St.

Francis Church Biblically minded::Mission driven

The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt--Bishop of Tennessee

The Reverend Joseph B. Howard--Vicar

Order of Worship

St. Francis Church is a community dedicated to the

transformation of lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ for
the Kingdom of God.

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 15

Year B

A congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee and the world-wide Anglican Communion
A note for visitors: We’re thankful that you could join us for worship today, and we
pray God blesses you in your time here. The service is printed in your bulletin. If you
have any questions don’t hesitate to ask someone around you!

St. Francis Church we want to encourage families to worship together. In order to

be a community where all ages feel welcome, we provide coloring materials for children
to use during worship and seek to understand the specific gifts and challenges that
children bring. We encourage you, should you feel comfortable doing so, to sit toward
the front with your children, as little-ones are often more attentive if they can see what is
happening.

We understand that there may be times when it is best to take advantage of child care,
and nursury is provided.

Prayer in Preparation for worship:

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and
of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of
heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled
affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; though Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

2
 The Word of God
Praise toPraise
Processional: God my soul the King of Heaven 410
H410
D/F 
Unison or harmony

 ¡
D A G D G D G D Bm Em A

¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ Ì¡ ¡ ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ
1 Praise, my soul, the King of hea - ven; to his feet thy tri - bute bring;
2 Praise him for his grace and fa - vor to his peo - ple in dis - tress;
3 Fa - ther - like he tends and spares us; well our fee - ble frame he knows;

Ì
4 An - gels, help us to a - dore him; ye be - hold him face to face;

"   ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡
Ì ¡ Ì

F Fm
 ¡
Bm Bm B 7 Es u s E E A D Bm E A

¡ ¡ ¡¡  ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ Ì
¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡  ¡¡ Ì
¡ ¡
ran - somed, healed, re - stored, for - giv - en, ev - er - more his prais - es sing:
praise him still the same as ev - er, slow to chide, and swift to bless:
in his hand he gen - tly bears us, res - cues us from all our foes.

¡¡  ¡¡
sun and moon, bow down be - fore him, dwell - ers all in time and space.
¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
"  ¡
¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡  ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡
¡
¡¡ Ì
Ì

 ¡ ¡ ¡
D G A Bm Em A D G Em A D

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
,¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ
Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! Praise the ev - er - last - ing King.
Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! Glo - rious in his faith - ful - ness.
Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! Wide - ly yet his mer - cy flows.

¡K ¡ ¡
Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! Praise with us the God of grace.

"   ¡¡  ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡
¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡
¡ ¡ ÌÌ
¡
¡, ¡  , ¡

Words: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), alt.

Music: Lauda anima, John Goss (1800-1880) 87. 87. 87
From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
Opening Acclamation:
2006 by R. C. Laird. Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org
All Standing

Celebrant: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
Collect for Purity:

A lmighty 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 following is sung, all standing

3
Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis S 280

4
Collect of the Day:
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: Proverbs 9:1-6
All sit.

A Reading from the book of Proverbs.

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her
beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids to
call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him
who is without sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.
The Psalm of the day: Psalm 34:9-14

9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
  for those who fear him lack nothing.
 
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
  but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
 
11 Come, children, and listen to me; *
  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
 
12 Who among you loves life *
  and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
 
13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
  and your lips from lying words.
 
14 Turn from evil and do good; *
  seek peace and pursue it.

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus.

Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the
time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will
of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with
5
the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.
All stand.

Sequence: Taize

Holy Gospel: John 6:51-58

Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

“ I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he
will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to
eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son
of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my
blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed,
and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me,
and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats
me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as
the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ
Children’s Sermon
Sermon: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

6
Nicene Creed
All stand.

W e 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

Leader: Let us pray

In the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for St. Bernard’s Church, Gruetli-Laager.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for The Diocese of San Joaquin in
Province VIII of the Episcopal Church, USA, The Rt. Rev’d Jerry Lamb, bishop.

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 whose hearts are being prepared by your Spirit to join in
7
 your work through St. Francis Church;
People: That we may be a community utterly dedicated to you.

Leader: We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;

People: That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacra-
ments.

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.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

Silence

Celebrant adds a concluding collect.

The Confession
Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence.

