the st. augustine’s echo · 3 the sixth sunday after pentecost july 12, 2020 and listen with...

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H o l y E u c h a r i s t S e r v i c e

Y e a r A R C L

J u l y 1 2 , 2 0 2 0

1 0 : 3 0 A M

The St. Augustine’s eCho

Mission Statement St. Augustine’s Church is a Christ-centered ministry where

every one is invited and welcome.

We are a loving Christian body that seeks to enhance spirituality and community.

Weekly Services and Programs

Sundays

10:30 AM

Eucharist

2:00 - 4:00 PM Pastoral Visitations

Wednesdays

12 Noon Healing Service with Holy Eucharist

9:00 PM Phone Line Prayer

A Par ish of the Episcopal Diocese of New York

ORDER OF SERVICE

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Yoruba Lament Fela Sowande

The Collects: Proper 10 BCP pg. 231

The First Reading Isaiah 55:10-13

Psalm 65:1-184 BCP pg. 672

The Epistle Romans 8:1-11

Sequence Blessed Assurance

The Holy Gospel Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

THE SERMON “The Soil, The Seed, and The

Sower ”

by The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre.

Litany of Healing

Confession & Absolution

The Peace

THE OFFERTORY

Hymn: Prayer George Walker

THE HOLY COMMUNION:

The Great Thanksgiving

Sanctus ET Benedictus

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthem

Agnus Dei

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Administration of the Sacrament

Communion My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

Welcome & Announcements

Post Communion Prayer Onscreen

Dismissal BCP p. 366

Hymn The Old Rugged Cross

“The Soil, The Seed, and The Sower ”

BCP (Book of Common Prayer) LEVAS (Lift Every Voice & Sing) Hymnal 1982 OSOP (One Song of Praise) EOW1 (Enriching Our Worship 1)

The Sixth Sunday after

Pentecost

http://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp9_RCL.html#ot1

http://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp9_RCL.html#gsp1

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THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST JULY 12 , 2020

The Clergy’s

Corner

What kind of soil do you think you are? What kind of soil have you been told you are? What kind of harvest do you think you can produce? Can you transform the soil you have been told you are on your own? Or do you need God to transform the soil you are? And what if we were not the soil but the seed? Jesus as a preacher was a good storyteller. In today’s Gos-pel he told a story to the crowd following him. He told them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered

away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:3 – 9) Have you been wondering what kind of soil you are? Have you been blaming the seed for your lack of productivity? What if instead of being the soil, you were the seed? The passage of Matthew we read this Sunday shows what a preacher Jesus was. It reminds me of what I am told Bishop Mary Glasspool said once and I para-phrase: “When one sees that the lectionary remove a slice in an appointed reading, be prepared to seek and find out why.” Verses 10 through 17 were cut off and they address how the disciples were asking Jesus “Why did he speak to the crowd in parables?” Jesus told them this: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been giv-en. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abun-dance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not per-ceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes;

so that they might not look with their eyes, (Continued on page 2)

The Soil, The Seed, and The Sower

by The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre

(Matthew 13:1 – 9,18 – 23)

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and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn—

