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 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 23
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.

The Word of God

Processional: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus H460
460 Jesus Christ our Lord
(Guitar Capo 3)
(D) (A) (D) (Em) (D) (A) (D) (Em)

K Ì
F C F Gm F C F Gm

D Ì ¡¡ Ì¡ ¡ ¡¡ Ì
¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡
Ì ¡
1 Al - le - lu - ia! sing to Je - sus! his the
*2 Al - le - lu - ia! not as or - phans are we
3 Al - le - lu - ia! bread of Hea - ven, Thou on
4 Al - le - lu - ia! King e - ter - nal, thee the

¡K ¡¡
Al - le - lu - ia! sing to Je - sus! his the

¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
*5

" D ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡Ì  ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡

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

K
F Dm C F C F C F

D Ì¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡ ¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ Ì ¡ ¡¡
¡
Ì ¡
1 scep - ter, his the throne; Al - le - lu - ia! his the
2 left in sor - row now; Al - le - lu - ia! he is
3 earth our food, our stay! Al - le - lu - ia! here the
4 Lord of lords we own: Al - le - lu - ia! born of

Ì ¡ ¡K ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
5 scep - ter, his the throne; Al - le - lu - ia! his the

"D Ì ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ÌÌ  Ì ¡ ¡Ì 
Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

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

C F Gm F Dm C F Am

D ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡
¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ÌÌ ¡¡ 2 ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡
 (A) (D) (Em) (D) (Bm) (A) (D) (F  m)
C F Gm F Dm C F Am

D ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡
¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ÌÌ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ Ì Ì ¡
1 tri - umph, his the vic - to - ry a - lone; Hark! the
2 near us, faith be - lieves, nor ques - tions how: though the
3 sin - ful flee to thee from day to day: In - ter -
4 Ma - ry, earth thy foot - stool, heaven thy throne: thou with -
tri - umph, his the vic - to - ry a - lone; Hark! the
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ ¡ ¡
5

" ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ÌÌ  Ì ¡
D ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
460b
(Bm) (Em) (A) (D) (Bm)
Dm Gm C F Dm

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

1 songs of peace - ful Zi - on thun - der like a

2 cloud from sight re - ceived him, when the for - ty
3 ces - sor, friend of sin - ners, earth’s Re - deem - er,
4 in the veil hast en - tered, robed in flesh, our

Ì
songs of ho - ly Zi - on thun - der like a

¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡
5

" ¡Ì ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡
D ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

(Em) (Bm) (Asus) (A) (D/A) (Em/A) (D/A)

Gm Dm C sus C F/C G m/C F/C

D ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ ¡
¡Ì ¡ ¡
¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡
¡
1 might - y flood; Je - sus out of ev - ery
2 days were o’er, shall our hearts for - get his
3 plead for me, where the songs of all the
4 great High Priest: thou on earth both Priest and
5 might - y flood; Je - sus out of ev - ery
Ì ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ Ì
"D ÌÌ 

¡ ¡Ì  ¡ ¡¡ ¡Ì ¡ ¡
Ì ¡ Ì  , Ì ¡

BD
(A) (D) (G) (D/A) (A) (D)

¡
C F F/C C F

D ¡Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ ¡¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
1 na - - - tion hath re - deemed us by his blood.
2 prom - - - ise, “I am with you ev - er - more”?
3 sin - - - less sweep a - cross the crys - tal sea.
4 Vic - - - tim in the eu - cha - ris - tic feast.
5 na - - - tion hath re - deemed us by his blood.

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ÌÌ 
" D Ì¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡
Ì ¡ ¡
Opening
Words:Acclamation:
William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887) 87. 87. D
All Standing
From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
Celebrant: 2006 by
Blessed beR. God,
C. Laird. Church Publishing
Father, Son and Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org
Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

3
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

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.
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually
be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Amos 5:6-7,10-15
All sit.

A Reading from the book of the prophet Amos.

Seek the Lord and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour,
with none to quench it for Bethel, O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down
righteousness to the earth! They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him
who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample upon the poor and take from him
exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how
many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins—you who afflict the righteous,
who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Therefore he who is prudent will
keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love
good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be
gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.
The Psalm of the day: Psalm 90:12-17

12 So teach us to number our days *
  that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
 
13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
  be gracious to your servants.
 
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
  so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
 
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
  and the years in which we suffered adversity.
 
16 Show your servants your works *
  and your splendor to their children.
5
 
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
  prosper the work of our hands;
  prosper our handiwork.

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews.

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews.

The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to
the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and
intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid
bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help in time of need.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Children come forward for a prayer and depart for Children’s Church
All stand.

707
Sequence: Take my life and let it be The Christian LifeH707
D/F  G D/F 

¡  ¡K Ì ¡
D A D G A7 D E A

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ÌÌ
1 Take my life, and let it be con - se - crat - ed, Lord, to thee;

¡
2 Take my voice, and let me sing al - ways, on - ly, for my King;

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

F

¡¡  ¡K Ì
D G D A Bm G D G A D

¡¡ ¡
¡
¡ ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ Ì ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡  ¡ ¡K Ì
take my mo - ments and my days, let them flow in cease - less praise.

