Bulletin Date: September 11, 2011 4:00 am
Steadfast Love/Remembering 9-11
St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal, VA
September 11, 2011
7:30PM
Prelude "Our Father, Who Art in Heaven " – J. S. Bach
Entrance
Leader: In the midst of life we are in death;
From whom can we seek help?
From you alone, O Lord, who by our sins are justly angered.
Congregation: Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
Deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Leader: Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts;
Shut not your ears to our prayers,
But spare us, O Lord.
Congregation: Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
Deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Leader: O worthy and eternal Judge,
Do not let the pains of death
Turn us away from you at our last hour.
Congregation: Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
Deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Let us pray.
O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered: Make us deeply sensible to the shortness and uncertainty of life. May the Holy Spirit lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days; that having served you in our generation, we may be gathered to our ancestors, having the testimony of a good conscience, in communion with all the Church; in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope; in favor with you, our God; and in perfect charity with the world. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Tolling of the Bell
The bell will toll ten times—in thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love for us in each of the ten years that have passed since the day of 9-11-2001.
Hymn—O God our Help in Ages Past, H680
Please be seated for the Readings.
A reading from the Book of Lamentations, Chapter 3, Verses 22-33.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it.
To put one’s mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope),
to give one’s cheek to the smiter, and to be filled with insults.
For the Lord will not reject forever.
Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
For he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Let us pray.
May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will. May his Kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen.
May his great name be blessed, forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he- above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen.
May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel; and say Amen.
Hymn—Great is Thy Faithfulness, LEVAS 189
A Reading from The Revelation to John, Chapter 21, Verses 1-5.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them,
They will be his peoples,
And God himself will be with them;
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
For the first things have passed away.”
And the one who was seated on the throne said,
“See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Let us pray.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn—O Day of Peace that Dimly Shines, H597
A Reading from The Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-11.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Meditation The Reverend Barbara C. Willis
The Litany of Remembrance
Leader: On September 11, 2001, our lives were changed. Loss came into our world in a shocking and tragic way—Loss of innocence as a nation, loss of security in our communities, loss of lives and livelihood for so many individuals. We shall never be the same after that horrific day. And yet we have survived. We are marked and scarred and still find need for healing, but we have survived through the decade that has passed since that fateful day in our nation’s history. Therefore, we mark this day with prayers of remembrance, prayers of healing, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers for guidance as we continue to go forward in our lives together.
Lord of the nations, God of our strength, the images of the tragedy of September 11th are forever burned into our minds and our senses. Yet, with a gentle and caring hand, you have lifted us from the depths of despair and guided us to this time of remembrance ten years later.
Congregation: With truly grateful hearts, we thank you, Lord.
Leader: You have given us strength beyond our expectations to meet the challenges of living in our post 9/11 world.
Congregation: With truly grateful hearts, we thank you, Lord.
Leader: You have touched us with your healing power and have given us hope again, when at first we felt so hopeless.
Congregation: With truly grateful hearts, we thank you, O Lord.
Leader: As we look back, we remember the lives of those who died so tragically. We remember the heroism of firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, clergy and so many ordinary citizens who gave of themselves for others—and have continued to do so during these past ten years.
Congregation: We remember with thanksgiving, Lord.
Leader: We remember those who stepped forward so swiftly to fight the good fight on our behalf against the evils of terror, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
Congregation: We remember with thanksgiving, Lord.
Leader: We remember the courageous leadership of the heads of our government, standing with us in our sorrow and lending aid, guidance and decisive action to help us move forward.
Congregation: We remember with thanksgiving, Lord.
Leader: As we look forward, O God, we realize the stark reality that terror still affects our daily lives. Help us in our fearfulness to place our hope and our trust in you.
Congregation: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: Guide and inspire us and our leaders to make wise decisions for our future, for our country, and for our people. Keep us from self-righteousness, arrogant pride and prejudice. Unite us to champion justice, peace, and freedom.
Congregation: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: You alone know what hurts remain among us. Send us your healing Spirit. Comfort those who continue to mourn. Bring us all to the fullness of health and joy that comes from your love.
Congregation: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: God of all creation, Author of all good, faithful Provider of all our needs, to you we give our praises, our prayers and our thanksgivings on this day of remembrance. All honor and glory be yours, O God, now and forever.
Congregation: Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we 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 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.
Hymn—There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, H470
The Lighting of the Candles The Reverend Catherine D. Hicks
Hymn–Abide with Me—Choirs of St Peter’s and St Asaph’s
Go in Peace, and Depart in Silence
Officiants: The Reverend Catherine D. Hicks
Priest-in-Charge
St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal, VA
The Reverend Barbara C. Willis
Priest-in-Charge
St Asaph’s Episcopal Church, Bowling Green, VA
Lectors: Elizabeth Heimbach, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Joyce Goforth, St. Asaph’s Episcopal Church
Organist: Brad Volland
Choirs: St. Asaph’s Episcopal Church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Our thanks to the people of St Peter’s for providing the candles that were used in tonight’s service.
The Litany of Remembrance was written by The Reverend Thomas L. Weitzel, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.