and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. Bishop Mary is right because this left out slice is important to understand that Je-sus decided to speak in a language the crowd could understand and relate to. If Jesus were to speak to them in theological terms and teach them about uncondi-tional grace and salvation, maybe there and then they would have arrested Jesus and crucified him for blasphemy. It was wise for Jesus to speak like that to the crowd but to decrypt the parable for the disciples. In today’s terminology, I am sure many of us have been driven to feel like crap, bad soil, as if we were condemned to never be productive. Some of us have felt that the seed was not willing enough to penetrate the soil that we are and make us fruitful. Jesus is telling us that he is the message, the word of God made flesh and the seed that came to redeem all soil: the path (hardened by the steps of the passersby), the rocky and the thorny soil. Whoever receives him, Jesus has the power to transform. We must not look at the harvest alone, we must instead un-derstand the generosity of the sower. Don’t you think that God, the sower, knows in advance what kind of soil each of us is? God is so not interested in the harvest; he wants to risk his seeds in us. Je-sus was not looking for perfect soil. He was instead looking for soils that could not produce on their own, so that he could redeem, defend, and advocate for them. I don’t know where you are with your self-confidence. But we are living in a system that while making one side/soil feel superior, is considering the other side like crap and unworthy of respect, second chances and redemption. Jesus is telling us that the kind of soil we are told we are, must not define who we are. If you think of yourself as being a good soil, good for you. Keep on being produc-tive. God has a purpose for you. God wants you to become the seed sent every-where to get God’s word known. Do know that you will fall in unexpected places. You might even preach to those who are ready to choke you. But to all of you who are feeling rocky or sabotaged by the fake prophets, those who tag you as unworthy of God’s grace, I am telling you that there is hope. Stop listening to false gospels whose goal is to choke hope in Jesus. Stop nurturing this unworthiness that fake messengers are broadcasting as if you were not a child of God. Stop the shame. Speak it to the Lord in prayer. The word made human is our grace. And nothing can separate us from the love of God. The Jesus Movement has for its mission to redeem and not to condemn. If a movement discards you from the plan of salvation of God, it is not the Jesus Movement; it is the Bad Move-ment. I am here to tell you to let no one’s rejection affect your faith in a Jesus who has come not to reject, but to redeem. I want to point out that Jesus never

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blamed the soil for its inability to produce. It is always an outside source (birds, sun or thorns) that is responsible. Jesus concluded that the good soil is the person who lets her/himself be transformed by the word of God: the seed sent by the sower. No soil is doomed and unsalvageable by the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. The good soil did not yield on its own, it yielded because God planted and watered the seed. Amen. In accordance with the guidelines of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, presented by Bishop Andrew Dietsche, St. Augustine's plans to resume in-person worship services on Sunday, July 12th. The guidelines allow a gathering of people up to 25% of the capacity of the worship space. Our summer services will be held in the Parish Hall which limits us to 50 people. It is recommended that people pre-register for each Sunday ser-vice so that we can best monitor the number of attendants. Please call Father Nat at (917) 232-9583 by Friday to register for the upcoming Sun-day service. We will maintain physical distancing. People who live in the same home may sit together, but beyond that, everyone must be six feet away from everyone else. Everyone must be masked, and hand sanitizer will be readily available and freely used.


A Public Service of Healing: Eucharist Prayer A The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

Year A, RCL July 12, 2020

Prelude: Yoruba Lament Fela Sowande

A Public Service of Healing

In case of illness, the Minister of the Congregation is to be notified.

This service may always be led by a deacon or lay person

When the Laying on of Hands or Anointing takes place at a public celebration of the Eucharist, it is desirable that it precede the distribution of Holy Communion, and it is recommended that it take place immediately before the exchange of the Peace.

The Celebrant begins the service with the following or some other greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

All And also with you Let us pray

The following collect or the collect of the day follows

O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Proper 10 BCP 231

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.



Ministry of the Word

One or more of the lectionary provided readings for the day or other selected passages of Scriptures are read. A Gospel reading must be read.

THE FIRST READING

Isaiah 55:10-13 Isaiah proclaims a message of hope, deliverance, and plenty to a people who are exiled, oppressed, and starving. A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people People Thanks be to God THE RESPONSE

Psalm 65: 1—14 Te decet hymnus BCP Pg. 672

1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; * to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.

2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, * because of their transgressions.

3 Our sins are stronger than we are, * but you will blot them out.



4 Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! * they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple.

5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation, * O Hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas that are far away.

6 You make fast the mountains by your power; * they are girded about with might.

7 You still the roaring of the seas, * the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples.

8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; * you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.

9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; * the river of God is full of water.

10 You prepare the grain, * for so you provide for the earth.

11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; * with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.

