October 31, 2021, The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
This period in the Church year is known as “The Season after Pentecost” or “Ordinary Time.” The term “ordinary” refers to how the New Testament passages are generally read in order or in sequence, as opposed to being arranged by specific theme as in other seasons. During this season the Gospel passages focus on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and how he is revealed to the world as the Christ. In Year B (the second in a three-year cycle: A, B & C) most of the Gospel passages are from the Gospel according to Mark. The Old Testament Lesson and the Psalm are chosen because they relate to the words and message of Jesus. The New Testament Lesson is independent of these readings and is almost always taken from one of the Letters in the New Testament that reflects the common life and mission of the first Christian community.
Our Celebrant & Preacher today is The Rev. Matthew H. Mead.
Today’s In Person Worship
- Every Sunday at 8am the Eucharist (Rite 1) is celebrated in the Church. The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 323, and includes 2 pre-recorded hymns, and lasts about 45 minutes. Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
- Every Sunday at 10am the Eucharist (Rite 2) is celebrated in the Church. The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 355. See below for detailed music information. The service lasts about an hour. Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
- Healing Prayers are offered at the Bolton Altar following both services.
- Please review these Guidelines before attending worship at Christ Church.
Today’s Live-Stream Worship & Sermon Archives
- You can view the live-stream of Sunday morning services HERE
- Sermon archives are HERE
- Our Sermon and other archives are here: https://www.youtube.com/c/christchurchpelham
Sunday Offerings & Financial Donations to Christ Church
Christ Church is supported by the generosity of members and friends who donate time, talent, and money to the church to ensure that it is open, staffed, safe, and active. God has given each of us many gifts and we are called to use them to build up the church and to show the spread the love of God to our community. Click on the Donate Button for a variety of ways to support Christ Church, including one-time donations, annual pledges, and raising funds through FaceBook or Amazon.
Today’s Propers (Collect & Lections from Holy Scripture)
The Collect
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 Old Testament
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Moses said: Now this is the commandment–the statutes and the ordinances–that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children’s children, may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Psalm 119:1-8 Aleph, Beati immaculati
1 Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts!
3 Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways.
4 You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them.
5 Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes!
6 Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments.
7 I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me.
The Epistle
Hebrews 9:11-14
When Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!
The Gospel
Mark 12: 28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Parish Prayer List
Please note that names are listed alphabetically by last name of the person being prayed for (if it is known). We do not list last names for privacy reasons. For pastoral emergencies call or text one of the clergy: Father Matt (914.471.0260), Deacon Chisara Alimole (914.338.5194), or call the parish office (914.738.5515). If you have any updates (birthdays, prayers additions, etc., please let us know.) Please submit names you wish to be included by Tuesday morning, to Marie at: marie@christchurchpelham.org.
Our prayers are asked especially for: Marion, Shane, Rosemary, Rob, Marcia, Mike, Anne, Alexander, Ginny, Craig, Barbara, Mary, Ralph, Everton, Jed, Marcia, Sammy, Monica, Rebecca, Janet, Amina, Alexia Grace, Alison, John, Emma, Peilin, Hildy, Martin, Jason, Yen, Terry, Erica, Susan, Sue, Xandra, Sigi, Joyce, Julie, Scott, Sherrie, Michelle, Karen, Lisa, Laurelyn, Rob, Drue, Rob, Bill, Andrea, Sue, Lael, M & D, Sandy, the Salvatore family, Dean, Danielle, Morris, and Katie.
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week and in the coming week: Alice Dean (October 24), Colette Phipps (October 27), Elizabeth Leckie (October 28), Maria Murray (November 1), Nicole Mead (November 3) and Michael Moynihan (November 6).
We also give thanks for the wedding anniversary of Julie & Juan Pena (November 1).
The flowers on the Altar are in celebration for the birthdays of Colette Phipps and her daughter Catherine.
We pray for those in our Armed Services especially: Joseph, Kevin, Jack, Leopold, Philip, Jake, Matthew, Robert, Philip-Jason, Nicholas, Sam, Jack, Helen, Mitchel, Alec, Tia, Tyrese, and Terrence.
We pray that all elected and appointed officials may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world, especially Joseph our President, and Kathy our Governor.
We pray for those who have died, especially (__________and) for those who have died from COVID-19.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Amen
Today’s Music
Prelude: 4. Chappelle des Morts from Exquisses Byzantines Henri Mulet (1878-1967)
(4. Chapel for the dead from Byzantine sketches)
Entrance Hymn: 680 O God our help in ages past, St. Anne
Gloria in excelsis: S280 Glory to God in the highest Robert J. Powell (b. 1932)
Psalm: 119 Aleph, Beati immaculati Anglican chant,Edward John Hopkins (1818-1901)
(text reprinted above with the lectionary propers)
Sequence Hymn: 448 O love how deep how broad how high, Deus tuorum militum
Anthem at the Offertory: O Lord be merciful (O salutaris hostia) César Franck (1822-1890),
adapted and arranged, with an English text by W. Southwick (1888)
O Lord be merciful; unto us be merciful;
O God, we pray Thee to be merciful.
Lord be merciful unto us.
We beseech Thee to hear our prayer.
O God, we pray Thee, be merciful unto us and bless us; we beseech Thee.
O Lord, we pray Thee, hear our prayer.
Hymn at the Offertory: 380, v. 3 Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Old 100th
Sanctus et benedictus: S129 Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might Robert J. Powell
Agnus Dei: S163 Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world Robert J. Powell
Anthem at Communion: Sing, my soul, his wondrous love Ned Rorem (b.1923)
Sing, my soul, His wondrous love,
Who , from yon bright throne above,
Ever watchful o’er our race,
Still to man extends His grace.
Heav’n and earth by Him were made,
All is by His scepter sway’d;
What are we that He should show
So much love to us below?
God, the merciful and good,
Bought us with the Saviour’s blood,
And, to make our safety sure,
Guides us by His spirit pure.
Sing, my soul, adore His name;
Let His glory be thy theme:
Praise Him till He calls thee home,
Trust His love for all to come.
— Anonymous (1800)
Hymn: 293 I sing a song of the saints of God, Grand Isle
Organ Voluntary: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Today’s choir is Jeff Bodenmann, Curtis Chase, Simon Cram, Jann Degnan, Linda Gerra, Cheryl Greenhalgh, Melody Joy Rubin, José Ruiz, and Margaret Young
Jeffrey Hoffman, organist & director of music
Live-stream licensed under OneLicense.net A-713125.