Minister 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 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.

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.
All stand

8
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Announcements

# The Holy Communion #

Offertory music chosen by musician
Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offering of bread and wine, and money or other gifts, to the
celebrant. The people stand while the offerings are presented and placed on the Altar.

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.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. 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:
The Sanctus: S129

Please stand or kneel at this time, as best helps you to pray.

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.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread;
9
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 you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
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 many 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.
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.
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.
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 say,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by 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.

The Breaking of the Bread

A period of silence is kept

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia

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.

ON RECEIVING COMMUNION:
All baptized Christians who are in love and charity with their neighbors are invited to the
Lord’s table. If you do not wish to receive, you are invited to come forward for a blessing
in the name of Christ—simply cross your arms over your chest to let the servers know
that you will not be receiving.

10
One or more of the following prayers, or some other, may be said quietly or
silently before recieving:
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own
righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to
gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is
always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son
Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in
him, and he in us. Amen (Prayer of Humble Access from p. 82 of the 1928 BCP, a revised
version of which is found on p. 337 of the 1979 BCP)

4
Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your
disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen (a prayer before recieving communion which
can be found among the many prayers of the 1979 BCP, p. 834).
Communion music: Eat this bread

Post-Communion Prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says:

Let us Pray

The minister and people together, pray:

Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
11
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
657 The Christian Life
(Guitar Capo 3)
657 F
Recessional:(D)
Love
(A)
divine,
(D)
all loves
(Em)
excelling
(D) (A) (D)
The Christian
(Em) (D)
Life H657
K¡
F
Ì¡
C F Gm F C F Gm

D FÌ ¡¡ ¡ Ì ¡ (D)¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ (D)FÌ ¡¡
(Guitar Capo 3)

Ì F¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
(D) (A) (D) (Em) (A) (D) (Em)

K¡ Ì
C Gm F C F G

1D Love Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡
m

ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡- ¡¡ ¡ Ì¡ ¡ ¡¡
di - vine, all ¡
loves ex - cell ing, joy ¡ of ¡ ¡ heaven, to
2 Come, al - might - y to de - liv - er, let us all thy
3 Fi - nish then thy new cre -- a -- tion; pure and spot - less

¡K ¡¡
1 Love di - vine, all loves ex cell ing, joy of heaven, to

¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ ¡¡
" D ÌÌ ¡ ¡¡
2 Come, al - might - y to de - liv - er, let us all thy
3 Fi -
¡
nish then thy new
¡ cre -
¡
a -
¡
tion; pure and spot - less

¡K ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ
" D ÌÌ ¡ ¡Ì  ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

(Bm) (A) (D) (A) (D) (A) (D) (A) (D) (Em)

K
Dm C F C F C F C F Gm

D ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡¡ ¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ Ì¡ (Em)¡
¡ G¡m¡
¡
(Bm) (A) (D) (A) (D) (A) (D) (A) (D)

Ì K¡
Dm C F C F C F C F

D ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡¡ ¡us ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡- ¡¡ Ì¡ ¡¡
earth come down,
Ì
fix in Ì  thy ¡ -
hum ble dwell ing, ¡
all ¡ thy
life re - ceive; sud - den - ly re - turn, and nev - er, nev - er -
let us be; let us see thy great sal - dwell
va - - tion per - fect
thy -
K
earth come down, fix in us hum - ble ing, all

" D ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ÌÌ  ¡¡ ¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡
life re - ceive; sud - den - ly re - turn, and nev - er, nev - er -
let
¡
us be;
Ì
let us see thy great
¡
sal - va -
¡ ¡ ¡
tion per - fect -

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ K
¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡
¡¡
" D ¡Ì ¡
ÌÌ  Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

(D) (Bm) (A) (D) (F  m) (Bm) (Em) (A)

F Dm C F m7 Am Dm Gm C

D Ì ¡¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì¡ ¡ ¡ (A) ¡
D¡
Ìm ¡ C¡¡ ¡ CÌ ¡ ¡¡
(F  m)
FÌ Ì AÌm ¡ Ì ¡
(D) (Bm) (A) (D) (Bm) (Em)
F m7 Dm Gm

D ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡- cies
¡¡ Ì Ì ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì¡ ¡ ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡
faith - ful mer crown. Ì
Je - ¡
sus, thou art all ¡ - pas - sion,
com
more thy tem - ples leave. Thee we would be al - way bless - ing,
ly
faith re
- ful - stored
mer - cies thee:
in crown. changed from
Je - sus, glo -
thou ry
art all - com
in glo -- sion,
to - pas ry,

Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ÌÌ  Ì ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡
¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì ¡
more thy tem - ples leave. Thee we would be al - way bless - ing,
"D Ì ly re - stored
¡ ¡ ¡
in thee: changed from glo - ry in - to glo - ry,

Ì ¡¡ ¡ ¡
"D Ì ¡
¡ ¡
ÌÌ  Ì ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡

From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
2006 by R. C. Laird. Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org
From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
2006 by R. C. Laird. Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org

12
 657b
(D) (Bm) (Em) (Bm) (Asus) (A) (D/A) (Em/A)
F Dm Gm D m C sus C F/C G m/C

D ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡
¡ Ì ¡
pure, un - bound - ed love thou art; vis - it us with
serve thee as thy hosts a - bove, pray, and praise thee
till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our

¡ ¡ Ì ¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ Ì
" D ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ÌÌ 

¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ Ì ¡ Ì  ,

B D(Csus)
(D/A) (A) (D) (G) (D/A) (A) (D)

¡ ¡ ¡
F/C C F F/C C F (Csus)

D ¡¡ ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ÌÌ ¡¡
¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
thy sal - va - tion, en - ter ev - ery trem - bling heart.
with - out ceas - ing, glo - ry in thy per - fect love.
crowns be - fore thee, lost in won - der, love, and praise.

"
¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ÌÌ 
D Ì ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887) 87. 87. D

Celebrant says the dismissal

People: Thanks be to God.

8
From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
2006 by R. C. Laird. Church Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org

13
 A Note on Today’s Readings
Proper 15, Year B
Welcome to St. Francis Church. Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life continues to be the center
of our liturgy, as it has been now for several weeks. Jesus has met physical hunger by providing
material bread (a primary Old Testament sign of salvation); he has said that a spiritual (or mystical)
relationship with him constitutes the bread of eternal life; now he says that nourishment with his
life is given by actually eating his flesh and drinking his blood. If we eat his body and drink his
blood, we will have eternal life.
In the first reading, God’s Wisdom is personified as a hostess inviting us to eat her food and drink
her wine, thereby receiving her into our lives. Early Christians understood Jesus as the incarnation
of God’s Wisdom. This is, therefore, a passage that has been seen by Christians as an Old Testament
prefiguring of our Savior who calling us into new life by becoming one with him sacramentally.
The second reading is once again from the letter to the Ephesians. We are exhorted to let God’s
Spirit inebriate us and speak through us in thanksgiving and song.
“People with a story to tell and a song to sing” is a way Christians have been described. It is
preeminently in liturgy that we carry out that role. We gather here to be fed physically, spiritually,
and sacramentally. Our response is to give thanks (the word “eucharist” means “thanksgiving”) and,
having told our story and sung our song here, to take it out to our brothers and sisters in the world.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W.
Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.

14
 Good News Daily
(
Volume IX August 16-22, 2009 Number 33
Sunday, August 16
Psalm 118 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (v.l NIV)
If you’ve ever heard the contemporary praise song that opens with this line, you’re probably singing
it in your head right now because it has a catchy tune and a compelling message. The song, like Psalm
118, repeats the line “his love endures forever” many times. What could be more worthy of repetition
than this fact about our amazing and wonderful God? His love—which existed before the world was
created—endures forever; it will be here long after planet earth is no more.
As the psalmist urges us to give thanks to the Lord, so the song insists that we “sing praise, sing
praise.” Because the Lord is good (and good to us) and because His love for us will never end, there
is no response more appropriate than praise and thanksgiving.
Take a moment right now and read Psalm 118. You will find some familiar verses and your spirit will
be uplifted. I promise.
2 Samuel 17:1-23; Galatians 3:6-14; John 5:30-47