12 You crown the year with your goodness, * and your paths overflow with plenty.

13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, * and the hills be clothed with joy.

14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; * let them shout for joy and sing.

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.



THE EPISTLE

Romans 8:1-11

God has transformed us, empowering us for his service to do the good and the right rather than to sin and do evil. A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people People Thanks be to God SEQUENCE MUSIC: Blessed Assurance



THE GOSPEL

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

We see in the parable of the sower how a lesson on how God has formed the world to function.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew. All Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Gospel of the Lord

All Praise to you, Lord Christ A sermon, or meditation, or conversation or a period of silence may follow the readings. It can be done also after each reading… If someone is also willing to share a testimony, or a non-biblical



text believed to be of interest, that can be prearranged with the person leading the prayer.

THE SERMON: The Soil, The Seed, and The Sower

by The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre (Matthew 13:1 – 9,18 – 23)

Opening: What kind of soil do you think you are? What kind of soil have you been told you are? What kind of harvest do you think you can produce? Can you transform the soil you have been told you are on your own? Or do you need God to transform the soil you are? And what if we were not the soil but the seed? Situation: Jesus as a preacher was a good storyteller. In today’s Gospel he told a story to the crowd following him. He told them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:3 – 9) Complication: Have you been wondering what kind of soil you are? Have you been blaming the seed for your lack of productivity? What if instead of being the soil, you were the seed? Resolution: The passage of Matthew we read this Sunday shows what a preacher Jesus was. It reminds me of what I am told Bishop Mary Glasspool said once and I paraphrase: “When one sees that the lectionary remove a slice in an appointed reading, be prepared to seek and find out why.” Verses 10 through 17 were cut off and they address how the disciples were asking Jesus “Why did he speak to the crowd in parables?” Jesus told them this: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not



listen, nor do they understand.’ 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes;

so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. Bishop Mary is right because this left out slice is important to understand that Jesus decided to speak in a language the crowd could understand and relate to. If Jesus were to speak to them in theological terms and teach them about unconditional grace and salvation, maybe there and then they would have arrested Jesus and crucified him for blasphemy. It was wise for Jesus to speak like that to the crowd but to decrypt the parable for the disciples. In today’s terminology, I am sure many of us have been driven to feel like crap, bad soil, as if we were condemned to never be productive. Some of us have felt that the seed was not willing enough to penetrate the soil that we are and make us fruitful. Jesus is telling us that he is the message, the word of God made flesh and the seed that came to redeem all soil: the path (hardened by the steps of the passersby), the rocky and the thorny soil. Whoever receives him, Jesus has the power to transform. We must not look at the harvest alone, we must instead understand the generosity of the sower. Don’t you think that God, the sower, knows in advance what kind of soil each of us is? God is so not interested in the harvest; he wants to risk his seeds in us. Jesus was not looking for perfect soil. He was instead looking



for soils that could not produce on their own, so that he could redeem, defend, and advocate for them. I don’t know where you are with your self-confidence. But we are living in a system that while making one side/soil feel superior, is considering the other side like crap and unworthy of respect, second chances and redemption. Jesus is telling us that the kind of soil we are told we are, must not define who we are. Celebration: If you think of yourself as being a good soil, good for you. Keep on being productive. God has a purpose for you. God wants you to become the seed sent everywhere to get God’s word known. Do know that you will fall in unexpected places. You might even preach to those who are ready to choke you. But to all of you who are feeling rocky or sabotaged by the fake prophets, those who tag you as unworthy of God’s grace, I am telling you that there is hope. Stop listening to false gospels whose goal is to choke hope in Jesus. Stop nurturing this unworthiness that fake messengers are broadcasting as if you were not a child of God. Stop the shame. Speak it to the Lord in prayer. The word made human is our grace. And nothing can separate us from the love of God. The Jesus Movement has for its mission to redeem and not to condemn. If a movement discards you from the plan of salvation of God, it is not the Jesus Movement; it is the Bad Movement. I am here to tell you to let no one’s rejection affect your faith in a Jesus who has come not to reject, but to redeem. I want to point out that Jesus never blamed the soil for its inability to produce. It is always an outside source (birds, sun or thorns) that is responsible. Jesus concluded that the good soil is the person who lets her/himself be transformed by the word of God: the seed sent by the sower. No soil is doomed and unsalvageable by the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. The good soil did not yield on its own, it yielded because God planted and watered the seed. Amen!



