The Word of God

Penitential Order

∞ Opening Acclamation

Celebrant Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People His mercy endures for ever.
Celebrant Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

∞ The Confession of Sin

Celebrant Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept

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.

Celebrant and People

Celebrant 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. 

Wayfairing Stranger American Folk Song

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world below.
There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go.
I'm going there to see my Father
And all my loved ones who've gone on-
I'm just going over Jordan,
I'm just going over home.
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me.
I know my way is hard and steep.
But beauteous fields arise before me
Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep.
I'm going there to see my Mother
She said she'd meet me when I come.

∞ The Collect of the Day

Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. People Amen.

∞ The First Reading                            

Genesis 9:8-17

The People sit.

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

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

∞ The Gradual

Psalm 25:1-9 Chant by Paul Weber

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.

Show me your ways, O Lord, *
and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.

Gracious and upright is the Lord; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.

He guides the humble in doing right *
and teaches his way to the lowly.

All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

∞ The Second Reading     

1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

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

Lonesome Valley    

Gospel Folk Song

You got to walk that lonesome valley-
You got to walk it for yourself.
Nobody else can walk it for you-
You got to walk it for by yourself.
Jesus walked that lonesome valley....               

(Oh, you got to ask the Lords forgiveness
Nobody else can ask him for you.)
You got to go to the lonesome valley-
You got to go there by yourself.
Nobody else, nobody else can go for you-
You got to go there by yourself.

∞ The Holy Gospel            

Mark  1:9-15
All stand.

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 

Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ. 

∞ The Sermon                   The Reverend John M. Pitzer

∞ The Nicene Creed                    

All stand and say together

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

Deacon or other leader

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the

Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God,
and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church
of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop, and for the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in 
authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the city of New Orleans, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the
wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and
for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For (reader will include prayers for our parish family), let us pray to the Lord. 
Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the
destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who
remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for
all the departed, (especially) let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and
degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without
suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of the Trinity and of all the saints, let
us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To thee, O Lord our God.

Silence.

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

∞ The Peace

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.

∞ Announcements 

The Holy Communion

∞ The Great Thanksgiving (Prayer A)

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.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for ourselves alone, but for him who died for us and rose again.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus
Sanctus for three-part mixed chorus Paul Weber

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.

Words of Institution

The People stand or kneel, the Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, 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; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

∞ The Lord’s Prayer               

Celebrant As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

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 sins,  
as we forgive those 
who sin against us. 

Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours, 
now and forever. Amen. 

∞ The Breaking of the Bread                        
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

Celebrant Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast.

∞ A Prayer of Spiritual Communion

Celebrant In communion with those who are participating online, and cannot physically receive the Sacrament, we pray:

O my Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.

∞ The Invitation

Celebrant 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.

∞ The Communion of the People

All are welcome to receive Holy Communion. As you approach the altar area, everyone must use the hand sanitizer station before receiving communion. The consecrated hosts will be in a paper cup on the altar. As you approach the altar, please take one paper cup. Once you have consumed the communion, you will place the paper cup in the receptacle located near the altar. 

The Communion Anthem, We'll Understand it Better By and By Charles Tindley

∞ The Post Communion Prayer            

All stand.

Celebrant Let us pray.

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.

∞ The Blessing          

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

∞ The Dismissal                                                                         

Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ. 
People Thanks be to God.