Trinity Episcopal Church PROGRESSIVE Inclusive
CREATIVE DOWNTOWN
Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Morning Devotion
August 29, 2021 10:00am
Welcome to Trinity Episcopal Church Good morning and “welcome home” to Trinity! Whether you are new to our community or have found yourself coming back again and again, we want you to know you are both welcome and wanted here among us. For some, church is as comfortable and familiar as a good pair of jeans, or like coming back to your childhood home (if it is one filled with good memories). For others, church might be like visiting a foreign country where you experience unfamiliar language or customs. And then, sadly, for some, church has become equated with feelings of hurt, shame or rejection. We get all of that and believe church can be different. We are a diverse community of seekers, believers, and doubters held together by the hope that together we are better, kinder, and more courageous when we stand side by side and face into the challenges of our lives and in the world together. We challenge the practices of our tradition that have at times kept others out and instead embrace Jesus’ mandate to welcome all, no exceptions, as a core value. And, we get that if people are brave enough to either walk through the doors of a big gothic-looking church in downtown Toledo, or tune in to Trinity@Home on line, we better be serious about being explicitly progressive, inclusive and creative in all we say and do. We love our Episcopal tradition, AND we love people from all walks of life even more! It is our hope and prayer that together we will navigate our way through each gathering, worship service, opportunity to serve, class, meal and social time together with humility, grace and laughter all infused with radical hospitality. So thank you for being here today; for trusting the yearning that brought you through those ancient doors. May we all find our way into the heart of God’s love as we make room for each other in this community and this world- we believe we are better and love more when diversity is celebrated and the bounds of God’s love are stretched wide. This bulletin is a guide to accompany you through the “liturgy”- meaning the “work of the people”- which is how our tradition approaches worship. It does indeed take a village bringing all of its gifts together to create our expression of gratitude and devotion week after week. Here is a quick little guide to help you follow along as we worship together: • • •
Italicized Print = singing Bold Print = everyone is invited to join in reciting a prayer/reading Bold & Italicized Print = everyone is invited to join in singing.
Welcome Home! May you never forget you are loved, Lisa The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector www.trinitytoledo.org
The Liturgy of the Word Prelude
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Robert Lowery
(arr. by Gabe Hagedorn)
Welcome
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray
Opening Hymn
I Love to Tell the Story
A. Katherine Hankey & (Shameless Christian Men’s Gospel Singers William G. Fisher & Brian Buckner-piano)
I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, Because I know it’s true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else would do.
I love to tell the story, For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it, like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story; Twill be my theme in glory. To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; Twill be my theme in glory. To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
Collect of the Day Deacon: People: Deacon:
Prayers for an Inclusive Church
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
God of unclean hands, touching those rejected by the world, despised by the religious: guide us from false purity which hides misshapen hearts; lead us to the joyful feast in which all are renewed; through Jesus Christ, the beauty of God’s face. Amen.
FIRST READING Reader:
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 A reading from Joshua.
Read by Jamie Paul
Moses said: So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” 3
For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.
Reader: People:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE PSALM
Psalm 15
Psalms for Praying
The plain text will be offered by the cantor; the congregation is invited to respond by singing the text in bold.
O Beloved, whom will You invite into the abode of your Heart? Who will dwell with You in Love? One who walks with integrity, who is in harmony with your Word, and sings the heart’s song; Whose tongue speaks truth judging not others and seeking only the good; Whose eyes behold not the outer garments of the body, but see within the inner robe of Love; Whose own weaknesses are acknowledged and brought to light in prayer; Who is just in all affairs of life and takes not advantage of another. One who does all these things, will join the Dance of Life! will sing the Song of Joy!
SECOND READING Reader:
James 1:17-27
A reading from James.
Read by Becky Walker
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 4
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Reader: People:
Gradual
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Seek Ye First (Trinity Singers & Brian Buckner- piano)
Karen Laffertry The 1982 Hymnal #711
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, Alleluia! Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you; Allelu, Alleluia! Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, Alleluia!
THE GOSPEL Deacon: People:
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark. Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) 5
So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Deacon: People:
The Gospel of Christ. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon
The Rev. Dcn. Megan Allen
Affirmation of FAITH
Written by Bruce D. Prewer Led by Roberta Durham
We believe in the God of Jesus of Nazareth, who blesses the meek, the poor and the persecuted, exalts the least and saves the lost. We believe in the Holy One whose beloved Child, Jesus the Christ, pleased God far more than tongue or pen can ever tell. We believe in the baptized Christ, and the community of love and hope which grew around his word and witness. We believe that he is the first citizen of a new race, where the entry fee is Divine grace, and the ground rules are shaped by love. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by whom old things find new birth, and new things grow on to maturity, and the dead receive regeneration. We believe in one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and in the limitless life which flows for the healing of the nations. Amen.