Litany of Healing

Let us offer our prayers for God’s healing, saying, “Have mercy”

Holy God, source of health and salvation, Have mercy

Holy and Mighty, wellspring of abundant life, Have mercy

Holy Immortal One, protector of the faithful, Have mercy

Holy Trinity, the source of all wholeness, Have mercy

Blessed Jesus, your Holy Name is medicine for healing and a promise of eternal life, Have mercy

Jesus, descendant of David, you healed all who came to you in faith, Have mercy

Jesus, child of Mary, you embraced the world with your love, Have mercy

Jesus, divine physician, you sent your disciples to preach the Gospel and heal in your name, Have mercy

Jesus our true mother, you feed us the milk of your compassion, Have mercy

Jesus, Son of God, you take away our sin and make us whole, Have mercy

Jesus, eternal Christ, your promised Spirit renews our hearts and minds, Have mercy



Grant your grace to heal those who are sick, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Give courage and faith to all who are disabled through injury or illness, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Comfort, relieve, and heal all sick children, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Give courage to all who await surgery, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Support and encourage those who live with chronic illness, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Strengthen those who endure continual pain, and give them hope, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Grant the refreshment of peaceful sleep to all who suffer, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

Befriend all who are anxious, lonely, despondent, or afraid, we pray to you, O God, Have mercy

The Celebrant concludes the prayers with the following or some other suitable Collect (see BCP page 458 through 461) Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



The Confession:

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor

God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen. The Bishop when present, or the Priest, stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

The peace of God be always with you. And also with you. HYMN: Prayer George Walker

Offertory.

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

Doxology



THE GREAT THANKSGIVING: EUCHARISTIC PRAYER A

The people remain standing. The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest, faces them and sings or says

Celebrant God 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

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.

Of God the Father

For you are the source of light and life, you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 ET BENEDICTUS S125 (1982)

Celebrant and People

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of mercy and grace, 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.

The people stand or kneel. Then the Celebrant continues



Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it or lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.

[En la noche en que fue entregado al sufrimiento y a la muerte, nuestro Señor Jesucristo tomó pan; y dándote gracias, lo partió y lo dio a sus discípulos, y dijo: "Tomen y coman. Este es mi Cuerpo, entregado por TODOS. Hagan esto como memorial mío"]

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for ALL. Do this for the remembrance of me."

["Después de la cena tomó el cáliz; y dándote gracias, se lo entregó, y dijo: "Beban todos de él. Esta es mi Sangre del nuevo Pacto, sangre derramada por TODOS para el perdón de los pecados. Siempre que lo beban, háganlo como memorial mío".]

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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."

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:


Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.



The Celebrant continues

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

[“Santifícalos con tu Espíritu Santo, y así serán para tu pueblo el cuerpo y la sangre de tu Hijo, la santa comida y la santa bebida de la vida nueva en él que no tiene fin. Santifícanos también, para que recibamos fielmente este santo sacramento y seamos perseverantes en tu servicio en paz y unidad. Y en el día postrero, llévanos con todos tus santos al gozo de tu reino eterno.”]

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

[“Todo esto te pedimos por tu Hijo Jesucristo: Por él, y con él y en él, en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, tuyos son el honor y la gloria, Padre omnipotente, ahora y por siempre. Amén.”]

