The Church of St. John the Divine

The 20th Sunday after Pentecost                        October 18, 2020

As people of God, we celebrate Christ in the heart of Victoria through joyful worship,
building inclusive community, and putting faith into action.

St. John’s acknowledges these ancestral lands of the Lekwungen speaking people.

We are an inclusive and affirming parish; the sacraments of the church (baptism, communion and marriage) are available to all people on equal terms. Christ welcomes you, and so do we.

 

 

Welcome to the Parish Church of St. John the Divine, Victoria. We are a community of faith in the Anglican Tradition, seeking to live lives of faith, hope and love as part of this community of Downtown Victoria. We are on a journey of learning to be a welcoming, inviting, inclusive and serving community which is open to all.

 

Our worship reflects our rootedness in the Anglican tradition, whilst drawing on liturgies that reflect the long history and heritage of our Christian faith. Please join in as you feel able, and enjoy the words, music and opportunity for prayer and to be a part of our community.

 

Worship in a time of COVID-19 : In these times when we must be careful in any gathering we have careful protocols in place for our limited gatherings on a Sunday – the plans are available to download on the Website, and for those unable to attend in person our services are also livestreamed there: https://www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca/ 

 

We will continue to meet on Sundays at 10am for our Parish Eucharist, and at 5:30 pm for a service of Evensong, please check details on the website as to how to book for each service and the information needed to comply with Provincial requirements.

 

We continue to share daily prayer online with a link on our website daily. 

 

Contacting Us: We are all learning ways to build community "at a distance." We are checking phone messages and answering emails. The main email for contact is: admin@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca. If you wish to receive prayer for yourself or for another, there will be members of our Healing Prayer group who will offer their prayers. Please contact: the church office at the above email address.

 

You are very welcome here. We don’t always get it right; please let us know when we do, and when we don’t. Please stay and be a part of our family, for however long you would like.


 

 

10:00 am Parish Eucharist

The congregation is invited to join in the responses and prayers marked in bold print.


Presider: The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt

Reader: Judith Branion

Gospel: Stephanie Wood

Sermon: The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt

Intercessor: Kit Pearson

Sacristan: Judith Branion

Greeters: Margaret Taylor, Karyn Lehmann

Safety Officer: Judith Reid

Verger: Douwe Bosma

Streaming Technician: Karen Coverett

Pianist: Emily Markwark (Sutton Organ Scholar)

Cantor: Alana Hayes (MacRae Choral Scholar)

Setting: Mass in the Dorian Mode – Barrie Cabena


The Gathering of the Community

Please stand as the clergy enter.

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering

Presider:    From wherever we are, near or far, we gather in the name of God. We gather in God’s love. There is no distance greater than God, there is no separation possible from the love of God. We gather with God our Loving Creator. We gather with Jesus our brother and redeemer. We gather with God, the Spirit of Love.  

         All:    Amen.

                   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.

         All:    And also with you.

                  

Collect for Purity

                   Almighty God

         All:     to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden. 
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.

 

 

Lighting of the Family Candle

The Church Family Prayer

                        Loving God,

         All:    you have called us to be your family and to celebrate our life together in worship. We pray now, for all members of our family as we gather in our church buildings, our homes, and online. Through your spirit keep us united in love. Bless each of us with your beloved friendship. Teach us, gracious God, how to be your church in these times. Help us to know that we are your people, that we are your Family, always. Amen.

 

Gloria (sung by the Cantor)

                   Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards all. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Silence is kept.

                        God of the dispossessed, you teach us to hunger for justice even when the weak are shut out and the powerful turn over in their beds: in the heat of our anger and the bitterness of our complaints, give us courage to protest, the persistence to pray and the heart to love; through Jesus Christ, the true judge.

All:             Amen.                                                                      Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009)

                                 

Please be seated.

The Proclamation of the Word

                   Let us listen for the Word of God in Holy Scripture.

         All:     Amen.

The First Reading                                                                                     Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the LORD, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.” Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find

 

favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’

The LORD said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The LORD”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the LORD continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’

                   Hear what the Spirit is saying.

         All:    Thanks be to God.

Psalm                                                                                                                               99

The Lord is king; let the people tremble; he is enthroned upon the Cherubim; let the earth shake. The Lord is great in Zion; he is high above all peoples. Let them confess his name, which is great and awesome; he is the Holy One. “O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” Proclaim the great of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name, they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them. “O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.” Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God is the Holy One.

 

Please stand.

The Gospel                                                                                              Matthew 22:15-22

   Cantor:    Alleluia. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right; for they shall be satisfied. Alleluia.

                        God is with you.

         All:    And also with you.

                   Here the Good news of Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

         All:    Glory to you, O Christ.

