Holy Eucharist for The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
28 January 2024
according to the Book of Common Prayer (p. 355ff.)
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We Gather in God’s Name
Entrance Hymn: O for a thousand tongues (Hymnal 493)
1
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
and spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy Name.
3
Jesus! the Name that charms our fears
and bids our sorrows cease;
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.
4
He speaks; and, listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
5
Hear him, ye deaf; ye voiceless ones,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your Savior comes;
and leap, ye lame, for joy!
6
Glory to God and praise and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the church in earth and heaven.
BCP 355
The people stand as able.
Greeting
Officiant:
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People:
And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity
Officiant:
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.
Hymnal S-280
BCP 94/356
Canticle 20: Glory to God, Gloria in excelsis
Officiant and People:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you,
we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
Officiant:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you.
Officiant:
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
People:
Amen.
The people are seated.
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Lector:
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
Moses said: The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the LORD replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
Lector:
The word of the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 111
Confitebor tibi
1 Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my / whole heart, *
in the assembly of the upright, in the congre- / gation.
2 Great are the deeds of the / LORD! *
they are studied by all who de- / light in them.
3 His work is full of majesty and / splendor, *
and his righteousness endures for / ever.
4 He makes his marvelous works to be re- / membered; *
the LORD is gracious and full of com- / passion.
5 He gives food to those who / fear him; *
he is ever mindful of his / covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his / works *
in giving them the lands of the / nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithfulness and / justice; *
all his commandments are / sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and / ever, *
because they are done in truth and / equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for / ever; *
holy and awesome is his / Name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of / wisdom; *
those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
his praise endures for / ever.
The Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Lector:
A reading from Paul’s first epistle to the church in Corinth.
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Lector:
The word of the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn: Open your ears, O faithful people (Hymnal 536)
1
Open your ears, O faithful people,
open your ears and hear God’s word.
Open your hearts, O royal priesthood,
God has come to you.
Refrain
God has spoken to God’s people, Hallelujah!
And his words are words of wisdom, Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
God has spoken to God’s people, Hallelujah!
And his words are words of wisdom, Hallelujah!
2
The who have ears to hear the message,
they who have ears, then let them hear.
They who would learn the way of wisdom,
let them hear God’s word.
Refrain
3
Israel comes to greet the Savior
Judah is glad to see his day.
From east and west the peoples travel,
he will show the way.
The people stand as able.
The Holy Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
Deacon:
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People:
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Deacon:
Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Deacon:
The Gospel of the Lord.
People:
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The people are seated.
A brief homily, spiritual conversation, or moment of silence may be placed here.
Silence follows the homily.
We Respond in Faith
BCP 358
The Nicene Creed
The people stand as able.
Officiant and People:
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
Today the response to the prompt, “let us pray” is, “Lord, have mercy.” The final verse and response, as we “offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ,” is “To you, O Lord.”
Silence
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
BCP 578
A Litany of Thanksgiving for a Church
Deacon:
Let us thank God whom we worship here in the beauty of holiness.
Leader:
Eternal God, the heaven of heavens cannot contain you, much less the walls of temples made with hands. Graciously receive our thanks for this place, and accept the work of our hands, offered to your honor and glory.
For the Church universal, of which these visible buildings are the symbol,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader
For your presence whenever two or three have gathered together in your Name,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For this place where we may be still and know that you are God,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For making us your children by adoption and grace, and refreshing us day by day with the bread of life.
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the knowledge of your will and the grace to perform it,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the fulfilling of our desires and petitions as you see best for us,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the pardon of our sins, which restores us to the company of your faithful people,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the blessing of our vows and the crowning of our years with your goodness,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the faith of those who have gone before us and for our encouragement by their perseverance,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
Leader:
For the fellowship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Thomas our patron, and all your Saints,
People:
We thank you, Lord.
After a brief silence, the Celebrant concludes with the following Doxology
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty;
People:
For everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
Celebrant:
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom;
People:
And you are exalted as head over all. Amen.
The Peace
Presider:
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:
And also with you.
We greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The people are seated.
The Announcements
We Offer Ourselves To God
The altar is prepared
The people stand as able.
Offertory Hymn: Thou, whose almighty word (Hymnal 371)
1
Thou, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and, where the Gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light!
2
Thou who didst come to bring
on thy redeeming wing
healing and sight,
health to the sick in mind,
sight to the in-ly blind,
now to all humankind,
let there be light!
3
Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving holy Dove,
speed forth thy flight!
Move on the waters’ face
bearing the gifts of grace,
and, in earth’s darkest place,
let there be light!
4
Holy and blessèd Three,
glorious Trinity,
wisdom, love, might;
boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the world far and wide,
let there be light!
BCP 369
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer C
Celebrant:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you.
Celebrant:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People:
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
The Celebrant continues:
God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of
glory and praise.
People:
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant:
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.
People:
By your will they were created and have their being.
Celebrant:
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
People:
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
Celebrant:
Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.
People:
By his blood, he reconciled us.
By his wounds, we are healed.
Celebrant:
And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
Hymnal S-125
Sanctus
Celebrant and People:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Celebrant continues:
And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
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,
Celebrant and People:
We celebrate his death and resurrection,
as we await the day of his coming.
The Celebrant continues:
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.
People:
Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.
Celebrant:
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.
People:
AMEN.
Hymnal S-119
BCP 364
The Lord’s Prayer
Presider:
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Officiant and People:
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.
Hymnal S-155
The Breaking of the Bread
Presider:
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Presider:
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
pb
We Receive the Gift of God
“If a person desires to receive the Sacrament, but, by reason of extreme sickness or physical disability, is unable to eat and drink the Bread and Wine, the Celebrant is to assure that person that all the benefits of Communion are received, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth.” (BCP, 457)
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people. All are welcome to receive at Christ’s table. If you would prefer to receive a verbal blessing instead of communion, cross your arms over your chest to indicate this.
Communion Hymn: Here in Christ we gather, love of Christ our calling (Hymnal 577)
BCP 366
The Post-communion Prayer
Presider:
Let us pray.
People:
Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Processional Hymn: O love, how deep (Hymnal 448)
1
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake!
2
For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptations sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.
3
For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought:
by words and signs and actions, thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
4
For us to wicked hands betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death;
for us gave up his dying breath.
5
For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
6
All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.
BCP 366
The Dismissal
Deacon:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.