Grace Church Cathedral in the City of Charleston The Diocese of South Carolina The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 17, 2020 11:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist page 4 Today’s Readings Acts 17:22-31 ready to make your defense to anyone who de- On his second missionary journey, Paul has crossed mands from you an accounting for the hope that is Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and has arrived in Athens, a in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. city known for its interest in the divine and for its open- ness to discussion of philosophies and religions. He now Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are tells the good news to those gathered at the edge of the maligned, those who abuse you for your good con- marketplace. duct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better aul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be P “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ are in every way. For as I went through the city and also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He found among them an altar with the inscription, was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship spirit, in which also he went and made a proclama- as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who tion to the spirits in prison, who in former times made the world and everything in it, he who is did not obey, when God waited patiently in the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in made by human hands, nor is he served by human which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved hands, as though he needed anything, since he through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all now saves you – not as a removal of dirt from the things. From one ancestor he made all nations to body, but as an appeal to God for a good con- inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times science, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, of their existence and the boundaries of the places who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand where they would live, so that they would search of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made for God and perhaps grope for him and find him – subject to him. though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; John 14:15-21 Jesus has told his followers of his impending departure as even some of your own poets have said, `For we from them. He has told them that he is going, through too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s off- resurrection and ascension, to the Father, to prepare a spring, we ought not to think that the deity is like place of permanent fellowship for them. He will return to gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art take them there, a place where there is ample room for and imagination of mortals. While God has over- as many as believe. looked the times of human ignorance, now he Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will commands all people everywhere to repent, be- keep my commandments. And I will ask the Fa- cause he has fixed a day on which he will have the ther, and he will give you another Advocate, to be world judged in righteousness by a man whom he with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom has appointed, and of this he has given assurance the world cannot receive, because it neither sees to all by raising him from the dead.” him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not I Peter 3:13-22 leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little The author has exhorted his readers to live ethical lives while the world will no longer see me, but you will and not to repay evil for evil. They face persecution for see me; because I live, you also will live. On that their faith. He asks: who will weaken your faith or cause day you will know that I am in my Father, and you you to lose it all together? ow who will harm you if you are eager to do in me, and I in you. They who have my command- N what is good? But even if you do suffer for ments and keep them are those who love me; and doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear those who love me will be loved by my Father, and what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in I will love them and reveal myself to them.” your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be Cover image: St. Paul Preaching in Athens by Raphael, c.1515. Page 2 Mixed media on paper, mounted on canvas. Victoria and Albert Museum, London The Prayers of the People for May 17, 2020 Celebrant: God has grafted us to the vine of the house of Israel. Let us offer prayers to God who gives life and breath to all human beings, saying, Glory to you, O living God. For this holy gathering, here in the cathedral and online, for all the holy churches in every place, for St Stephen’s in Charleston, and for all the holy people of God, we pray to you, O Lord. About these prayers Glory to you, O living God. Included in these prayers are the names of those for whom prayer has For the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina, for Michael, our been requested by a parishioner or Presiding Bishop, and Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, and for all who family member. The reason for being minister in Christ, we pray to you, O Lord. listed is kept confidential. Glory to you, O living God. In addition to this Public Prayer List, For the leaders of the nations and for all who seek peace, remembering those who Grace also maintains a Private Prayer serve at home or overseas in military, mission, or outreach work. List, for whom our prayer team prays daily. Maxwell Adler, Legare Augenstein, Evans Barnes, Joseph Ditter, Henry Hanes, Thomas Hanahan, Griffin Hill, Christian Laderer, Dan Myers, We invite you to add yourself or mem- bers of your immediate family to ei- Keene Nettles, Edward Pritchard IV, Andrew Rucker, Frances ther the public or private prayer lists Skardon, Jake Thompson, Andrew Shook by notifying Jean Bender, Canon for Pastoral Care,(843-991-0827), at the We pray to you, O Lord. Glory to you, O living God. church office at 843-723-4575, by sending an email to For the suffering peoples of the world, for all affected by the Coronovirus, [email protected], or by making a especially the sick, the unemployed, and the homeless; for those who are prayer request online at our website, alone in quarantine, and for nurses, physicians, and researchers. We pray to gracechurchcharleston.org. you, O Lord. Glory to you, O living God. Hospitalization or Pastoral Issues Please notify us if you or a family In thanksgiving for the birthdays of Martha Elizabeth Hadley and Eric Hadley, we member is hospitalized and/or in pray to you, O Lord. need of a pastoral call or visit. We Glory to you, O living God. have no other way of knowing of a hospitalization or a pastoral need. For ourselves, our families, and those we love, remembering the sick: Please speak with a priest, call the church office at (843) 723-4575, or Paula Adams Rhett Dupke Les Norton contact Jean Bender at (843) 991- Stuart Christie Paul Funk Peter Reed 0827 or [email protected]. Janet Coyne Debi Gupton Bill Semmes Geoff Connor Arlene Hill Morgan Tennyson Flowers Bill Cramer Don Ledlie Edith Tipton The Flower Guild places flowers and Wayne Creech Elgie Nissen greens in the church through dona- tions given in memory of loved ones, or in thanksgiving for loved ones or special occasions. The names are We pray to you, O Lord. Glory to you, O living God. listed in the service bulletins. If you would like to make a gift of flow- For all the faithful departed. ers, please contact the Church Office Barbara Reed, Dorothy McGuckin, and Harold Igoe, at (843) 723-4575, visit our website, . Roy Snell Nevils and Richard Hjalmar Scheldt, Sr., who died in 2019. gracechurchcharleston.org, or sign up We pray to you, O Lord. using the Flower Calendar in the hall- way near the kitchen. Glory to you, O living God. Celebrant: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, who gives us confidence and hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In your tender love, hear our prayers for all the world and grant us the power of your abundant and life- giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 11:00 - Page 3 Grace Church Cathedral In the City of Charleston Choral Eucharist Rite II 11:00 a.m.