A morning service during the Covid-19 restrictions
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 27, 2020

   #343 Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts
Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts, thou fount of life, thou light of men,	
from the best bliss that earth imparts we turn unfilled to thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood; thou savest those who on thee call
to them that seek thee thou art good, to them that find thee, all in all.

We taste thee, O thou living bread, and long to feast upon thee still;
we drink of thee, the fountain head, and thirst our souls from thee to fill.

Our restless spirits yearn for thee, where’er our changeful lot is cast,
glad when thy glorious smile we see, blest when our faith can hold thee fast.

O Jesus, ever with us stay; make all our moments calm and bright;
chase the dark night of sin away; shed o’er the world thy holy light.
Translated by Ray Palmer 1808 - 1887 from the 12th century Latin

The Lord is in his holy temple: O come, let us worship.

Venite Psalm 95.1–7
 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *  
	let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *  
	and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. 
For the Lord is a great God, *  
	and a great king above all gods. 
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *  
	and the heights of the hills are his also. 
The sea is his for he made it, *  
	and his hands have moulded the dry land. 
Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *  
	and kneel before the Lord our maker. 
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *  
	Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! 
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * 
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen.

The Psalm for the day  Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
The Readings for the day: Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32
A reflection on the readings (see attached - written by the Ven. Glen Miller)

#116 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!				
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;
‘tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest.

Dear Name! The rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,
my never failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace.
  
Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought.
John Newton 1725-1807

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, 
with all your mind, and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment, the second is like it:
Love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Prayers (see litany below)
Please remember Karen, Geri, Doe, Thelma, the Anzil household, nursing homes, those coping with treatments and scheduled surgeries, parents who remain concerned about school opening, the rise of Covid-19 cases.

The Collect for the day
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered by your Holy Spirit into one, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
#109 When I survey the wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,		
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God:
all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small:
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts 1674-1748
Then may be said or sung,
Officiant Let us bless the Lord. People Thanks be to God!

Litany #7
(Let us pray to God our Father, to his Son Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, saying, “Lord, hear and have mercy)
For the Church of the living God throughout the world, let us ask the riches of his grace. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For all who proclaim the word of truth, let us ask the infinite wisdom of Christ, Lord, hear and have mercy.
For all who have consecrated their lives to the kingdom of God, and for all struggling to follow the way of Christ, let us ask the gifts of the Spirit. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For Elizabeth our Queen, for the Prime Minister of this country, and for all who govern the nations, that they may strive for justice and peace, let us ask the strength of God. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For scholars and research workers, that their studies may benefit humanity, let us ask the light of the Lord. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For all who have passed from this life in faith and obedience, let us ask the peace of Christ. Lord, hear and have mercy    
 
The text above is taken from the Book of Alternative Service published by the Anglican Church of Canada and used with permission. The words of the Hymns are all in public domain unless otherwise noted.