All Saints Day, November 1, 2020 Sunday Service

Good afternoon St. Stephen's Family and Friends! Below is the Service for All Saints Day Sunday, November 1, 2020. This is the last Outside Worship Service for the year. For those watching online, Father Shawn has recorded the Message and you can click on the songs below to listen to Kate singing the Hymns. If you would like to watch the Service Live, you can do so on our St. Stephen's Facebook Page at 12 PM. For those attending the Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday, November 1, 2020 please follow these instructions for everyone's safety:

 We ask that attendees walk around the west side of the building (the nursery school side) to enter our outdoor worship area. This will allow for easy entry and exit along with plenty of parking.  There will be a table near the garden that you will need to stop at. There will be hand sanitizer for all attendees to use and an usher will collect your contact information. A box will be available on this table for the offertory collection (we will not be passing a basket during the service).  Please bring your own chair or blanket. Church chairs will not be available.  Families must social distance on the lawn by 6 feet and areas will be marked by spray paint on the lawn.  Masks are required and we will have some masks for those that may have forgotten to bring one.  We will not pass the peace and ask that attendees refrain from physical contact (hugging, handshakes, touching).  There will be no singing, the church service music will be instrumental or pre-recorded.  The playground will be closed  There will be no coffee hour. The Zoom Coffee Hour will take place on the Sundays when there is no outside worship service.  Bathroom use is discouraged. The bathroom by the sacristy will be available for emergencies only. The remainder of the church building will be closed.  No prayer books or hymnals will be available.  The Bulletin will be available electronically and we encourage you to download it for use during the service. Some paper copies will be available, but you will have to take the bulletin home to dispose of it.

In the event of poor weather, the service will be cancelled. We will notify you via email and also put the cancellation on our Facebook Page and Facebook Group. You may also contact Claire Wachter 717-448-0506 to find out if the service is cancelled.

The Gospel this week (Matthew 5:1-12) is commonly known as The Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes, the first eight statements start with the word blessed. I love what the sacredspace.com said, "What the world sees as tragic or empty, Jesus sees as blessed: humility, mourning, gentleness, peacefulness and other virtues. Jesus lived by these qualities himself and we can notice them in his words and actions during his life with us on earth." Jesus encourages us to live in the spirit of these Beatitudes because he himself lived them. So powerful and so encouraging!

Father God, thank you for loving us and for teaching us your ways. We are indeed so blessed. Blessed because you call us your children and you know each of our names, blessed because you are our provider, blessed because you give us strength, blessed because you love us, blessed because you are all knowing and powerful. Continue to draw us closer to you each and every day and that we will want to learn more about you. We pray for peace and healing not only for all of our family and friends but also for our nation and the world. It is in your loving name we pray, Amen.

Blessings!

The Service Opening Hymn: "God of Our Fathers"

Collect for Purity (BCP 355) Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Word of God Collect of the Day Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Reading 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.

The Response Psalm 34:1-10,22 1 I will bless the Lord at all times; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2 I will glory in the Lord; * let the humble hear and rejoice. 3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; * let us exalt his Name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me * and delivered me out of all my terror. 5 Look upon him and be radiant, * and let not your faces be ashamed. 6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me * and saved me from all my troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, * and he will deliver them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; * happy are they who trust in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, * for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, * but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good. 22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, * and none will be punished who trust in him.

The Epistle 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.

Sequence Hymn: "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand"

The Gospel Matthew 5:1-12 The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you, Lord Christ

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.

Kids Gospel Video The Message "All the Saints" Father Shawn Clerkin

Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People Leader: As days and nights are balanced between the past and the future and darkness awaits us, let us pray to our God,

Leader: God of liberating power, pour upon Justin, Michael, Sean, Cathy, and Shawn the abundance of your wisdom that they will boldly proclaim to all people the Good News of salvation. The law of the Lord is perfect, People: and revives the soul

Leader: God of absolute authority, pour upon Donald, Thomas, Joseph, Kathy and other leaders of our nation the abundance of sound judgment that their decisions will be whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, and whatever is commendable. The fear of the Lord is clean, People: and endures for ever.

Leader: God of unlimited creativity, pour the abundance of your hope upon refugees and those they left behind; upon victims of hurricanes and fires and those who come to their aid; upon prisoners and captives, and those who guard them; upon those whose fate is unknown and those who pray for them. The testimony of the Lord is sure, People: and gives wisdom to the innocent

Leader: God of boundless grace, pour the abundance of your love upon all the saints in our community: janitors, doctors, table servers, monarchs, shepherds, teachers, soldiers, teens, businessmen, children, secretaries, priests, and those four-legged, comforting beasts. The commandment of the Lord is clear, People: and gives light to the eyes.

Leader: God of everlasting compassion, pour the abundance of your mercy upon those who suffer and those in any trouble, especially _____. (please insert your own prayers) The statutes of the Lord are just People: and rejoice the heart.

Leader: God of ceaseless joy, we thank you for _____. (please insert your own prayers) Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; People: We will serve the Lord with gladness.

Leader: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Welcome your children _____. (please insert the names of those whose memories you honor) Eternal rest grant them, O God, People: and let your eternal light shine upon them.

Leader: Holy God, we give this week into your hands. Make us ever mindful of your loving presence in good times as well as bad. The judgments of the Lord are true People: and righteous altogether.

(The celebrant inserts a collect )

Celebrant: The Peace of God be always with you. People: And also with you.

Communion: "O Master Let Me Walk With Thee"

A Form for Spiritual Communion The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

The Communion Prayer In union, O Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, we desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that we may always be united to you, and, since we cannot now receive you sacramentally, we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves with you, and embrace you with all the love of our souls. Let nothing ever separate you from us. May we live in you, and may you live in us, both in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

A General Thanksgiving Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, your unworthy servants, give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with a truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Jesus, we want to receive you in our hearts and we cannot do it in the sacramental way. Therefore, we ask you to come to us and fill us with your presence, your peace and your love. Grant us, Lord, the graces we need most. Amen.

Irish Blessing

Go in peace to love and serve Lord. Thanks be to God.

Closing Hymn: "For All The Saints"

Prayers Each week we remember members of our congregation or others in need of prayer. If you wish to add a prayer request to the list, please contact Heather Michel, our Director of Communication at [email protected] Only first names will be added to the list due to privacy.

Carlota, Judy, Michelle, Patty, Maddy, Gerry, Mike, Anna May, John, Marlene, Alicia, Dotte, Harper, David, John, Bishop Persico, Deborah, Lisa, Max, Tricia, Kathy, Anna, Mahal, Kate, Evie, Kimberly, Nancy, Julie, Kelsey, Mary Francis, James, Karen, Donald, Kevin, Don, Rich, Karen, Amy, Brian, Kenneth, Mary Jane, Cynthia, Anthony, Ben, Stevie, Mitch, Marj, Don, Joyce and her children; Linda and Brian, Jean and her family, Sue and her family, Paul and his caregivers Mary Frances and Sallie, Craig and his caregivers; Daniel and Mary; Chad and his family.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." -Matthew 5:9