¡
take my in - tel - lect, and use ev - ery power as thou shalt choose.

"   ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡  ÌÌ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ÌÌ
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡

 ¡
G D G D7 G D G Em D A7 D A

¡¡ ¡¡ O¡ ¡ ÌÌ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡
¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ
Take my hands, and let them move at the im - pulse of thy love;

Ì
Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no long - er mine.

"   ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
¡ ¡ Ì ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
6
D G D A F G D/AE m7 A D
 F

¡¡  ¡K Ì
D G D A G D/AE m7 A D

¡¡ ¡
¡
¡ ¡ ¡¡
¡ ¡ Ì ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡  ¡ ¡K Ì
take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy roy - al throne.

¡
Take my - self, and I will be ev - er, on - ly, all for thee.

¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
"   ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡  ÌÌ
¡
¡
¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ÌÌ
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Holy Gospel:
Words: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), alt.
Mark 10:17-31
Music: Hollingside, John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) 77. 77. D
Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
From Tell Out, My Soul: Guitar Lead Sheets for Favorite Hymns, Vol. 1 Copyright ©
People: Glory toR.you,
2006 by Lord
C. Laird. ChurchChrist.
Publishing Incorporated. www.churchpublishing.org

A nd as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked
him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him,
“Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments:
‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not
defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have
observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You
lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away
sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the
disciples were amazed at his words.
Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ
Sermon: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

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;
7
 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 our diocese we pray for Christ Church, Alto TN.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Diocese of Tanga in the province
of Tanzania, The Rt. Rev’d Phillip D Baji, 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
your work through this community;
People: That we may be 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.

8
 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

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:

9
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;
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,
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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.
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, the red book in your chair rack)

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).

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Communion music: Eat this bread Taize

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
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.

12
 The Christian Life
Recessional: O God our help in ages past
680
H680
C F C Am F G C Am Em A m/C D G

¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ÌÌ 
¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡  ¡¡
1 O God, our help in a - ges past, our hope for years to come,
2 un - der the sha - dow of thy throne thy saints have dwelt se - cure;
3 Be - fore the hills in or - der stood, or earth re - ceived her frame,
4 A thou - sand a - ges in thy sight are like an eve - ning gone;
5 Time, like an ev - er - roll - ing stream, bears all our years a - way;

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

¡ ¡
G C F Dm G Am E C Dm C F G C

¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡  ¡¡ O¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì
1 our shel - ter from the storm - y blast, and our e - ter - nal home:
2 suf - fi - cient is thine arm a - lone, and our de - fense is sure.
3 from ev - er - last - ing thou art God, to end - less years the same.
4 short as the watch that ends the night be - fore the ris - ing sun.

¡¡  ¡K ¡
5 they fly, for - got - ten, as a dream dies at the o - pening day.

" ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ÌÌ 
¡ 

6 O God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.

Celebrant says the dismissal

People: Thanks be to God.

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), alt.; para. of Psalm 90:1-5

Music: St. Anne, melody att. William Croft (1678-1727), alt.;
harm. William Henry Monk (1823-1889) CM
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

8
13
 A Note on Today’s Readings
Proper 23, Year B
Welcome to St. Francis Church. In the themes of the Sundays in this part of the year, we face some
of the strongest challenges presented by our faith. We have reached the portion of the Gospel of
Mark in which Jesus, nearing the final conflict, is preparing his followers for what lies ahead, not
only for him, but also for them in the remainder of their lives. So today’s Gospel is the account of
the rich young man who discovers that there is more to salvation than following the Law. Jesus
calls for a complete submission to God, even to the point of giving up everything. Only then can we
gain what we really need.
The Old Testament reading from the prophet Amos presents a situation in which those who control
Israel are so caught up in amassing personal wealth that they ignore the needs of the poor. That
social injustice, God warns, will lead to the destruction of the society.
We are reading through the Epistle to the Hebrews during this period. This letter to early Christians
presents Jesus as Savior, as high priest, and as the model for Christian living. In today’s passage the
writer tells us that although God’s judgment lays all our failure open to God, we know that God’s
response is that of the merciful high priest and therefore we may approach God with confidence.
Today’s liturgy is filled with challenge and with hope. We are faced with the demands of the Gospel
and also with its promise of salvation to those who persevere. We are called to enter into the painful
yet joyful project of God in bringing the kingdom into the lives of all people in our time.
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.

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 Announcements
November 25, 6:30: Service of Thanksgiving for St. Francis Church

November 28: Holy Eucharist and Baptism (final Sunday worship at 812 Meadowlark)

December 6: The people of St. Francis Church begin to worship with St. Joseph of
Arimathea. This is the “unofficial” merger or “soft opening.”

December 19th: Goal date for move out of 812 Meadowlark.

December 21st: Final cleaning of facility, return of keys etc…

January 6: (Epiphany): Celebration of the merger

January 10th: Bishop Bauerschmidt’s visit to St. Joseph of Arimathea. First post-merger
visitation.

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 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: St. Anthony the Great, who sold all he had and gave it to the poor
From: http://www.orthodoximages.com/patrons_cse.html
Wood cuts from: Pitts Theological Library Digital Image Archive

Color images (unless otherwise noted) are 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