Welcome to
Saint Francis by the Sea
Episcopal Church
June 28, 2026
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
| The Prelude | “Be Thou But Near” | J. S. Bach |
| The Processional Hymn 304 | “I come with joy to meet my Lord” | Land of Rest |
Processional Hymn 304 “I come with joy to meet my Lord” (Land of Rest) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
Words: Brian A. Wren (b. 1936), alt. Copyright © 1971 by Hope Publishing Company Carol Stream, IL 60188. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Music: Land of Rest, American folk melody; adapt. and harm. Annabel Morris Buchanan (1889-1983).
The Word of God
Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
Celebrant and People: Collect for Purity
ALMIGHTY GOD, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: 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.
| The Gloria S278 | “Glory to God in the highest” | William Mathias |
The Gloria S278 “Glory to God in the highest” (William Mathias) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY GOD, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading Genesis 22:1-14
1After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.”
3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
9When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Psalm Psalm 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever? *
how long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day? *
how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God; *
give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” *
and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
5 But I put my trust in your mercy; *
my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
6 I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with me richly; *
I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.
The Second Reading Romans 6:12-23
12Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. 20When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
| The Sequence Hymn 675 | “Take up your cross” | Bourdon |
Sequence Hymn 675 “Take up your cross” (Bourdon) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
The Gospel Matthew 10:40-42
Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
40“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon: The Reverend Mary Kay Brown
The Nicene Creed Please stand, if able.
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 givers 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 from “Hear our Prayer” by Jon White and Lisa Graves
The Deacon says: IN PEACE, we pray to you, Lord God.
TOGETHER in loving confidence, we seek your power in our world and in our lives as we say, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We offer thanksgiving for the church and for all who strive to follow you, finding their strength in the love you have for all people and races. We ask you to be with us in this present age, as we seek justice, peace, and well-being. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for this nation, for the renewal of its promise; for those elected to serve and all in positions of leadership. We pray also for all those who work for change and the betterment of our institutions. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the welfare of the world, for those who work to heal and cure all that ails us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our local community, that all might know health, safety, and opportunity at their most bountiful. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, including [[st-annes-church-jacksonville|St. Anne’s Church, Jacksonville]], and All Souls Church, Northwest. We also pray for Bishop Sarah as she begins her ministry in our diocese. In our Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer, we give thanks for Faith Tabernacle of Praise, Beaufort, and First Apostolic Church, Morehead City. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those in any kind of need, for those who struggle with hopelessness or anxiety; for those who are homeless, jobless, hungry, or imprisoned. Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick and suffering. Especially we pray for [today’s petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the dying and for those who mourn that the dying may be brought to kingdom life and the grieving may be brought into the grace of your peace. Today, we remember [today’s petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We give thanks today for all our blessings in life Lord, only made possible by You including [today’s petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
The Celebrant concludes with this collect:
WE ASK all this with hearts full of love for you, your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Confession of Sin and Absolution
The Deacon says: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor: People:
The Rector stands and says…
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.
The Peace
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: WALK IN LOVE, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.
The Choral Anthem Lloyd Larson
“What Grace Is Mine”
What grace is mine that he who dwells in endless light
called through the night to find my distant soul.
And from his scars poured mercy that would plead for me,
that I might live and in his name be known.
So I will go wherever he is calling me;
I lose my life to find my life in him.
I give my all to gain the hope that never dies;
I bow my heart, take up my cross, and follow him.
What grace is mine to know his breath alive in me;
beneath his wings my weary soul may soar.
All fear can flee for death’s dark night is overcome;
my Savior lives and reigns forever more.
So I will go wherever he is calling me;
I lose my life to find my life in him.
I give my all to gain the hope that never dies;
I bow my heart, take up my cross, and follow him.
The Presentation of Elements and Offerings
| The Doxology | Old 100th |
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, Prayer C.
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.
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds:
GOD OF ALL POWER, Source and Sustainer of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
At your command all things came to be: shining light and enfolding dark; the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, and this fragile earth, our island home.
People: By your will they were created and have their being.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with the capacity for memory, reason, and skill. You made us the stewards of your creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
People: Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your eternal Word, born of your servant Mary, to fulfill your Law, opening for us the way of freedom and peace.
People: By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed.
And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
| The Sanctus S125 | “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” | Richard Proulx |
The Sanctus S125 “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” (Richard Proulx) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
The Celebrant continues:
Therefore, O God, we who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Savior.
On the night he was betrayed Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Remembering now his work of redemption and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,
People: We celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection as we await the day of his coming.
God of our ancestors; Redeemer and Mother of Israel; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength; for pardon only and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.
People: Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.