Monday, August 17
Mark 11:12-26 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so
that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (v.25)
This verse really “tells it like it is.” When once you have read the Scriptures, there is no question
that forgiveness is of paramount importance to the Lord. He makes it clear and he makes it simple. If
we are withholding our forgiveness from someone, we cannot expect God to forgive us for our own
personal sins until we have granted our forgiveness to the one who has wronged us. There are no
conditions listed, no exceptions outlined, no circumstances under which God might let us off the hook.
No matter how deeply we are hurt, or how heinous the offense might be, God says, “Forgive. Period.
That is, if you want me to forgive you.” The Lord included this command in the Lord’s Prayer.
Well, we say! There are some things that we just could never find it in our power to forgive! And God
says: “Yes, I know that. I created you and I am aware of your human limitations. That’s why I have
given you my Holy Spirit. It is he who will bring about forgiveness in your heart. You don’t have that
kind of power but I do. And, because I love you so much more than you will ever comprehend, let me
enable you, through the grace and power of my Holy Spirit, to love and forgive your enemies. If you
will, you will experience freedom and joy as never before.”
Praise God! His love endures forever!
2 Samuel 17:24—18:8; Psalm 106:1-18; Acts 22:30—23:11

Tuesday, August 18
Psalm 120 I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. (v.l)
When you’ve got a problem and you really need to share it with somebody, how many friends can
you call who really don’t mind stopping what they’re doing just to listen to you? You are truly blessed
if you have just one such friend. But what can you do when that friend is unreachable? And what
happens to your relationship if you keep calling that friend, time after time after time, sharing your
15
burdens? Do you think that person might get tired of returning your calls (or e-mails) that are crying
out for help?
The Lord is different. Because He is God, He loves us more than our best friend ever could, and He
will never tire of our distress calls nor fail to answer us. The Bible is full of examples of men and
women crying out to God with their fears, frustrations, anger, and hurt, and always and forevermore
the Lord God hears and answers. He is patient, kind, loving, and forgiving. He abounds in mercy,
grace, and power.
We are fools when we fail to call on Him in our times of need.
2 Samuel 18:9-18; Psalms 121, 122, 123; Acts 23:12-24; Mark 11:27—12:12

Wednesday, August 19
Psalm 119:145-176 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
(v.165)
When I think of the person described by this verse, I envision one who is content, serene, unflappable,
steady, dependable, reliable, strong, and yet supple. This person has deep joy, regardless of present
circumstances, and is not anxious or fearful about the past, present, or future. This is the person
whose eyes are fixed upon Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The writer of the psalm knew that love of God and obedience to God and his Law are the secret of
inner peace. Many years later, Jesus taught his disciples that he had not come into the world to abolish
the law, but to fulfill the law (see Matthew 5:17-20). In so doing, he became the source of our peace.
In John 14:27, he said, “…my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” His peace
is different from any other you may have ever known or read about. His peace is unfading.
People search high and low for peace, although they may call it by other names. Nothing else can satisfy
the hunger of our hearts; only Jesus. Only he can give us the peace that “passeth all understanding”
(Philippians 4:7, KJV).
Nothing can make us stumble if we allow our hearts and minds to be filled with the peace and love
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 18:19-23; Acts 23:23-35; Mark 12:13-27

Thursday, August 20
Mark 12:28-34 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no
commandment greater than these.” (vv.30-31)
This the answer Jesus gave when asked which one of all the commandments was the most important.
It tells us that above all else, loving God is the “main thing.” It’s what He created us for and what He
desires from us. Jesus’ description of how we are to love God covers every facet of our lives; so that
there is no area, whether spiritual, intellectual, physical, etc., that is not to be wholly devoted to this
focus. I am to love God with every ounce of my being!
And if I am loving God this way, then loving my neighbor as myself becomes easier and something
that I want to do because as I love God more and more, He fills me with His love, grace, mercy, and
compassion for others.
I like the way the apostle John explained it in 1 John 5:2-4: “This is how we know that we love
the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey
his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the
16
world.”
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus into the world to save us and show us how to live.
2 Samuel 19:1-23; Psalms 131, 132, 133; Acts 24:1-23

