The service printed here is from the Book of Common Prayer.
The people respond by speaking or singing the text in bold type.
The Word of God
The Acclamation
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for 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.
Gloria Sung by all from The Orlando Service by Robert Lau
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heav’nly King, almighty God and Father. We worship you. We adore you. Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson Revelation 7:9-17
After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 recited
I will bless the LORD at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt his Name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.
The Second Lesson 1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Hymn Sung by all “Children of the heavenly Father”
Children of the heav’nly Father Safely in His bosom gather; Nestling bird nor star in heaven, Such a refuge e’er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish, In His holy courts they flourish; From all evil things He spares them, In His mighty arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers, Your protector never slumbers; At the will of your defender Every person must surrender.
Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh; His the loving purpose solely To preserve them pure and holy.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Paul Bennett
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Officiant: Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with Him to newness of life. I call upon you to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.
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 into 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 the 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.
Officiant: 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.
People: Amen.
The Prayers of the People Form II
Officiant: I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishop; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people. Pray for the Church.
Silence
Officiant: I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
Officiant: I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
Officiant: I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence
Officiant: I ask your prayers for the departed. Pray for those who have died.
Silence
Officiant: Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Please exchange a sign of God’s peace with others.
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