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: 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. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to sing,



THE LORD’S PRAYER

People and Celebrant

Our Father, which 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 debts, As we forgive our debtors. 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

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept. Then may be said

FRACTION ANTHEM

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

AGNUS DEI

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Grant us Peace

Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation

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 ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people. The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.] The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]



When necessary, the Celebrant consecrates additional bread and wine, using the form on page 408. During the ministration of Communion, hymns, psalms, or anthems may be sung.

COMMUNION HYMN: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.


Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with the spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Final Blessing

A deacon using the following blessing substitutes “us” for “you” and “our” for “your.” May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Dismissal

The Deacon, or the Celebrant, dismisses them with these words

Deacon Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia! People Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

HYMN: The Old Rugged Cross

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My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I write to you one week before the July 1st date at which limited resump-tion of public worship will be permitted in the Diocese of New York. I want to say at the start that I have no expectation that churches will resume public worship at this time. A significant number of our churches and cler-gy are telling me that they do not intend to reintroduce worship inside their churches until September or the end of the year. I completely respect those decisions. From the start we have said that this is permission, not requirement. COVID is a very dangerous disease - fatal for too many - and a whole lot of our people, and our clergy, are high risk due to their age or underlying health conditions. Safety must be our first concern. We have learned how to have effective, enriching worship and a robust community life, even while distanced, over the last three months. Continuing those distanced practices and relationships until we see that it is safe to come

physically together is a decision which is faithful and sensible. We are seeing that in other parts of our country which have “re-opened” early, churches are already being revealed to be centers of new infections. We cannot let that happen in our churches, and that means observing strict disciplines in our practices. I am, in any event, asking that every church continue your electronic or “virtual” services as your primary worship offering, even if you begin to allow some in-person worship. When notice of this permission was first given, the allowed gathering of people was ten persons. I said at that time that we would follow the rules and guidelines of Governor Cuomo in determining the number of people who can come together in our churches. Those guidelines have expanded now to allow a gathering of people up to 25% of the capacity of your nave, so those newer guidelines will now be the policy of this diocese (that will soon change to 33%, but for now let’s stay with 25%). Having said that, strict distancing inside the churches is expected. People who live in the same home may sit together, but beyond that, everyone must be six feet away from everyone else. That six foot requirement will override the 25% rule. We do not recommend congregational or choral singing at this time, but where there is singing of any kind, the distancing requirement in-creases to twelve feet. Everyone must be masked, and hand sanitizer must be readily available and freely used. Worship spaces must be disinfected between gatherings (CDC guidelines for disinfecting spaces are available on the diocesan website), or left dormant for a full week between each service to allow any virus to dry up and die. We want to come back together. We yearn for it. And I am confident that with strict distancing, masks properly worn (with nose and mouth completely covered) by everyone, hands thoroughly washed and sanitizers used, and spaces well cleaned and sanitized, we can come together in our churches safely until this period of COVID pandemic passes.

These directions in summary

• 25% maximum capacity. • Strict distancing

• People from same home may sit together. • All others must be 6 feet apart – this overrides the 25% rule. • Congregational or choral singing not recommended – but if done, distancing must be 12 feet.

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• Everyone must be masked. • Hand sanitizer must be readily available and freely used. • Worship spaces must be disinfected between gatherings or left dormant for a full week between

each service. • Please visit 2020.dioceseny.org for links to CDC and New York State reopening guidelines.

The Holy Eucharist As you know, only communion in one kind (the bread) will be permitted at this time. The cup will be introduced when we can establish practices which are certain to be safe, and we should all expect that that is going to take some time. I am also aware that there are worries about administering the bread too. A great number of proposals have come to me or circulated on social media about devices or tools for “touch-free” administration of the bread: tongs, dixie cups, and the machine which some have dubbed the “pez dispenser.” These innovations are not allowed, and it should be noticed that these focus only on developing a technical strategy for getting a piece of bread into another per-son’s mouth, and are not at all about the love, trust, vulnerability, tenderness and connection which underlie what we mean when we say “communion.” Please administer the eucharistic bread the way we have done throughout our history, which is hand-to-hand (communion bread placed on the tongue is for obvious reasons forbidden). I am con-vinced, as are Bishops Allen and Mary, that good practices can enable us to do this safely. There are certainly different ways to do this, but many clergy have asked for specific guidelines, so I would commend to our clergy: 1. Place the communion wafers (not pieces of “real” bread) on a paten, covered with a linen, and

