• The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

    10:00 AM  Rite II
    July 2, 2023
    243 Barrow Street, Houma, LA 70360
    The Rt. Rev. Shannon Duckworth., Bishop
    The Rev. Jim Morrison, Rector

    The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
    The Liturgy of the Word

    Processional Hymn: America the Beautiful Hymn 719

    The Opening Acclamation

    Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
    People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

    Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Gloria Hymnal S 280
    The Collect of the Day
    Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    First Lesson
    Genesis 22:1-14
    God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

    Reader: The Word of the Lord
    People: Thanks be to God

    Psalm 13
    1 How long, O Lord? will you forget me for ever? *
    how long will you hide your face from me?
    2 How long shall I have perplexity in my mind,
    and grief in my heart, day after day? *
    how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
    3 Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God; *
    give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
    4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” *
    and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
    5 But I put my trust in your mercy; *
    my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
    6 I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with me richly; *
    I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

    Second Lesson

    Romans 6:12-23

    Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

    Reader:    The Word of the Lord

    People:     Thanks be to God

    Cantor sings Alleluia, congregation repeats, cantor sings verse, congregation sings Alleluia

    Priest:      The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (10:40-42)
    People:       Glory to you, Lord Christ.

    Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple– truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

    Priest:     The Gospel of the Lord.

    People:    Praise to you, Lord Christ.

    The Sermon                            The Rev. Jim Morrison

     The Nicene Creed (all standing)
    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.

    The Prayers of the People (Form III)

    The Leader and People pray responsively

    Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
    That we all may be one.

    Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
    That your Name may be glorified by all people.

    We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
    That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

    We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
    That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

    Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
    That our works may find favor in your sight.

    Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
    That they may be delivered from their distress.

    Give to the departed eternal rest.
    Let light perpetual shine upon them.

    We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
    May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

    Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

    Silence

    The Celebrant adds a concluding prayer

    Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

    Confession of Sin

    Priest and People

    Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

    For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

    Prayer of Absolution

    The Priest, stands and says

    May Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

    The Peace

    Announcements

                Birthdays and Anniversaries

    The Offertory 

    Offertory Hymn:   In times like these LEVAS Hymn 171

    Eucharistic Prayer C

    Celebrant:  The Lord be with you.
    People:        And also with you.

    Lift up your hearts.
    We lift them to the Lord.

    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    It is right to give him thanks and praise.

    Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

    God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.
    Glory to you for ever and ever.

    After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

    Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this
    sacrifice of thanksgiving,


    We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

    Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for
    renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.


    Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.

    Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN.

    And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

    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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

    The Breaking of the Bread

    At St. Matthew’s we welcome all persons, regardless of denomination, who have been baptized with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to share in the communion at this Altar. Those wishing to receive a blessing only may cross their hands over their heart. 

    Communion Music:  Here is bread                                  SMEC Choir

    Post Communion Prayer

    Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Recessional Hymn:  America                                                 Hymn 717

    The Dismissal

    Priest:       Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

    People:     Thanks be to God.


    Announcements

    Wednesday Service

    Wednesday Eucharist with anointing of the Sick at 5:00PM

    Office Closed

    The church office will be closed on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

    Sunday School

    There will be no children’s Sunday School until further notice.

    Save the Dates: 

    “Rooted in Faith” St. Matthew’s Supper Social

    August 5, 2023—Hawaiian Luau

    GO GREEN

    We are looking for volunteers to join our St Matthew’s “Go Green” committee.  If you have a passion for the gift of our earth and what to help our town, church and families grow in responsibility,  contact Fr. Jim at 504-591-8686 or call or email the church office 985-872-5057 erica.stmatthews@gmail.com.

    Contact Information

    We want to make sure we have everyone’s contact information.  Please call the church office if you have any updates to your address or phone numbers, 985-872-5057.