afraid of their skin diseases.  He told them they could be made better and they did not have to be left out.

  So Jesus invited these sick people to receive care.

  And Jesus taught us that God does not leave anyone out.  Everyone is welcome into God’s family.

  And if we feel welcome into God’s family, that will help us to be healthy and well.  Because we become healthy and well because no matter what sickness we have, we are well if we have people to love and care for us.

  So Jesus teaches us to love and care for sick people and for all people who might feel left out.

  This is a very good lesson that we have learned today: To love and care for all people and always welcome them to be with us in our community of prayer and worship.  Amen.

 A Child-Friendly Holy Eucharist

October 12, 2025: The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; O Be Careful; Wait for the Lord; Awesome God

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hallelu, Hallelujah   (Christian Children’s Songbook # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord! 

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Second Letter to Timothy

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 66

Be joyful in God, all you lands; * sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise.

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! * because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.

All the earth bows down before you, * sings to you, sings out your Name."

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song: O Be Careful (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 180)

O be careful little hands what you do.  O be careful little hands what you do.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love, so be careful little hands what you do.

O be careful little feet where you go.  O be careful little feet where you go.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love so be careful little feet where you go.

O be careful little lips what you say.  O be careful little lips what you say.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love, so be careful little lips what you say.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, 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."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments) 

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia.

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Wait for the Lord (Renew! # 278)

Wait for the Lord, his day is near. 

Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Awesome God (Renew! # 245)

Our God is an awesome God.  He reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and love. 

Our God is an awesome God.

(Sing three times)

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God! 

Attaining Important Universals in Christ

18 Pentecost, C proper 23, October 9, 2022
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Psalm 111
2 Tim. 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19

Lectionary Link

Can we agree on some universals?

Everyone needs and wants health and deserves access to the modes of healing available.

Everyone can have valid faith.

Everyone can be thankful.

What happens when people do not practice these universals?

Access to health and healing and care belongs to those who can afford it or to those who are members of our own group who share our persuasions.

The faith of my own group is more valid and efficacious than the faith of those who do not agree with us.

Since my group deserves health and health care, we don't really need to be thankful for something which we deserve.

How did the Gospels present the values of the early communities which derived from following Jesus of Nazareth?

They preached the health of salvation to all peoples, both to the Jews who had a very illustrious faith tradition and to the non-Jewish peoples who inhabited the Roman Empire.  The Jesus Movement, as it is presented in the New Testament is a Christo-centric Judaism with a method of evangelism that allowed the universalism of the Hebrew prophets to be practiced in welcoming ways.  These welcoming ways involved dispensing with some of the ritual requirements in customs like dietary rules and ritual circumcision.  Ritual adjustments were made to become an accessible universal invitation to the health of salvation.

What did the early Gospel communities discover about faith in Jesus Christ?   They found that it was winsome among Jews and Gentiles.  This winsomeness was seen as validating the faith experience of those who were Samaritans and Gentiles.  Salvation became a faith event for all peoples.  St. Paul wrote an apology for this kind of faith in appealing the pre-Jewish Patriarch Abraham.  Abraham had faith before the Covenant of the Law existed and he was seen as the model of faith for the Gentile peoples.  This faith in Jesus Christ was able to be the basis for establishing the extended family social organizations which came to become churches.  These social organizations gave structures of belonging for the diverse people who were inhabiting the cities of the Roman Empire.  This lodging, befriending community behavior was expressive of the holistic health which was a chief characteristic of communion called fellowship.  Fellowship is a special kind of spiritual bonding around the values of hope in the Risen Christ who could continue to known in individual ways to animate the particular gifts of each person.

One of chief values of the Jesus Movement was thanksgiving.  This value was ritualize in the principal gathering event derived from the very word thanksgiving, or Eucharist.  A thanksgiving feast comprises the actual social reality of the gathered church, a people who belong to Christ and to each other.  This experience of belonging is like health to those who have known "leper state" of isolation from the community of health.  The experience of the Risen Christ is the experience of coming to belong with God in Christ and within a community of care.  A meal of Thanksgiving is truly the most appropriate worship response to God for healthful salvation offered in Jesus Christ.

With the continual practice of Eucharist within a community of people who belong to Christ and to each other, we are like the thankful Samaritan leper who was healed; we are always returning to thank Christ for healthful salvation.  And in this thanksgiving event, we again receive the presence of the healing Christ.  Amen.