Accept these prayers and praises, Almighty God, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
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 forever, and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread a period of silence is kept
| The Fraction Anthem S163 | “Lamb of God” | Robert Powell |
The Fraction Anthem S163 “Lamb of God” (Robert Powell) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
Celebrant continues: 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 Response Sebastian Temple
“Prayer of St. Francis”
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred; let me bring your love,
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,
where there is darkness only light,
and where there’s sadness ever joy.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love, with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving of ourselves that we receive,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Post-Communion Prayer
After Communion, the Celebrant says: All stand. Let us pray together: Celebrant and People:
The Blessing
| The Recessional Hymn WLP 782 | “Gracious Spirit, give us your servants” | Abbot’s Leigh |
The Recessional Hymn WLP 782 “Gracious Spirit, give us your servants” (Abbot’s Leigh) — please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
The Dismissal
Deacon: Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
| The Postlude | “Allegro Moderato” | G. F. Handel |
St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church Welcomes You
Happy Birthday: Judi Matzke (2nd).
Welcome! If you are new to St. Francis or visiting for the first time, we especially welcome you to our community of faith. We ask that you sign our guest register located at the back of the church.
[[meals-ministry|Meals on Wheels]]: The Meals Ministry Team continues to serve our community. Our remaining June date is June 30 (summer chili). Thank you for your wonderful support of this ministry. We are able to serve 180 needy folks each month, as well as parishioners who are in need of meals. Remember that Love Meals are always available to anyone at any time; share the love with someone who would enjoy a meal!
[[men-of-st-francis|Men’s Fellowship Breakfast]]: generally meets on the third Saturday of the month. Our next scheduled meeting begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 18. All men of the church are welcome to attend. We look forward to opportunities for service, prayer, study, and fellowship.
Coffee Hour: We encourage everyone to gather downstairs following our Sunday service for refreshments and to enjoy Christian fellowship. Please also wear your name tag to coffee hour. You may place your name tag on the Parish Administrator's desk at the end of coffee hour and the tags will be returned to the file in the sanctuary. Visitors are especially welcome, and a special note of thanks to our members who host coffee hour every Sunday!
Communion is available to our local homebound parishioners. If interested, please email layministrysfbts@gmail.com and include your preferred contact number. A lay minister will call to schedule a time that is convenient for a visit.
Prayers of the People: For those watching our services on-line, we invite you to send in your prayer requests, praises, and death notices, to be included in the weekly E-bulletins and also during the service. Please email or call the church office with names of people you want to include by 10 a.m. each Thursday. For those attending in person, you may add names to our Prayers of the People list before the service begins. The list is located at the back of the sanctuary, near the visitor registry.
Book Discussion: Join us for a summer book discussion! On July 14, at 6pm, we’ll be talking about ‘Theo of Golden’, by Allen Levi. This engaging book gives us much to think and talk about. Sign up in the parish hall, please so we know how many to expect.
We prayerfully ask that you keep your offerings and pledges to Saint Francis by the Sea up-to-date. Thank you for your faithfulness to our church and to our Lord, Jesus Christ. You can support our ministries by donations via scanning the QR code below which will take you to our PayPal. We thank you for your attendance today and look forward to seeing you again!
[QR Code for PayPal donations]
Stay Connected with St. Francis by the Sea
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Subscribe to Email UpdatesWorship Leaders
Rector: The Rev. Mary Kay Brown
Priest in Residence: The Rev. Chris Carlin
Deacon: The Rev. Deacon Robin Smith
Lector: Kathy Driver
Prayers for the People: Jami Turner
Torchbearers: George Grigg, Sarah Haigwood
Altar Guild: Carol Holland
Greeters: Sarah Criddle, Elsie Phillip
Music Director: Craig Everett
Bells: Libba Shelton
Audio: Larry Castle
Videographer: John Clarke
Chalice: Marion and Stover Morris
Crucifer: Frances Jenkins
Vestry of the Day: Kathy Driver
Sunday School: Vicki Blanchard, Martha Edwards
Coffee Hour: Christina and Dan Hess
Vestry Members
Vestry Class of 2026
Pam Ball, Senior Warden
Sharon Birmingham
Terry Smith
Vestry Class of 2027
John Clarke, Junior Warden
Laura Leslie
Terry Parrish
Vestry Class of 2028
Kathy Driver
Bruce Jobe
Mary Kurek
[Image: Episcopal Church Shield Seal]
Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church
920 Salter Path Road ● Salter Path, NC 28512
(252) 240-2388 ● www.stfrancisbythesea.org ● stfrancisbts@gmail.com
A parish of the Diocese of East Carolina ● The Rt. Rev. Sarah K. Fisher, Bishop
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