August 7, 2022 The Ninth 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 C (the third in a three-year cycle: A, B & C) most of the Gospel passages are from the Gospel according to Luke.  The Old Testament Lesson in the Season after Pentecost, Year C, reads various stories about and writings of the Prophets.  The New Testament Lesson in the Season after Pentecost, Year C, reads Galatians, Colossians, Hebrews, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and 2 Thessalonians in sequence.

The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer 1979.  All hymns are taken from the blue Hymnal 1982.  All hymns are reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A713125.

Our Celebrant is the Rev. Matthew Hoxsie Mead.  Our Preacher is the Rev. Deacon Chisara Alimole. 


Today’s In Person Worship


Today’s Live-Stream Worship & Sermon Archives


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Today’s Propers (Collect & Lections from Holy Scripture)

The Collect
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand?  Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation– I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Psalm
Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24 Deus deorum

1 The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; *
he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
God reveals himself in glory.

3 Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a consuming flame,
and round about him a raging storm.

4 He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
to witness the judgment of his people.

5 “Gather before me my loyal followers, *
those who have made a covenant with me
and sealed it with sacrifice.”

6 Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
for God himself is judge.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
“O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
for I am God, your God.

8 I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
your offerings are always before me.

23 Consider this well, you who forget God, *
lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.

24 Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *

The Epistle
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old– and Sarah herself was barren– because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

The Gospel
Luke 12:13-21
Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”


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: While Father Matt is in the Holy Land, please call Deacon Chisara Alimole (914.338.5194), or call the parish office (914.738.5515). We have rebooted the prayer list,  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, Elaine, Charles, Sophia, Kari, Jordon, Zach, Carol, Terrence, Benjamin, Michele, Stella, Pegeen, Ralph, Jed, Karen, George & Tara, Michael, Carol, Monica, Rebecca, Harold, Alison, Elizabeth & Patrick, Hildy, Joseph, Barbara, Gee, Walter, Tom, Alexandre, Kathy, M&D, and Eileen.

We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week and in the coming week: Angela Lore-Barone (August 3) Charles Phipps (August 5), Katherine Kenworthy (August 6), Father Matt (August 10), Steve Swanson (August 11), Cherrie Greenhalgh (August 12), Jeffrey Hoffman (August 12) and Margaret Young (August 12).

And we give thanks for the Wedding Anniversary of Susan Harriss & Ken Ruge (August 13).

We pray for those in our Armed Services especially: Joseph, Kevin, Jack, Leopold, Philip, Jake, Matthew, Robert, Philip-Jason, Nicholas, Sam, Helen, Mitchel, Alec, Jonah, Tia, Tyrese, and Terrence.

We pray for those who have died, (especially ­­­_______).

May their souls and the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.  Amen


Today’s Music

Organ Prelude:  Prelude in A  Charles Callahan (b. 1951)

Hymn in Procession: 636, How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Foundation

Gloria in Excelsis: S-280, Robert J. Powell

Sequence Hymn: 68, Rejoice! Rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear, Llangloffan
Anthem at the Offertory: Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit (Point Loma),  David Charles Walker (1938-2018),  arranged by Jeffrey Hoffman (b. 1970)

Hymns of Praise at the Offertory: 701, Jesus, all my gladness, Jesu, meine Freude
380, v. 3 Praise God from whom all blessings flow (Doxology), Old 100th

Sanctus et Benedictus: S-130, Franz Peter Schubert

Agnus Dei, S-164, Franz Peter Schubert

Hymn at the Communion: 316, This is the hour of banquet and of song, Canticum refectionis

Hymn in Procession: 635, If thou but trust in God to guide thee, Wer nur den lieben Gott

Organ voluntary: Voluntary in E minor, John Stanley (1713-1786)

Jeffrey Hoffman, organist & director of music

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