 

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Gospel of Christ.

         All:     Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Please be seated.

 

Sermon

Following the sermon there will be a pause for silence.

Please stand.

Affirmation of Faith

                   With the whole church,

         All:    we affirm that we are made in God’s image,
befriended by Christ, empowered by the Spirit.

                   With people everywhere,

         All:    we affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity
planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

                   With all creation,

         All:    we celebrate the miracle and wonder of life;
the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world.

                                                                                                                 Iona Abbey Worship Book

Prayers of the People

Please sit, stand or kneel as is your custom.
Please note that those who have asked for our prayers are listed at the end of the leaflet.

The Peace

Please stand.

                   The peace of Christ be with you.

         All:     And also with you.

All may offer their neighbour a sign of peace.

 

The Celebration of the Eucharist

Offertory Anthem               Come unto me, all ye that labour  -  Healey Willan (1880-1968)

Jesus said: 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light.'

The Prayer over the Gifts

In the name of all of us gathered, near and far, we present these our gifts to God.  Let us pray:

                   Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together
to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and
for ever.

         All:     Amen.                                                                   Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) alt.

 

As we prepare to celebrate this Eucharist, we remember that we are the people of God. Near or far we are gathered together by the love of Christ. We remember that we are incorporated into the body of Christ. We join together in this celebration of our union in Christ.

 

                   Let us pray.

                   Thanks be to you,

         All:    Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given us, and all that you have borne for us. In our sharing in this Eucharist, in Church or at home, we ask you to come spiritually into our hearts. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.

 

The Great Thanksgiving                                                Supplementary Eucharistic Prayer 2

                   The Lord be with you.

         All:    And also with you.

                   Lift up your hearts.

         All:    We lift them to the Lord.

                   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

         All:    It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth;
we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord,
because in the fellowship of your saints you have given us a glorious pledge
of the hope of our calling.


Therefore we join our voices with theirs
as earth and heaven unite
to proclaim the glory of your name.

Sanctus

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts,  
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.  
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. 

Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord:  
Hosanna in the highest.

                   Blessed are you, O Holy One:
when Hagar was driven into the wilderness you followed her and gave her hope.
When Joseph was sold into bondage, you turned malice to your people’s good.

                   When you called Israel out of slavery,
you brought them through the wilderness into the promised land.
When your people were taken into exile
you wept with them by the river of Babylon and carried them home.

        All:     Restore us, O God, let your face shine!

                   At the right time you sent your Anointed One to stand with the poor,
the outcast, and the oppressed.
Jesus touched lepers, and the sick, and healed them.
He accepted water from a woman of Samaria and offered her the water of new life.
Christ knew the desolation of the cross
and opened the way for all humanity into the redemption of your reconciling love.

                   On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his friends,
took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and said,
“Take and 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.”

                   Loving and Holy One,
recalling Christ’s death and resurrection, we offer you these gifts,
longing for the bread of tomorrow and the wine of the age to come.    

                   Therefore we proclaim our hope.

        All:     Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life.

                   Lord Jesus, come in glory.     

                   Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
that through them you may sustain us in our hunger for your peace.

 


We hold before you all whose lives are marked by suffering,
our sisters and brothers.
When we are broken and cast aside, embrace us in your love.

        All:     Restore us, O God, let your face shine!

                   Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O Source of all life, now and for ever.

         All:     Amen.

 

The Disciple’s Prayer                                                                                                       

                   As Christ taught his friends, and longing for the new life of God’s reign,
let us pray:

         All:     Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,    on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. 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

                   Creator of all, who summons the salmon from the depths of the seas
to yearn for the place of their origin.

         All:     So may your Spirit stir in our hearts to return and find our home in you.
                                                           
Liturgy of the Islands, 2018, Diocese of Islands and Inlets

 

The Communion

                   The gifts of God for the people of God.

         All:     Thanks be to God.

Agnus Dei

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. 

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. 
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us thy peace. 

 

All are invited to receive communion. Please follow the Greeters’ instructions. Receiving bread is considered full communion. Any not receiving communion are invited to receive a blessing, and to indicate that by holding their arms crossed on their chest.

If you are unable to come forward for communion please make this known to the Greeters and we will bring communion to you.

Gluten free wafers for communion are available. Please request them from the person who is distributing the bread.

 

 

Hymn during communion:  (CP 529)
In line with current Covid regulations the congregation is asked not to sing.
Words are provided for meditation on the text of the hymn; please sit as the cantor sings
the hymn.

1.  God, my hope on you is founded;
       you my faith and trust renew:
through all change and chance you guide me,
       only good and only true.
            God unknown,
            you alone
       call my heart to be your own.

