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Service for Noonday - Wednesday, May 5, 2021 the Feast of
Martyrs of the Reformation Era (For 150 years during the 16th and 17th centuries, England was at war with Catholicism and the pope. Hundreds of men and women, Catholic and Protestant, were killed during this dispute. We are also remembering those Roman Catholics who died at the hands of Protestants for maintaining their Faith and allegiance. We are recognizing that there was true Godliness and great courage in martyrs on both sides of that divide, and therefore also recognizing that there was terrible error and great evil committed by those who ordered the martyrdoms on both sides)

Officiant O God, make speed to save us.
People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn 238

Blesséd feasts of blesséd martyrs,
holy women, holy men,
with affection’s recollections
greet we your return again.
Worthy deeds they wrought, and wonders,
worthy of the Name they bore;
we, with meetest praise and sweetest,
honor them for evermore.

Faith prevailing, hope unfailing,
loving Christ with single heart,
thus they, glorious and victorious,
bravely bore the martyr’s part,
by contempt of every anguish,
by unyielding battle done;
victors at the last, they triumph,
with the host of angels one.

Therefore, ye that reign in glory,
fellow-heirs with Christ on high,
join to ours your supplication
when before him we draw nigh,
praying that, this life completed,
all its fleeting moments past,
by his grace we may be worthy
of eternal bliss at last.

Latin, 12th cent.; tr. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt. Music:Holy Manna
This selection is in the public domain.
Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE, License # A-725816. All rights reserved.

Psalm 51:10-17 Miserere mei, Deus
10 Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
12 Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.

15 Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness, O God of my salvation.
16 Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Thanks be to God.

Meditation

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray in the words Jesus taught us...

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 forever. Amen

Officiant Lord, hear our prayer;
People And let our cry come to you.
Officiant Let us pray.

The Collect
Almighty and Most Merciful God, give to your church that peace which the world cannot give, and grant that those who have been divided on earth may be reconciled in heaven, and share together in the vision of your glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen

I invite your own intercessions and thanksgivings at this time… (pause in silence)
For George, Jan, Sandy, Barb, Curt & Cleo, Madge & Ron, Victoria & Robert, Dorothy & Frank, Donna & Angelo, Tracey & Billy, Christian, Mark & Matt, Dore, Christine, Augie & Ryan, Connie, Kelly & Shaun, Laura & Ted, Barb, Ron & Tony, Adam & Jane, all who participate in weekday Noonday Prayer, and all parishioners of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon. For all people on Faith Journeys no matter where it leads, that the Lord may protect and guide them closer to God. For Tim and all people who struggle with chronic medical issues and for those who care for them. Healing For Kathleen, Martin and especially Maggie. For all front-line workers. For 1st responders, Police and Firefighters, EMTs, Nurses, Doctors, Hospitals, and Testing Facilities. For the efficient deployment of protective vaccines. For our nation that we may grow in trust, liberty, and justice for all. For each of us, that we may practice your command to “love one another” by continuing protective behaviors. AND FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS TODAY. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies
cannot be numbered: Make us, we beseech thee, deeply
sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of life; and let thy
Holy Spirit lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days;
that, when we shall have served thee in our generation, we
may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a
good conscience; in the communion of the catholic Church;
in the confidence of a certain faith; in the comfort of a
reasonable, religious, and holy hope; in favor with thee our
God; and in perfect charity with the world. All which we ask
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The service concludes as follows
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

*The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The Collects, Psalms, and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Also prayers from The Mission of St Clare online. ... See MoreSee Less

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Service for Noonday - Tuesday 5/4/21 - the Feast of Monnica
Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 (She is remembered for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, and her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who became St Augustine, one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in North Africa)

Officiant O God, make speed to save us.
People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn 205 (vs 1,4,5)
Good Christians all, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Your Name we bless, O risen Lord,
and sing today with one accord
the life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

To God the Father, God the Son,
to God the Spirit, always One,
we sing for life in us begun:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Cyril A. Alington (1872-1955), alt. St. 5, Norman Mealy (1923-1987) Reprint/Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE, License # A-725816. All rights reserved.

Psalm 115:12–18
Non nobis, Domine

12 The Lord has been mindful of us, and he will bless us; *
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;

13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, *
both small and great together.

14 May the Lord increase you more and more, *
you and your children after you.

15 May you be blessed by the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

16 The heaven of heavens is the Lord's, *
but he entrusted the earth to its peoples.

17 The dead do not praise the Lord, *
nor all those who go down into silence;

18 But we will bless the Lord, *
from this time forth for evermore.
Hallelujah!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Scripture 1 Samuel 1:10-20
Hannah was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”
Thanks be to God.

Meditation – From “Compline,” BCP, 134 (Attrib to St Augustine)
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or
watch, or weep this day, and give your angels charge
over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give
rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering,
pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your
love’s sake. Amen.

The Officiant then begins the Prayers
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray in the words Jesus taught us...

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.

Officiant Lord, hear our prayer;
People And let our cry come to you.
Officiant Let us pray.

The Collect:
Deepen our devotion, O Lord, and use us in accordance with your will; that inspired by the example of your servant Monica, we may bring others to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

I invite your own intercessions and thanksgivings at this time… (pause in silence)
For Jan, Sandy, Curt, Kelly. For George as he recovered in the hospital. Healing For Kathleen, Martin and especially Maggie. For Nora, and all Covid long haulers. For the end to gun violence. For EMTs, Firemen, First Responders. For our nation and our church communities. For all in the medical sciences as we face the beginning of a fourth surge. For all of us, that we may carry out Our Lord’s Commandment to “Love One Another”.
-And for All Your Prayers,
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Grant that our churches and communities of faith may reflect your love, as they minister to the most vulnerable among us; fill them with your Holy Spirit as
they work to be your healing hands and feet to all in
need.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our
heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove
ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and
pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend
our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue
with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust
the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we
may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Generous God, we give you thanks for your beloved
Jesus Christ, in whom you have shared the beauty
and pain of human life. Look with compassion upon
all for whom we pray, and strengthen us to be your
instruments of healing in the world, by the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The service concludes as follows
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

[From The Mission of St Clare, The Lectionary Page online, The Book of Common Prayer Online, The Episcopal Church .org] ... See MoreSee Less

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