Friday, August 21
Mark 12:35-44 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has
put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her
poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (vv.43-44)
Wow! Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter here. He leaves no room for the wealthy to be proud
of their large donations, does he? Or for those of us who tithe to be proud of ourselves because we
tithe. No, Jesus looks at things from quite a different perspective than the average “person on the
street.” He is not impressed by wealth. He looks at the heart; the inside rather than the outside. Jesus
is much more interested in the attitude of our hearts than the amount of our gifts.
This widow showed the ultimate degree of generosity and gratitude to God by giving Him everything
she had. I have never done that. But over the years in my walk with the Lord, I am slowly, but surely,
learning how to have a more generous spirit. Perhaps it has been a matter of learning to trust God
more and love Him more deeply, opening myself up more to His leading; giving up my pride and my
right to myself. Who knows what blessings will await me if finally I become totally surrendered to
Him?
Dear Lord, help each of us to abandon ourselves to You.
2 Samuel 19:24-43; Psalms 140, 142; Acts 24:24—25:12

Saturday, August 22
Psalm 144 Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.
(v.15)
Sometimes when my friends and I are sharing news of someone’s death, or the discovery of a fatal
illness in a person’s life, or any sort of crisis that demands prayer and intercession, we say to each
other, “Thank God for God!!” We agree that we are indeed blessed to have a loving, saving, powerful,
and forgiving God that we can go to in an instant when we need His help or need to pray for others
who need Him. And we can keep coming back, over and over again, with the same petitions. He
never tires of our begging. Praise God!
When we hear of tragedies occurring in the lives of people who don’t know the Lord, we wonder how
they can hope to survive on their own. What must it be like to be without hope? So we intercede for
those people and pray that the Lord will use someone, somehow, to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.
We know He can, even if we don’t see the way. The important thing is to take God at His word and
pray for faith to be born in the hearts of the unbelievers. I can’t imagine any prayer the Lord would
rather answer than that one.
Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the abundant blessing it is to be your child.
2 Samuel 23:1-7, 13-17; Psalm 137; Acts 25:13-27; Mark 13:1-13
by Anna Cash

Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP

P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790

17
 Announcements
August 20, 2009, 6:00-8:00 PM: Faith and Film night, “Gran Torino” (R), staring
Clint Eastwood. We will discuss the film together at 9:15 on August 23rd. If you can’t
make it to see the movie on Thursday, try to rent it and watch it when you can. Also,
please note the rating of each film. Some of them are only appropriate for adults because
of the topics they deal with ot how they depict them. For the purposes of our Sunday
morning discussion I will show clips from the film that I thought were particularly thought
provoking.

August 26, 2009, 6:00 pm: We will have our first prep time for the parish yard sale.
We will begin organizing items and preparing signs etc...

August 27, 2009, 6:00-8:00 PM: Faith and Film night, “Shadlowlands” (PG). Join us
as we continue our faith and film program with “Shadowlands,” about the later life of C.S.
Lewis, staring Anthony Hopkins.

September 2, 2009 @ 6:00 pm: our second prep meeting for the congregational yard
sale.

September 12, 2009: Congregational Yard Sale. Please gather any items you’d like to
donate and bring them to church by the end of August.

18
19
 Bishop of Tennessee
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt

Vicar
The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

Mission Council
Thom Chittom
Linda Palmer
Shelley Sircy
Kim Waltenbaugh

Accompanist
Anna Howard

Schedule of Ministry:
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard Reader: Thom Chittom
Acolyte/Crucifer: Prayer Station: Shelley Sircy
Oblationers: Chalicist: Adam Waltenbaugh
To check the schedule online, visit:
http://stfrancis-tn.net and go to congregational resources-->ROTA: service schedule

To get in touch with Fr. Jody for any reason, you can reach him at 615-440-6492 or via email at frjody@stfrancis-tn.
net.
_______________________________________________________________________________

St. Francis Church

Biblically minded. Mission driven.
812 Meadowlark Ln
PO Box 697
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
Phone: 851-0790
http://stfrancis-tn.net

Cover Image: The Last Supper/Institution of the Eucharist by Fra Angelico.

Wood cuts from: Pitts Theological Library Digital Image Archive

Color images from: Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN, https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-search.pl

CCLI License No. 2334637 Oneliscence.net No. A-714717