Welcome to
Saint Francis by the Sea
Episcopal Church
September 6, 2026
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
| The Prelude | “In Joyful Praise” — Laurence Lyon |
The Processional Hymn 376
“Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” Hymn to Joy
Hymn 376: “Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” — Please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
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 S277
“Gloria in Excelsis” Canticle 20, David Hurd
Gloria S277 — 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.
GRANT US, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading |
Exodus 12:1-14 |
1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Psalm |
Psalm 149 |
1 Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *
and adorns the poor with victory.
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
let them be joyful on their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles with links of iron;
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!
The Second Reading |
Romans 13:8-14 |
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Sequence Hymn 554
“'Tis the gift to be simple” Simple Gifts
Hymn 554: “'Tis the gift to be simple” — Please paste a MusicXML score or upload the music image.
The Gospel |
Matthew 18:15-20 |
Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
15“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
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 giver 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.
ALMIGHTY GOD, you are present with us always and you champion those who work to heal our differences. Be with us now as we open our hearts in humility and love to pray for ourselves and the world saying, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We are your church, bearers of your message of love and hope. Give us voices to invite and welcome our neighbors into their place in your church and grant us humility to face the opportunities we have missed and the mistakes we have made with repentance and a desire to make amends. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We are a nation that cries out to you for healing and peace. Bring us out of division and into relationship. Bless us with leaders who care deeply for the needs of all people and public servants who find joy in reconciliation and justice. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless each person in our local community life with health and safety. Give us new ways of conserving resources, feeding the hungry and working together for the common global good. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who face danger or oppression; for those who are anxious and feeling separate from their neighbors; for those who have nowhere to turn and who are alone. Send us into the midst of those who need your love that we might be bearers of your healing love. Send your love into the midst of our own being so that we might remember that you are with us always. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for St. Peter’s Church, Washington. In our Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer, we give thanks for Harkers Island Pentecostal Holiness Church, and Harlowe Community Chapel Church. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Especially, we pray for [today’s petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We are but flesh, and our days are numbered. Be present with those who are dying and comfort all those who grieve this day. Bring us into the reconciliation and restoration of kingdom life here and in the world to come. Today, we remember [today’s petitions]. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We give thanks 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:
GOD OF HOPE, you have always stood by your people and fulfilled your promises to them; stand with us now and answer our prayer as may be best for us and always to the fulfillment of your dreams and hope for us; through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and always. Amen.
The Confession of Sin and Absolution
The Deacon says: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor:
People:
MOST MERCIFUL GOD, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
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 |
“Sing Unto God a New Song” — Douglas E. Wagner |
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord, all you people, sing unto God a new song.
For the Lord is great, greatly to be praised, honor and glory, praise evermore.
Sing unto the Lord, sing and bless his name, sing to the Lord glad songs of joy!
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. O worship the Lord in beauty.
Come into his courts with your offering. Rejoicing, come Alleluia.
The Lord reigns over the earth, the Lord reigns o’er the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; let the seas and all there-in.
Let the fields be joyful and all there-in and the trees of the woods rejoice.
Sing to the Lord, all you people, sing to the Lord, loud and long.
Sing to the Lord, all you people, sing unto God a new song.
The Doxology |
Old 100th |
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Praise God above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Holy Communion
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 MHSO 38
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” John Bell
Sanctus MHSO 38 — 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 WLP 867
“The bread which we break” Carl Haywood
Fraction Anthem WLP 867 — 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 |
“Prayer of St. Francis” — Sebastian Temple |
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:
ETERNAL GOD, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
The Recessional Hymn 674
“Forgive our sins as we forgive” Detroit
Hymn 674: “Forgive our sins as we forgive” — 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 | “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” — Marvin Gaspard |
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