Worship Bulletin

ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
HOLY EUCHARIST
AUGUST 24, 2025 | 9:30 AM

Welcome to St. John’s! If you are new, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the church and join us for Coffee Hour in our Parish Life Center. Please let an usher know if you require hearing assistance.

This is a family friendly congregation. If you have toddlers, please feel free to sit to the front right where we have a “soft space,” and a nursery room is available in the back as needed. Please let an usher know if you require hearing assistance.

Today we celebrate Holy Communion. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, all are welcome to receive at the Lord’s Table.

PRELUDE Tiento no. 1 de primero tono Francisco Correa de Arauxo

PROCESSIONAL HYMN   Come, Thou Almighty King Blue Hymnal #365

OPENING ACCLAMATION Book of Common Prayer p.355

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant & People: 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.

SONG OF PRAISE All Things Bright and Beautiful Blue Hymnal #405 v.4

Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

4. He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.  Refrain

COLLECT OF THE DAY (PROPER 15) Book of Common Prayer p.232

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

FIRST READING JEREMIAH 1:4-10

Reader: A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

The word of the Lord came to me saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you,
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”

The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 71:1-6

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken |refuge; *
let me never be a-|shamed.

2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me |free; *
incline your ear to me and |save me.

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me |safe; *
you are my crag and my |stronghold.

4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the |wicked, *
from the clutches of the evildoer and the op-|pressor.

5 For you are my hope, O Lord |God, *
my confidence since I was |young.

6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
from my mother's womb you have been my |strength; *
my praise shall be always of |you.

SECOND READING HEBREWS 12:18-29

Reader: A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken-- that is, created things —so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Reader:  The Word of the Lord
People:  Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE HYMN If thou but Suffer God to Guide thee Blue Hymnal #635 v.1

THE HOLY GOSPEL  LUKE 13:10-17

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory be to you, Lord Christ.

Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

SEQUENCE HYMN Blue Hymnal #635 v.2

SERMON Rev. Tammy Smith-Firestone

NICENE CREED

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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE FORM III Book of Common Prayer p.387

The Leader and People pray responsively:

Leader: Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
People: That we all may be one.

Leader: Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
People: That your Name may be glorified by all people.

Leader: We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
People: That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

Leader: We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
People: That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Leader: Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
People: That our works may find favor in your sight.

Leader: Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
People: That they may be delivered from their distress.

Leader: Give to the departed eternal rest.
People: Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Leader: We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
People: May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Leader: Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions. The Celebrant concludes with a collect

CONFESSION OF SIN
Celebrant: Let us confess our ins against God and our neighbor.

Silence

Celebrant and 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 Chrsit, have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the the glory of your Name. Amen.

Celebrant: 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.

The Ministers and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE LITURGY OF THE TABLE

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Fear not, Thou Faithful Christian Flock. J. S. Bach

Fear not, thou faithful Christian flock;
God is thy shelter and thy rock:
Fear not for thy salvation.
Though fierce the foe and dark the night,
The Lord of hosts shall be thy might,
Christ thine illumination.

Arise, arise, the foe defy!
Call on the Name of God most high,
That he with might endue you.
And Christ, your everlasting Priest,
In all your conflicts shall assist,
From strength to strength renew you.

PRESENTATION HYMN
Through north and south and east and west
May God’s immortal name be blessed:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Till ev’rywhere beneath the sun,
God’s reign begins; God’s will is done:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Eucharistic Prayer A Book of Common Prayer p. 361
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 him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is truly right, and a good and joyful thing…

…Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

SANCTUS  
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Celebrant: …Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
People: Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Celebrant: And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you…

…By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
People: Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Celebrant:    And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Celebrant breaks the bread.

Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People: Therefore let us keep the feast, Alleluia

FRACTION HYMN ALLELUIA, PASCHA NOSTRUM
The Celebrant breaks the bread.

Celebrant: Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People: Therefore let us keep the feast, Alleluia.

THE INVITATION TO COMMUNION

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECEIVING COMMUNION
Please follow the directions of the ushers. We go to the communion rail to receive. Respond to the words: “The Body of Christ, the Bread of Life” and “The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation” with a hearty “Amen.” After receiving Communion it is appropriate to return to your seat to kneel or sit in silence for personal prayer and thanksgiving.
There are two options for reception. First is drinking from the common cup. When approaching the priest giving the bread or host, raise cupped hands to receive the bread. Consume and then take the cup by its base to tip to your lips to drink. Return to your seat by way of the side aisles.
The second option for reception is intinction (bread dipped into the wine). As the clergy person approaches, point to the chalice that the priest may take a wafer, intinct it in the wine, and give to you to consume. Return to your seat by way of the side aisles.
If you are unable to come forth to receive Communion, simply make it known to the usher and the clergy will come out to you to bring the bread and wine. The priest will instinct the bread into the wine and give it to you to consume.
If you are not communing, please consider coming forth for a blessing. As you approach the priest, cross your arms across your chest to indicate you desire a blessing. 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON QUI MANDUCAT CARNEM

COMMUNION HYMN Abide with Me Blue Hymnal #662

POST COMMUNION PRAYER Book of Common Prayer p. 366

Celebrant: Let us pray. Eternal God,
Celebrant and People: 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.

PRAYERS FOR BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

BLESSING

FINAL HYMN  God the Omnipotent Blue Hymnal #569

DISMISSAL
Celebrant: Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
People: Thanks be to God.

VOLUNTARY Tiento 21 de sexto tono Francisco Correa de Arauxo

Thank you for worshipping with us this morning. If you are new, please sign our Guest Book in the back of the church and join us for Coffee Hour in our Parish Life Center.

       

   St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
2341 Floral Avenue, Chico, CA 95926
(530) 894-1971 · office@stjohnschico.org
The Very Reverend Tammy Smith-Firestone, Rector
Jeffrey Cooper, Director of Music

Hymn permission used by Rite Song a one-time use reprint license for congregational use
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License # A-735293. All rights reserved.”