The First Sunday after the Epiphany Morning Prayer - January 10, 2021 10:00am - St. Mark's ...

The First Sunday after the Epiphany
           Morning Prayer
          January 10, 2021
              10:00am

          St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
                 1 Porter Road
          East Longmeadow, MA 01028
                 413-525-6341
          Email: office@stmarksma.org
          Website: www.stmarksma.org

WELCOME

PRELUDE

OPENING SENTENCE
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

ENTRANCE HYMN “Shall we gather” (LEVAS II 141)

CONFESSION OF SIN
The Officiant says to the people: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Officiant and people together:
God of all mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
opposing your will in our lives.
We have denied your goodness in each other,
 in ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done,
and the evil done on our behalf.
Forgive, restore, and strengthen us
through our Savior Jesus Christ,
that we may abide in your love
and serve only your will. Amen.

The Officiant alone stands and says: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy
Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Officiant: Christ has shown forth his glory. People: Come let us worship.

CANTICLE – JUBILATE “All people that on earth do dwell” (H 377)

PSALM: Psalm 29
  1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
      ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
  2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
      worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
  3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
      the God of glory thunders; *
      the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
  4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
      the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.
  5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
      the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
  6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
      and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
      the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
      the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
  8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
      and strips the forests bare.
  9 And in the temple of the LORD *
      all are crying, "Glory!"
  10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
      the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.
  11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
      the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.

FIRST READING: Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void
and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of
the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the
light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day,
and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first
day.

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

SEQUENCE HYMN “O love, how deep, how broad, how high” (H 448 vs. 1, 2, 3, 6)

SECOND READING: Mark 1:1-11
A Reading from Mark.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will
prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight” ’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his
waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I
is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have
baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ In those days Jesus came
from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up
out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And
a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

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

SERMON                                                              Rev. Sandi Albom

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
Officiant: Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to
Jesus Christ?
People: I do.
Officiant: Do you believe in God the Father?
People: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Officiant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended in to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
Officiant: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Officiant: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in the prayers?
People: I will, with God’s help.

Officiant: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return
to the Lord?
People: I will with God’s help.
Officiant: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Officiant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People: I will with God’s help.
Officiant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of
every human being?
People: I will, with God’s help.
The Officiant concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows:
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water
and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his
grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERTORY SENTENCE: Through Christ let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of
praise, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his Name. But do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15, 16

OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“When Jesus Came To Jordan” Vocals by Alan Druckenmiller, violin, Chris Pryce

THE PRAYERS
Officiant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Officiant: Let us pray.

THE LORD’S PRAYEROur Father in heaven,
     hallowed be your Name,
     your kingdom come,
     your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
     as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
     and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
     and the glory are yours,
     now and forever. Amen.

RESPONSIVE PRAYERS
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

COLLECT OF THE DAY
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved
Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may
keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

COLLECT FOR TRANSITION
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: look graciously on your Church, as we enter a time of
transition in our community. Guide the minds and hearts of those who shall choose a rector for
this parish that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for
our ministries, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COLLECT FOR GUIDANCE
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide
and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not
forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with
compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance, and hatred which infect our
hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our
struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations
and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(The Prayers are led by the intercessor and followed by his response)
Intercessor: Loving God People: Receive our prayer
Intercessions are welcome at this time

PRAYER LIST AND PRAYERS FROM THOSE GATHERED ONLINE

CONCLUDING PRAYER: Officiant and People
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for
the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and
for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the
loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks which
demand our very best efforts and for leading us to accomplishment which satisfy and
delight us. We thank you also for those disappointment and failures that lead us to
acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your son Jesus
Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by
which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which we are raised to the life of
your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him
known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all
things. Amen

BLESSING

CLOSING HYMN “What Star is this?” (H 124 vs. 1, 2, 3)

CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

DISMISSAL

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

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PEOPLE IN OUR PRAYERS

● Homebound: Mary Jane, William & Barbara, Melissa, Lucy, Fran, and Sandy Moore
● Healing: Doreen, Milt, Dale, Alaina, Matthew, Russ, Gail, Joseph, Jose, David, Phyllis,
  Joyce, Ann, Andy, Wendy, Jaime, Kim, Jean, Maggie, Mark, Elizabeth, Sandy, Carol,
  June, Millie, Rick, Jeff, Liz, Dick, Dusti, Justin, Jim, Georgia, Fran, Chris & Family,
  Ashling, Dan, Holly, Jack, Sue, Gail, Mary, The Tarby’s, Liz, Jean, Keith, Colleen, Jeff,
  Samantha, Gus, Irene, Lisa, Millie, Caroline, Carol, Felicia Gelinas, Donna Marie
  Haraty, Alicia Gagne, Linda Anderson, Barbara, David, Pat Harmon, Deb Lewis, Bill
  Bremmer, Tracie Wright, Caroline, Margaret, Lynn, Barbara Volker, Lori Decker
   Those celebrating a birthday this week: Nicholas Dufresne & Alix DeGregory