3.  Daily does the almighty Giver
       bounteous gifts on us bestow;
God’s desire for us delights us,
       pleasure leads us where we go.
            Here at hand,
            love takes stand,
       joy awaits God’s sure command.

2.  Human pride and earthly glory,
     sword and crown, betray our trust;
though with care and toil we build them,
     tower and temple fall to dust.
          But your power,
          hour by hour,
     is my temple and my tower.

4.  God’s great goodness lasts forever,
       deepest wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attending,
       beauty springing out of naught.
            Evermore
            from God’s store
       newborn worlds rise and adore.

5.  Still from earth to God eternal
     sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
     for the gift of Christ the Son.
          Christ, you call
          one and all;
     those who follow shall not fall.

                                                     Text: Joachim Neander (1650-1680); tr. Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930), alt.
                                                                                         All rights reserved.  Reprinted under Onelicense.net #A-719605.

 

Following the Communion there will be a pause for silence.

 

Please stand to pray.

The Commissioning of the Community

                   One body are we.

         All:    For, though we are in many places, we spiritually share one bread.

Prayer after Communion

                   We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the
healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

         All:     Amen.                                                                       Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006)


 

 

 

Dismissal

                        Let us go in peace to love and serve our loving God.

         All:    Thanks be to God. Amen.

Postlude  

Our coffee hour will take place on Zoom at 11:00 am.

 

 

Readings for October 25th – The 21st Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Moses, on Mount Nebo, views the great expanse of the promised land the Israelites will enter without him. 

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 With words traditionally attributed to Moses, this psalm wrestles with a human dilemma: we desire to see our work come to fruition, yet we know that God’s timetable is not ours. 

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Paul shared not only the gospel but also himself, the latter a more difficult task and a more convincing argument. 

Matthew 22:34-46 Jesus summarizes all teachings of the Law in two intertwined commandments. He also states that the Messiah’s identity is not through ancestry but through relationship with God. 

Flowers

In loving memory of our parents Dick and Muriel Ireland, from the Heppell , Beckett and Ireland families.

 

 

EVENSONG

Every Sunday at 5:30pm - sung by a small ensemble of Choral Scholars

Evensong is a contemplative, musical and prayerful liturgy, ideally suited to the end of the week and the close of day, and to this current time when we have been asked to avoid congregational singing, but still long for the depth and beauty of a choral liturgy.

Register to attend at stjohnthedivine.eventbrite.com
Registration for each service opens Monday morning, and closes just before the service starts, so please do register to come. Walk-ins are also very welcome, as long as attendance doesn’t exceed 30 people.

Usual safety protocols apply: please don't attend if symptomatic. See stjohnthedivine.bc.ca for more information on church safety during the pandemic.

Full-sized choirs are unable to participate in services at the moment due to attendance limitations and physical distancing guidelines - we will expand to our full choirs as soon as it is safe and permitted to do so! In the meanwhile, watch for extra-liturgical projects from both choirs over the course of the Autumn.

 

The following people have asked for our prayers.
Please keep them in mind as you go through your week.


Joyce

Coumba, Mady, Idriss

Hagos, Tsigay & family

Alan

Sohaila & Fawad

Anne

Harriet

Bradley

Philip & Lisa

Rhoda

Silvana Carr

Carolyn

Nicholas

Patrick

Virginia

Alan

Derek

John

Linda

Helen

David & Pat

 


 

 


R.I.P.  Don Sabena

 

The Anglican Church of St. John the Divine

Stewards

People’s Warden:  Joan Huzar

Associate Warden:  Lorraine Gates
Envelope Secretary:  Jim Harlick

Rector’s Warden:  vacant

Associate Warden: Karen Coverett

Treasurer:  David Buckman

Parish Council
Susan Bansgrove, Carol Denton, Marguerite Heppell,
Penny Holt, Erin Kelly

Synod Delegates

Karen Coverett, Joel Hefty, Bill Huzar, Joan Huzar

Staff Supporting the Ministry of St. John’s

Rector:  The Ven. Alastair McCollum
Associate Priest:  The Rev’d Canon Kevin Arndt
Associate Priest: The Rev’d Bill Tarter

Deacon:  The Rev’d Patrick Sibley

Curate: Stephanie Wood

Director of Music:  David Stratkauskas
Family Ministry Coordinator:  Ruth MacIntosh
Parish Administrator:  Carol-Ann Zenger

Honorary Assistants

The Rev’d Derek Dunwoody / The Rev’d Canon Andrew Gates
The Rev’d Jane Reid

1611 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC  V8W  2L5       Tel. 250-383-7169 / Fax 250-381-3573

pastoral@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca or for urgent calls only, use 778-678-6873

www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca    facebook.com/St.JohnVicBC

twitter.com/StJohnVicBC     e-mail:  admin@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca