ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
November 5, 2023
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTIOR.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
THE LESSON: Revelation 7:9-17
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.”Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
THE LESSON: 1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-11
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 the 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.
PARISH LIFE NOTES
CONGRATULATIONS AND BLESSINGS to Len and Brenda on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. God grant you many years! Celebration lunch follows the service in the Upper Hall. Please bring finger food to share.
VESTRY MEETING follows lunch today in the lounge.
PRAYER CHAIN. Do you have a special need for prayer for a situation in your life? St. Mary’s has a prayer chain consisting of dedicated parishioners who believe in the power of Jesus and who will pray for you. To initiate prayer, please call Ann.
HARVEST CEILIDH. Over 60 adults and 30 children enjoyed a chili and hot dog supper and 1 1/2 hours of instructed social dance to live fiddle and guitar music at St. Mary’s Harvest Ceilidh last Saturday night!
NEXT SUNDAY: TRINITY 23 (Remembrance Sunday). MORNING PRAYER at 10.00 a.m. HOLY COMMUNION at 10.30 a.m.
RECTOR’S FORUM will follow the service next Sunday, which will take the form of a ‘Death Café’, during which time we will examine and discuss some aspects of the teaching in The Book of Common Prayer concerning death and our prayer for departed loved ones.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30; Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer: Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.