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The Prayers of the People Please join the leader in sharing the responses in bold. Intercessor:
People: Intercessor: People: Intercessor:
People: Intercessor:
People:
from the Iona Community Offered by Gary Franklin
Let us pray. Gracious God, early in the morning, when the world was young, you made life in all its beauty and terror, you gave birth to all that we know. Hallowed be your name. Early in the morning, when the world least expected it, a newborn child crying in a cradle announced that you had come among us, that you were one of us. Hallowed be your name. Early in the morning, surrounded by respectable liars, religious leaders, anxious and silent friends, you accepted the penalty for doing good, for being God: you shouldered and suffered the cross. Hallowed be your name. Early in the morning, a voice in a guarded graveyard and footsteps in the dew proved that you had risen, that you had come back to those and for those who had forgotten, denied and destroyed you. Hallowed be your name.
Intercessor:
Early in the morning, in the multicolored company of your Church on earth and in heaven we celebrate your creation, your life, your death and resurrection, your interest in us: So to you we pray…
People:
God, bring new life where we are worn and tired, new love where we have turned hard-hearted, forgiveness where we feel hurt and where we have been wounded, and the joy and freedom in your Holy Spirit where we are the prisoners of ourselves. (pause for silence)
Intercessor:
People:
To all and to each where regret is real, God pronounces pardon and grants us the right to begin again. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
THE PEACE Deacon: People:
Cheryl Mack The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Announcements 7
Offertory Go to our Giving page. www.trinitytoledo.org/online-giving/, choose GIVE and Sunday, August 29. You can also text the word “Give” to 419-OMG-LOVE (419-664-5683) to make your weekly offering.
Offertory
Blackbird
John Lennon & Paul McCartney (Kim Buehler & Lisa Tucker-Gray-guitar)
Lord’s Prayer
Version by James Burklo Led by Leah Reed
The congregation is invited to join.
Dear One, closer to us than our own hearts, farther from us than the most distant star, you are beyond naming. May your powerful presence become obvious not only in the undeniable glory of the sky, but also in the seemingly base and common processes of the earth. Give us what we need, day by day, to keep body and soul together, because clever as you have made us, we still owe our existence to you. We recognize that to be reconciled with you, we must live peaceably and justly with other human beings, putting hate and bitterness behind us. We are torn between our faith in your goodness and our awareness of the evil in your creation, so deliver us from the temptation to despair. Yours alone is the universe and all its majesty and beauty. So it is, Amen.
Blessing
May the rain fall off your shoulders when you’re caught in a storm. When the frost comes a callin’ may it find you safe and warm. May your place be set, and may your promises be kept. And may you never forget that you are loved.
Sending Hymn
Peace Like a River
See page 9.
(Trinity Ukulele Choir)
Dismissal Deacon: People:
Ayden Tennant & Liam Cousino Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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Sending Hymn
Peace Like a River
Traditional Spiritual
(Trinity Ukulele Choir)
I've got peace like a river I've got peace like a river I've got peace like a river in my soul I've got peace like a river I've got peace like a river I've got peace like a river in my soul I've got love like an ocean I've got love like an ocean I've got love like an ocean in my soul I've got love like an ocean I've got love like an ocean I've got love like an ocean in my soul I've got joy like a fountain I've got joy like a fountain I've got joy like a fountain in my soul I've got joy like a fountain I've got joy like a fountain I've got joy like a fountain in my soul I’ve got faith like a mountain I’ve got faith like a mountain I’ve got faith like a mountain in my soul I’ve got faith like a mountain I’ve got faith like a mountain I’ve got faith like a mountain in my soul I’ve got hope like a rainbow I’ve got hope like a rainbow I’ve got hope like a rainbow in my soul I’ve got hope like a rainbow I’ve got hope like a rainbow I’ve got hope like a rainbow in my soul
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Trinity’s Daily Bread- As a community of faith, we are called to love and be loved; to serve and be served, to give and to receive. In short, we don’t want anyone to “fall behind or drop out.” In this season of connecting in new ways, we are introducing Trinity’s Daily Bread. Please let us know if you need prayer, assistance or connection by filling out our Daily Bread form on our website, www.trinitytoledo.org!
Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Leadership Donna Steppe, Sr. Warden, Roberta Durham, Jr. Warden Leah Reed, Clerk, Jeffrey Albright, Dennis Degnan, Becky Koskinen, Fritz Hany, Bob Meeker & Jamie Paul Gary Franklin, Treasurer
Parish Staff The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector The Rev. Megan Allen, Transitional Deacon, Curate Heather Meyer, Director of Operations and Community Development Chelsie Cree, Interim Choir Director Lynzi Miller, Next To New Manager & Communications Coordinator Nick Zurawski, Sexton ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & COPYRIGHT INFO: Collect of the Day Prayers for an Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare. Church Publishing, New York. © 2009 by Steven Shakespeare. Permission granted by Church Publishing for congregational use. Readings and Gospel from: Revised Common Lectionary: lectionarypage.net, 2020 Psalm: From Psalms for Praying © 2007 Nan C. Merrill. Reprinted with permission of the publisher Continuum International Publishing Group www.PsalmsForPraying.com. Affirmation of Faith: written by Bruce D. Prewer, Epiphany 1, 2005. Prayers of the People: from the Iona Community - The Iona Abbey Book of Worship. Lord’s Prayer: Root and Sap, a version of the Lord’s Prayer —written by Stephen Best, UK. Bulletin Image: Praying Hands Wallpaper. Source https://www.wallpaperflare.com/grayscale-photography-ofpraying-hands-praying-hands-dirty-wallpaper-zcehr. Google Public Domain Image. All printed music from The Hymnal 1982, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, My Heart Sings Out, Wonder, Love, and Praise was used by permission through purchase of riteseries.org. All other printed music permission through purchase of CCLI Copyright license #20577215 Size B Streaming License #20577284 Size B Secular music permission through purchase of CCS WORSHIPcast Copyright license #13190 All printed music from Gather permission through purchase of onelicense.net License # A-700000
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH PROGRESSIVE INCLUSIVE CREATIVE
DOWNTOWN
316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 (419) 243-1231 www.trinitytoledo.org Facebook.com/TrinityEpiscopalToledo
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Trinity Episcopal Church Progressive Inclusive Creative Downtown 316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH www.trinitytoledo.org
Trinity Pages TODAY 8/29, 11:00am, Coffee Hour– You are invited to join us for a 30-minute virtual coffee and conversation following our 10:00 online worship service every Sunday. The Zoom MEETING ID is on our website and the PASSWORD will be shared by Lisa during service announcements each Sunday morning! TODAY, 8/29, 1:00-3:00pm, All Parish Picnic- Join us at Levis Square, one block south from Trinity, for our third and final All Parish Picnic. Bring your own picnics and blankets and we’ll share in live music and fellowship for a couple hours in the afternoon. If there is inclement weather, a decision will be announced 2 hours in advance and we will move to Trinity’s Sanctuary. TODAY, 8/29, 6:30pm, Trinity Book Club- Join us for our next Book Club gathering on August 29th, 6:30-8:00pm. We are reading and discussing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This month we will continue our hybrid model, gathering in-person, for those who choose to do so, and through Zoom. All are welcome and wanted! Wednesday, 9/1, 12:00noon, Noonday Prayer- Join us at 12noon on Wednesdays as we gather in the sanctuary for a short Wednesday Noonday prayer service (no Eucharist) led by our curate, Megan Allen. Bring a lunch and join Megan afterward for a short time of conversation. Whether you have attended these mid-week services in the past or not, all are welcome and wanted.
Please remember those who have asked for our prayers: John L., Gladys & Karen Johnson-Webb Carol Gray Tishie Bozeman Godwin Nosa Ronald B Mitchell Katie Greg Bulach Justin Myers Nancy Owens & daughter Lou Woellner Stan Johnson Zach Wabeke Ray Levey Sherre Owens Smith
Judy Moon Sheilah Wilson Elisheva Rose-Boxer Chico Martinez Jo Stanovcak Douglas Romstadt Sue Smitley
Please remember those who have recently died: Jane Zohn To add your name or the name of someone you love on the Prayer List, please email lynzi@trinitytoledo.org.
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Birthdays
8/2 Sande Corfman-Johnson 8/5 Kelly Termin 8/15 Meagan Price 8/28 Lindsey Melden
8/2 Ron McKinney 8/11 Lou Woellner 8/21 Greg Shumaker
8/2 Lisa Tucker-Gray 8/14 Cindy Shumaker 8/25 Dave Bingham
To have your birthday or anniversary listed, please email the office: admin@trinitytoledo.org
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