(Officiant 1) – Convene Worship
 
Prelude
Shades of Dawn                                                                                   Arr. Harry Strack
 
(Officiant 1) - Rules for the Road in Virtual Worship
 
(Officiant 1) - Opening Hymn 493
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, vs. 1-3

 

(Officiant 1) - Opening Acclamation
Officiant: Blessed be God: the One who Creates, Redeems and Sustains us.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
 
(Officiant 1) – Collect
Almighty and ever-living God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel at All Saints, for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it, and the grace to accomplish it, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
 
A Reading from the Hebrew Testament Lesson                                           Allen Hill
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
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.”
 
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
 
Pause to reflect on reading.
 
Today’s Psalm is Psalm 111 (please read together the bolded lines).
 
Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
 
Great are the deeds of the Lord!
they are studied by all who delight in them.
 
His work is full of majesty and splendor,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
 
He makes his marvelous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
 
He gives food to those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
 
He has shown his people the power of his works
in giving them the lands of the nations.
 
The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice;
all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever,
because they are done in truth and equity.
 
He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever;
holy and awesome is his Name.
 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
his praise endures for ever.
 
A Reading from the Greek Testament Lesson                                    Mary Gordon
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
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.
 
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
 
(Deacon) - The Gospel                                                                              Mark 1:21-28
 
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
 
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.
 
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Homily                                                                             The Rev. Marya DeCarlen
 
(Officiant 1) – Hymn 371
Thou Whose Almighty Word, vs. 1, 3

Prayers of the People                                                                            Bob Stains
In peace let us pray to the Lord, responding with “Waken our soul to your light”
 
Life takes us on a journey filled with many paths: on some, we are able to joyfully uplift our faces to the sun and sing praises of gladness; others are filled with pain, despair, and dark places. Those are the times we are afraid and feel alone. However, you promised that whenever we look for you, you will be present with us. With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light
 
Dearest Jesus: You were born and lived as a man amongst us, facing many of the same temptations we do all these centuries later. Yet you showed us by your loving example how to look to God for strength and guidance. With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light

We are faced daily with so many uncertainties, day-to-day struggles, and temptations:  illness and loss; hunger; violence and abuse; political unrest; addiction; jealousies, envy,and pride; contempt and hatred. Whether we are the subject of such, or have let these creep into our judgments, deliver us, O Lord. Today we pray especially for Carol and Ken Bouffard, Carolyn, Dennis, Lizzie, Harry, Susan Sahoveyor, Jordan Zennia, Drew Howard, Mary Pettus, Frank and Pat Swasey, the Fiorentino Family, Leah Olendenski, Gail, Paul, Rick, Julie, Tim, Carol Quinn, David and Linda King, Ann Gentry, Amy, Charles Boulanger, Larry Chisholm, Joe Maher, Victoria, Bob Lomprey, Sharon, Peter, Amy and Charlotte, Nora, Susan Schumann, and Kristin Blake. Are there others? The people add their prayers for all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light
 
But we know, within our heart of hearts, and in the depths of our soul, that you are always present to guide us, to lift us up, to surround us with your loving presence, to offer hope and encouragement and forgiveness. For this, we offer our thanksgivings for those who celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries, especially today for Richard Cloutman, Dorothy Hamilton, Leah Ann Russell-Witt, Beth Gutz, Paul Gillissen, and Nancy Kibunja. Are there other thanksgivings? We will pause while people add their thanksgivings. With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light
 
You have charged us to cast out our nets upon the waters and become fishers of people. Let the light of your love shine brightly in our actions and upon our faces. Let us be loving examples of what it is to follow Jesus. Today we give thanks for the nets cast out by Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Alan and Gayle, our Bishops, Marya, our priest, Jim, our deacon, and Brett, our seminarian. In our Diocesan cycle of prayer, we give thanks for the Boston Harbor Deanery: St. John’s Church, Jamaica Plain (Boston); Northeastern University Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry; St. Cyprian’s Church, Roxbury (Boston); and St. John & St. James Church, Roxbury (Boston). In our Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for Veterans Ministries and Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.
With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light
 
Lord Jesus, you have left a legacy of one of the greatest commandments: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. In this age of questioning who our neighbor is, soften our hearts to help us see beyond what is presented before us; teach us how to see into our neighbor’s heart and soul. Help us to realize that they, too, are a child of God.  With Jesus as our guide,
Waken our soul to your light
 
O Lord, our God,
In this hour, please meet us not according to our flaws,
but according to your generous self-giving.
Be our Christmas, and start the world again.
Be our Easter, and draw us from death to new life.
Be our Pentecost, and breathe on us to begin again.
Be your full, generous self toward us;
And we will begin again in obedience,
We will begin again in wonder, love, and joy.
In your Holy Name, Amen*
 
*The author of this Litany, Leslie Blake, excerpted this section from “When Life Crashes” by Walter Brueggemann
Shared Agape Meal (bread and wine or juice before each person)
 
(Officiant 2) - The Sanctuary Lamp burns in honor of the Blessed Sacrament, and in loving memory of Rose Bogle, given by Clara DeMild, Beverly Burnham and Winnie Mercer. The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in celebration of their 31 years together, by Brett Johnson and Dave McSweeney.
 
(Deacon) – Invitation to Share the Feast
Agape is the Greek word for love, and was a love feast of the early Christians. It was a time for sharing nourishment, of food for the body, for thanking God, for prayers, songs, and scripture for the soul, and a time for an offering of money for God's mission in the world.
 
 
(Preacher) - Agape Prayer
We are viewing and hearing others from the hearths of the gathered to celebrate our love of Jesus, to share our faith in Christ, and to listen to one another. We have gathered together for healing…to be renewed. We are ready to be fed. God of all seasons and senses, grant us the sense of your timing to yield gracefully and rejoice quietly in the turn of the seasons. In this Epiphany season of marvelous light, help us to proclaim God’s justice and love that has overcome the darkness, and brought new life in our lives. Teach us the lessons of companionship with Christ, who has redeemed our world and drawn us into a loving family from every tribe, and family, and culture. Be present to us as the Holy Spirit equips us for service to love our neighbors as we do ourselves, to bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. As we pause, assist us in recognizing and knowing Jesus in the sharing of this love feast. May it nourish our bodies, and give us strength to carry out your plan for peace in our lives. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we pray:
 
(Preacher) -
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.
 
(Preacher)
Let each person take a portion of bread and a cup of wine or juice in their hands
(Preacher) - Let us share the feast with each other! Experience the grace of God! Alleluia, Alleluia!!!
 
Agape Meal
I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord
 
(Officiant 2) - Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all grace, may we live in expectation and hope, and may the gifts we have received at this table remind us not only of the gift of your Christ, but of your steady presence among us, that we may act faithfully in response to your love. Amen (Adapted from progressivechristianity.org)
 
(Officiant 2) - The Passing of the Peace
 
(Marya) - Announcements and Prayers for Birthdays and Anniversaries
 
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
 
(Officiant 2) – Final Blessing
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Go now as a light to the nations. Honor the Lord; preach what you know of the risen Christ, and fulfill all righteousness. And may God strengthen you and bless you with peace; May Christ Jesus bring forth justice for you and among you; And may the Holy Spirit alight on you and affirm you as God’s beloved ones. AMEN By Nathan Nettleton, Laughingbird.net
 
(Officiant 2) - Closing Hymn 437
Tell Out My Soul, vs. 1, 4

God Be with You Till We Meet Again                                                Jeremiah Rankin