placed on the altar to the side of the fully-masked celebrant, outside the direction of his or her speaking voice, with only the priest’s host exposed. After the breaking of the bread, the priest’s host would be consumed by the celebrant alone, and not shared. A small amount of wine should also be consecrated, and consumed by the celebrant alone.

2. Immediately before distributing the bread to the people, the celebrant should wash his or her hands with soap and warm water in the sight of the people. As people approach the communion station, appropriately distanced, hand sanitizer should be available so that they may clean their hands immediately before receiving the host. The celebrant should regularly re-sanitize his or her hands while administering communion. Thoroughly cleaned hands will not pass disease.

3. Both the celebrant and all communicants should be masked throughout the eucharist. People should receive the host on their hands and then step back until they are appropriately distanced before lowering their mask to consume the host.

4. For the time being, the consecrated bread should be touched only by the celebrant, and only ad-ministered by the celebrant, and not by other priests, deacons or eucharistic ministers.

We are in a challenging and difficult season in the world, and it will pass. Until then, I am confident that these practices are safe, and will protect both the clergy and the people. I could not be more proud of the governance which our clergy and lay leaders have brought to the parishes, and of the quality of life and worship which you have maintained through this crisis. As we move into a new chapter now, we need to adjust to increased risk, and if we can do that with the same spirit and dis-cipline which we have done so far, I am certain we will be okay. I long for the day when we can see each other face to face, and regather in filled churches, and raise our song. And gather one another into our arms. That day will come, but however difficult living with COVID is now, I am proud and privileged to walk this rough road with you. Bless you all, and until then I remain

https://2020.dioceseny.org/

7


Yours,

The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche Bishop of New York

8


Dear Friends;

Please Help Us beautify our garden space with colorful plants

and flowers.

Gardens reflect peace and tranquility and place a reminder of

the love of Jesus as people sit or walk by.

We want our garden to become an enduring sign of the

church’s faith.

If you would like to donate plants (no seeds) we prefer

annuals such as;

Hostas, Azeleas, Hydrangeas, Perennials, Morning glories,

Roses, Marigolds, Ferns, Peppermint etc.

Plants can be dropped off at the administrative office. Once

we have collected enough we will designate a day of planting

and beautification.

To volunteer or for more information please contact Maya at

the office.

9


10

If you know of any children that would like to join our

Music Program/Children’s Choir, please have then contact

our Director of Music, Carolyn Bensen or Maya at

212-673-5300.


11

A N NO UN CE M E NT S

We are happy that you have come to

worship with us. If you have no church

home, we invite you to unite with us.

Please complete one of the Parish Cen-

sus Forms, located on the table in the

back of the church. You may give it to an

usher and we will be in touch with you

very soon. However, if you are just

passing through, we are honored by your

presence, and we wish you Godspeed as

you complete your journey.

Daily Lectionary Readings

Monday: AM Psalm 41,52; PM Psalm 44

Gen. 37:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13

Tuesday: AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47,48

Gen. 37:12-24; 1 Cor 1:20-31; Mark 1:14-28

Wednesday AM Psalm 119:49-72 PM Psalm

48, [53]; Gen. 37:25-36; 1 Cor 2:1-13; Mark

1:29-45

Thursday: AM Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59,60] or

19,46; Gen. 39:1-23; 1 Cor 2:14-3:15; Mark

2:1-12

Friday: AM Psalm 95 40,54; PM Psalm 51

Gen. 40:1-23; 1 Cor. 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22

Saturday: AM Psalm 55; : PM Psalm

138,139:1-17 (18-23); Gen. 41:1-13; 1 Cor

4:1-7; Mark 2:23-3:6

Please Join Us for :

The Healing Service every

Wednesday at 12:00 noon, in

the church.

We invite you to join St. A’s Prayer Line on

W e d n e s d a y s a t 9 : 0 0 P M ·

Dial (212) 673-5300 between 8:45—10:00

PM.

SCOPE- “Senior Citizen (Church) Outreach

Program and Eldership” is seeking volun-

teers. It would be great to have some

help to develop a ministry for the Seniors

to include health care/advice and other

activities.

Please contact Mrs. Irene Alladice or Fr.

Nat if you wish to respond to this call.

Coming Up Next

Need Prayer?

Call the church office and request that

your name be added to our prayer list.

Let us know when you are available so

we may visit you or pray with you over the

phone.

If you are celebrating a special occasion;

birthday, anniversary, etc. please let us

know so we may offer congratulations to

you.

We are accepting Articles and Advertise-

ments to publish in the St Augustine's

eCho.

During our worship, please remember to

put your phone on vibe or silent. But we

invite you to use them if you want to

record the entire (or part of) the service,

take pictures, post video on Facebook,

Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. Let your

friends know you are at St Augustine’s.

We are a Techno-Friendly Church.

Free Caregiver support services Care NYC

provides free: Respite Services (in-home

or adult care); Long-term care planning;

Assistance applying for Medicaid and

other benefits; Counseling with under-

standing professionals; Peer support

groups wellness activities, education and

caregiver skills; Cultural trips to take with

your loved one and MORE!

Call:718-906-0669 212. 349.2770x215

or email: [email protected]

Services available in English and

Spanish

Pastoral Visitations: Please express your

desire to receive a visit or communion if

you cannot make it to church. We will do

our best to come visit you between 2-4

PM on Sundays.

Moving Forward: My hope and prayer is

that we can get together as one commu-

nity to be God’s people and presence on

the LES. I am asking for your prayers in

this important new chapter of our lives, I

want you to know that every day I also

pray for you all. Together in Christ.

Father Nat.

Welcome

Bienvenido

Bienvenue

Nou kontan wè w

PHONE LINE PRAYER


Weekly

Collections

April April

2020 2020

Pledges

Open Plate

Special

Sevices/Ash

Wednesday

Regular

Support

Special

Offerings

Men’s Guild

Designated

Giving/

Tenants

Rentals

Other Rental

Queen Esther

Soup Kitchen

Holy Land Trip

Building Fund

ECW Donation

Parking Lot Other External

Sources

Total

12

Shut-Ins/Homebound: Velda Alleyne, Annie Garcia, Norberta Mieles, Ethel Moore

Prayers: Lester Allen, Carline Aupont, Sandra Brown, Juan Cosme, Minnie Curry and fam-ily, Stanford Daly, Diane Ellis, Robert & Vernestine Exum, Sanford Exum and Family, Iris Faulkner, Evelyn Fleming, Faith and Grace Garfield, Mildred Hancock, Bernice Henry, Joyce Johnson, Kenny Johnson, LaVerne Johnson, The Krauser Family, James Leung, Hattie Mitchell and Family, Daryl Moore, Marissa Nicolo, James Rainge, Lawrence Rainge, James Robinson-Parran, Beverly Rosario, Oland Saltes, Sandra Slater, Yvonne Ward, Gladys Saint-Pierre, Noelia Gonzalez, The Rev. Rosalind Brathwaite, Laura Harvin & Fami-ly, Jayvon Cotton, Sarah Banks, Alix Cangé, Ethel Moore, Carl Johnson, Rev. Errol Harvey,

The Rev. Dr. Lynn A. Collins, Ruth Caraballo, Angie Abreu.

Armed forces: David Mason, Jr.