Sunday School, October 9, 2022 18 Pentecost C proper 23

 Sunday School, October 9, 2022    18 Pentecost  C proper 23

Themes:

Health, Thanksgiving and Inclusion

Health is both about a person and about the community which a person lives in.

We know about infectious diseases.  When one child get a cold or the flu, the virus or the germs spread and sometimes many of the classmates get sick too.   When one is sick, one has to stay at home to get better but also so as not to spread the germs of sickness.

In the time of Jesus, there were people who had a skin disease of leprosy.  Whenever the skin of a person showed the signs of a skin disease, the priests had a system of rules which required them to keep the person with leprosy away healthy people.  So a sick person could be made to feel doubly bad.  He was had a disease but he also was kept about from people who could care for him.  He would have to go live with other sick people until he became better.  And people who were not sick would be afraid of how a person with a skin disease looked.  They would avoid that person.

Jesus was not afraid of people who were sick.  He did not think that they should be separated from people.  He healed 10 men who had leprosy.  He told them to go and show themselves to the priests.

Out of the 10 men who were healed, only one of them returned to say “thank you” to Jesus.  The one who said, “thank you” was a Samaritan.  The Samaritans and the Jews were enemies.  Jesus was a Jew but he did not treat this Samaritan man with leprosy as his enemy.  And this Samaritan did not treat Jesus as his enemy.  He returned to say “thank you.”  Jesus told him that his faith had made him well.

What does it mean to be well?

To be well means to have faith.   In our lives we can get sick many times and there are many people who have very serious illness.   So how can we be well, even when we are sick?  By having faith.  We can also be well as a community of people who care for people who are sick.  Today we have hospitals, doctors and nurses and many others who help people get better.  We as a parish community need to be well; we need to have the kind of faith in the goodness of Christ to take care of each other when we are sick.

Being well is having faith as a person but also as community of people who care for each other and include people who are sick in our prayerful care.

Sermon:

  How many of us like to be left out?

  What if I said today, only the people wearing the color red today can come and receive communion today?  How would you feel?

  What would you think about that kind of rule?

  You would think that rule was unfair.  You would think that rule does not make any sense.

  Some times in our life we get left out.  And one of the times that we get left out, is when we are sick.

  When we’re sick, we can’t go to school or to church.  And so we get left out.  We don’t get to go to public places when we’re sick.

  But when we’re sick, does everyone leave us out?   No, our moms and dad take care of us.  They give us medicine and orange juice.  They take us to the doctor.  They give us special attention to help us get better.  So even though we are left out of school when we’re sick, we’re not left out of the care of our family and friends.

  During the time of Jesus, there were people who had some skin diseases that did not make them look good, and so people were so afraid of them, that even the priests had made rules to make those sick people live outside of the towns and cities.  They had to beg to get food.

  What did Jesus do?  He was not afraid of their skin diseases.  He told them they could be made better and they did not have to be left out.

  So Jesus invited these sick people to receive care.

  And Jesus taught us that God does not leave anyone out.  Everyone is welcome into God’s family.

  And if we feel welcome into God’s family, that will help us to be healthy and well.  Because we become healthy and well because no matter what sickness we have, we are well if we have people to love and care for us.

  So Jesus teaches us to love and care for sick people and for all people who might feel left out.

  This is a very good lesson that we have learned today: To love and care for all people and always welcome them to be with us in our community of prayer and worship.  Amen.

 A Child-Friendly Holy Eucharist

October 9, 2022: The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gathering Songs: Hallelu, Hallelujah; O Be Careful; Wait for the Lord; Awesome God

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hallelu, Hallelujah   (Christian Children’s Songbook # 84)

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord! 

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord! 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah. 

Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah.  Praise ye the Lord.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Second Letter to Timothy

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 66

Be joyful in God, all you lands; * sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise.

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! * because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.

All the earth bows down before you, * sings to you, sings out your Name."

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song: O Be Careful (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 180)

O be careful little hands what you do.  O be careful little hands what you do.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love, so be careful little hands what you do.

O be careful little feet where you go.  O be careful little feet where you go.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love so be careful little feet where you go.

O be careful little lips what you say.  O be careful little lips what you say.  There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love, so be careful little lips what you say.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, 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."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

(Children rejoin their parents and take up their instruments) 

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia.

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Wait for the Lord (Renew! # 278)

Wait for the Lord, his day is near. 

Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Awesome God (Renew! # 245)

Our God is an awesome God.  He reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and love. 

Our God is an awesome God.

(Sing three times)

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God!