The First Sunday after the Epiphany
January 10, 2021
All Souls is a community where all are welcome, trust is present, risks are taken, and where our gifts and graces enable us to be who God knows us to be.
List of participants:
The Reverend Amy Cantrell, preacher The Very Reverend John Ohmer, presider The Rev. Deacon Glenda McDowell, gospeller
Kyle Ritter, organist Laura Williams, mezzo-soprano
Jeff Konz, tenor Mary Noel, lector
Flowers are given today in memory of The Rev. Isaac Noyes and Josephine Gribbin Northup and Karen Rebecca Strobel.
Voluntary - What star is this with beams so bright
arr. Alec Wyton
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Opening Sentences
Presider Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. The Presider continues
Presider There is one Body and one Spirit;
People There is one hope in God’s call to us;
Presider One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People One God and Father of all.
The Collect for the Day
Presider The Lord be with you. Let us pray.
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.
The First Reading Acts 19:1-7
Lector A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John bap-tized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.
Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
The cantor sings the acclamation once after which all repeat.
Cantor All of you who were baptized into Christ* Have clothed yourselves with Christ. People Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 25:1-13
Presider The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Presider The Gospel of the Lord.
The Sermon
The Reverend Amy Cantrell
A period of silence will be kept.
Baptismal Covenant
Presider Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Presider 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 into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Presider 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.
Presider 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.
Presider 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.
Presider Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Presider Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider 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 Prayers of the People
Reader Beloved God, we thank you for giving us power through your Spirit to reveal your life to the world; strengthen, bless, and guide us to make you
known by word and example.
People We are your Church, O God. Guide us in your grace.
Reader We thank you for your creation, and pray for the earth you have given us to cherish and protect; nourish in us your love for all you have made.
People We are your stewards, O God. Guide us in your grace.
Reader Guide and bless us in our work and in our play, and shape the patterns of our political and economic life, that all people may share in the fulfillment of your creative work.
People We are your servants, O God. Guide us in your grace.
Reader Awaken our hearts to your presence in all people; in those we love easily and those with whom we struggle, in those different from us and those familiar to us.
People We are made in your image, O God. Guide us in your grace.
Reader We thank you for calling us to a glorious heritage as your holy people.
Free us from lack of vision, from inertia of will and spirit. By your life-giving Spirit, lead us out of isolation and oppression, redeem and restore us.
People You are the life within us, O God. Guide us in your grace.
Reader We thank you for the gift of life, with all its blessings and sorrows. Shield the joyous, comfort and strengthen those in any need or trouble. Bless those who will be born today and those who will die, that,
joining with the company of all your saints, we may rejoice in one unending song of praise.
Presider: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and
strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
Presider The peace of Christ be always with you.
People And also with you.
THE LITURGY OF THE TABLE
At the Offertory - Brightest and best of the stars of the morning
Malcolm Williamson
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining; Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all! Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edom and off’rings divine?
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine? Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure; Richer by far is the heart’s adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid.
The Great Thanksgiving
– Eucharistic Prayer B
BCP, p. 367
Presider The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Presider Lift up your hearts.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caus’d a new light to shine in our hearts, to give knowledge of your glory in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Sanctus
– S 125
Richard Proulx
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through theprophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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.”
Ho ly,- ho ly,- ho ly- Lord, God of pow er- and might, heaven and
earth are full of your glo ry.- Ho san- -nain the high est.-
Ho-san na- in the high est.- Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Ho san- -nain the high est,- Ho san- -na in the high est.
-
Therefore, according to his command, O Father, Presider and People
We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; The Presider continues
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
The Lord’s Prayer
– S 149
McNeil Robinson II
The Breaking of the Bread
Presider Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. Presider The Gifts of God for the People of God.
Presider Let us pray. Presider and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
Presider The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
CLERGY AND STAFF
PRAYERS & THANKSGIVINGS
Prayers are requested for the following: Darrell Pendergrass, Pepe, Jesse Rodgers, Marty Brown, Jamie,
Amy, Cyrus, Nolan and Levi Ager; Liz Auman, Pat & Malcolm Douglas, Melissa Kruger & Dave Roberts, Jaron Rosser son of Lynn and Chris Rosser, Carol Anders, Richard Henning, Archer & Sandra Gravely, Linda Hemstreet , Ben & Sandra Dorr, Dick Vogel, Clare Barry, Carol Harris, Alice Greene, Emma Mamone-Peeples, Jean Scribner, Peter Yaun, George Hayhoe, Kenneth Revis, Christi Kurtz, Jim Newman, Bruce Mashburn and Russ Rhymer, Doris Chapman, Linda Spangler, Cheryl Nick, Suhaiba and Ariana Vandehey, Julia Pappas, Eleanor Hargan, Johnsie Abernethy, Ann Newcomer, Molly Coffee, Whitney Harrington, Connie Ambler, Kent Schwarzkopf, Shari Streeter, Sharon, Nathan, Savannah & Sierra Bitner; Bill Barbour, Kara Albrecht, Ruth Reiterman, Ellen Reiterman, Bill Phoenix, Izzy Bondell, Guy Sayles, Belle Shipley, Tom Crook, Nancy Lewis, Spencer Atwater, Jean Swanson, Julie Ratcliff, Mary Thompson, Whitner Wise, Alex Sivak and family, Meg and David Zabriskie, Michael Sandstedt, Edith Conrad, Kerstin McDaniel, Villary LaRue and Villary LaRue-Campbell, Bill Turner, Julian Bailey, John Ohmer, the Vestry, and the Discernment Committee, The medical professionals and all front line workers battling Covid 19, Joe Biden, A peaceful transition of power and the leaders of our country. All school aged families, teachers and others in education.
If you or someone you know would like to be on the prayer list, please email [email protected]. If you have a pastoral care need, call or text the pastoral care team at 828.273.0403.
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays (Jan. 10-16): Gail Bellows, Skye Spencer, Isabella Harshman,
Frank Quick, John Kelly Douglas, John Byrd, Jr., Melissa Harrelson, Carol Kirchner, Martha Pierce, Kate Marshall, Gail McLeod, Mike Halus, The Rev. Steve Sedgwick, Meimei Whelchel.
We give thanks for those celebrating anniversaries (Jan. 10-16): Brian and Maryjane Hunter.
If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please contact Abby at [email protected] to update our records.
The Right Reverend José A. McLoughlin | Bishop The Very Reverend John Ohmer | Interim Dean The Reverend Deacon Glenda McDowell | Deacon Kyle Ritter | Canon for Music
Micki Hill | Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Children’s Formation Miranda Norlin | Interim Youth Minister
Kim Miller | Pastoral Care Coordinator Abigail Suarez | Parish Administrator David Fortney | Facilities Manager Margo Searson | Financial Assistant
