The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - October 4, 2020 10:30am - Christ Episcopal ...
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October 4, 2020 10:30am
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Feast of St. Francis of AssisiOpening Hymn: “All Things Bright and Beautiful” Royal Oak
Opening Salutation The Rev. Peter Homeyer
Celebrant: The Earth is the Lord’s, for God made it.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Collect of Purity
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by
the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Song of Praise: “Earth and All Stars” Earth and All Stars
Collect of the Day
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to
renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of
blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole
creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
First Reading: 1 Kings 4:29-30, 33-34
A reading from the First Book of Kings
And God gave Solomon wisdom and very great understanding—
insight as long as the seashore itself. Solomon’s wisdom was greater
than all the famous Easterners, greater even than all the wisdom of
Egypt. He described the botany of trees, whether the cedar in
Lebanon or the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He also described
cattle, birds, anything that crawls on the ground, and fish. People
came from everywhere to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; even the
earth’s kings who had heard about his wisdom came!Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Canticle of the Sun (by St. Francis, 1224)
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and You give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which You give Your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
→Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Second Reading: St. Francis, Rabbits, and Fish
A reading from the legends of the life of St. Francis
One day a brother brought a rabbit who had been caught in a trap
to Francis. Francis advised the rabbit to be more alert in the future,
then released the rabbit from the trap and set it on the ground to go
its way. But the rabbit hopped back up onto Francis’ lap, desiring to
be close to the saint.
Francis took the rabbit a few steps into the woods and set it down.
But it followed Francis back to his seat and hopped on his lap again!
Finally Francis asked one of his fellow friars to take the rabbit far into
the woods and let it go. That worked. This type of thing happened
repeatedly to Francis—which he saw as an opportunity to praise the
glory of God.
Fish were also known to obey Francis. Whenever a fish was caught
and Francis was nearby, he would return the fish to the water,
warning it not to be caught again. On several occasions the fish
would linger awhile near the boat, listening to Francis preach, until
he gave them permission to leave. Then they would swim off. In
every work of art, as Saint Francis called all creation, he would praise
the artist, our loving Creator.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Hymn: “I’ve Got Peace Like a River ” SpiritualGospel: Matthew 21:18-35
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you
don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the
clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than
the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance
than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and
unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of
God. And you count far more to him than birds.
“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so
much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do
you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the
fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They
never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite
like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look
shabby alongside them.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most
of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you,
take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to
get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can
respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way
he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he
works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.
Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human
concerns will be met.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t
get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God
will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time
comes.
Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon The Rev. Peter HomeyerPeace Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
taken from St. Francis Day Resources of the Episcopal Church
Lay Leader: Let us give thanks to God our Creator for all the gifts so
freely bestowed upon us and for the beauty and wonder of your
creation, in earth and sky and sea;
All: We thank you, Lord.
Lay Leader: For the richness of the mountains, plains and rivers;
All: We thank you, Lord.
Lay Leader: For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women;
All: We thank you, Lord.
Lay Leader: For all creatures that breathe, and move, and have life.
Remembering especially the life of Carlos Romero;
All: We thank you, Lord.
Lay Leader: For the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers and
trees;
All: We thank you, Lord.
Lay Leader: For the trust you have shown in giving into our care
these, our pets;
All: We thank you, Lord.Lay Leader: That each pet here may be treasured with care;
All: We pray to you, Lord.
Lay Leader: That we may love and honor all your works, O God;
All: We pray to you, Lord.
Lay Leader: That we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment
of your abundant creation;
All: To the honor and glory of your name, now and forever, we pray to
you, Lord. Amen.
Concluding Collect
Announcements & Blessings
Blessing of the Animals
The Peace
Leader: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Closing Hymn “’Tis the Gift to Be Simple, ‘Tis the Gift to Be Free” Simple Gifts
Blessing
A Short Biography of St. Francis
(taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica):
St. Francis of Assisi, Italian San Francesco d’Assisi, (born
1181/82, Assisi, duchy of Spoleto [Italy]—died October 3,
1226, Assisi; canonized July 16, 1228; feast day October 4),
founder of the Franciscan orders of the Friars Minor
(Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the women’s Order of St. Clare
(the Poor Clares), and the lay Third Order. He was also a
leader of the movement of evangelical poverty in the
early 13th century. His evangelical zeal, consecration to
poverty, charity, and personal charisma drew thousands of
followers. Francis’s devotion to the human Jesus and his
desire to follow Jesus’ example reflected and reinforced
important developments in medieval spirituality. The
Poverello (“Poor Little Man”) is one of the most venerated
religious figures in Christian history. For his love of animals
and nature, he is recognized as the patron saint of ecology.Thank you for worshipping with us today!
Rector: The Rev. Peter Homeyer
Director of Music & Keyboard: Yun Kim
Guitarist: Greg Sexton
Crucifer: Mike Clinch
Current Worship Opportunities
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10:30 AM | Liturgy of The Word with Music
Via Zoom
Weekdays
9 AM | Morning Prayer Rite II
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