We ask God’s blessings for those celebrating their birthdays in July:

Especially; 5th Melanie Dillard, 6th Norberta Mieles, 9th Glenn Lashley; 10th Donald Curry, Aaron Daly; 17th Idella Richards; 19th Raphael Munchez,

Ariana Stephens; 22nd Edward Davis; 25th William Newlin, Darious Cox;

29th Raheem Dawson

If you would like to add your name to the monthly birthday list, please email us at

[email protected]

We pray for those who have died: Doadie Brown, Ronald Brown, Isa Coker, Robert and

Mittie Frances Combs, Percy Daglow Sr., Wanda Daley, Frances Diaz, Harry & Dorothy

Fiyalko, Luis Garcia, Etta Green, Dorothy Henderson, Inez Kikuchi, Cheryl Krauser, Ver-

nell Langley, Diane McDowell, Geraldine Newkirk, Evelyn Newlin, Jacynth Orridge, Hector

Peňa, Alice Saltes Richards, Dorothy Rodriguez, Nancy Scott, Alma Suarez, Eleanor Suriel,

Sylvia Fergusson-Sylvah and Romulus Sylvah, Harriett Marshall-Taylor, Isaac & Gwendo-

lyn Pinder-Taylor, Donald Williams, Esther Juanita Dawson, Lucille Williams, Minnie Wil-

liams, Rev. Deacon Nydia Flores, Florence Taylor, John Joseph, Marlene Ward-Torain, Ed-

ward Phillips (Father Tally), Edward “Tyler” Tyler, Sandra Garcia-Combs, Maybelle Daley,

Tyrone Wong, Romenia Jirmson, Marion C. Blackett-Legall, Raquel Rodriguez- Algarin, Le-

ola West, Lula Moore, Rev. Deacon Edgar Hopper, Rodger Taylor, Ivan Krauser, Ruth Nao-

mi Strother, Ellen Daley, Sylvan Stoner, Hellen Bradley. Charlene Cox.

We pray for Justice and Peace in all lands: Especially: Venezuela, Afghanistan, Africa, The Caribbean, China, Darfur, France, Haiti, the Holy Land, India, Iraq, Japan, Kenya,

Lebanon, Niger, Sierra Leone, The Sudan, This Nation and the United Nations.

The S t . Augustine ’ s eCho is a newsletter to keep our members and the larger community informed about what is happen ing a t S t Augustine ’s and beyond. We welcome s tory contr ibu tors to submit a r t ic les , poetry , advert is ing, and any informat ion one may want to share . Please submit your contr ibu tion by e -ma i l to info@staugnyc. o rg no late r than on Wednesdays fo r the Sunday ed it ion .

The Staff:

The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre,

MIS, MCPD, Rector

(917) 232-9583

[email protected]

Ms. O’mayra Rivera (Maya)

Administrative/ Event Coordinator

([email protected])

Ms. Carolyn Bensen;

Director of Music

Ms Jennyvi Dizon Bookkeeper

([email protected])

Mr. Oland Saltes, Verger

Mr. Luis Montano Sexton

Mr. Sean Boyce

Buildings & Grounds

The St. Augustine’s Project

www.staugsproject.org

Barbara King

Minnie Curry

Sandra Walker

The Vestry:

Mr. Christopher Morris, Warden

Ms. Annette Dudley, Warden

2021

Ms. Olivia Chak, Clerk

Ms. Idella Richards

Ms. Barbara H. King

2022

Ms. Valerie Scott

Ms. Dinah Williams

Ms. Bobby Wright

In an effort to reach a broad audience, St. Augustine’s Church occasionally records, through video and photography, its services for publication on the Internet. Your attendance

at a service or event constitutes your consent to be included in any filming, photographing, audio recording or broadcast and for any other use in whole or in part, including

publicity and promotion.

__________________________________________________________________

Office Hours

9:00-12:00/1:00-4:00

Church: 286-290 Henry Street

Office: 333 Madison Street

New York, New York 10002 T: (212) 673-5300 -- F: (212) 673-5201

Email: [email protected]

Website:

http://www. staugnyc.org

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