The Feast of St. Peter and Paul (Transferred) Confirmation with Holy Communion Sunday, June 25, 2023

PRELUDE At the River (arr. Copland)

Timothy Hoyt, Soloist

ENTRANCE HYMN 473 Lift High the Cross

OPENING ACCLAMATION

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

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

SALUTATION FOR BAPTISM

Bishop People Bishop People

There is one Body and one Spirit; There is one hope in God’s call to us; One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism; One God and Father of all.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Bishop People Bishop

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

FIRST READING Genesis 21:8-21

The people sit.

A Reading from the book of Genesis.

The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called toHagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

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

Silence may follow.

PSALM: Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 Inclina, Domine Remain seated.

1 Bow down your ear, O LORD, and answer me, * for I am poor and in misery.

2 Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; * save your servant who puts his trust in you.

3 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for you are my God; * I call upon you all the day long.

4 Gladden the soul of your servant, *

for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

5 For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, *

and great is your love toward all who call upon you.

6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, *

and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, * for you will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, O LORD, * nor anything like your works.

9 All nations you have made will come and worship you, O LORD,* and glorify your Name.

10 For you are great;

you do wondrous things; * and you alone are God.

16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; * give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid.

17 Show me a sign of your favor,

so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; * because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

SECOND READING: Romans 6:1b-11 The people sit.

A Reading from Paul's letter to the Church in Rome.

1bShould we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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

Silence may follow.

SEQUENCE HYMN 661 They cast their nets in Galilee

GOSPEL: Matthew 10:24-39

All standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying

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

[Jesus said to the twelve apostles,] 24“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

26“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

After the Gospel, the Reader says

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

THE SERMON The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island Presentation and Examination of the Candidates

PRESENTATION

Bishop The Candidate will now be presented.

Presenters I present this person for Confirmation/to be received/to reaffirm her Baptismal

vows.

EXAMINATION

Bishop Candidate Bishop Candidate

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil?

I do.

Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

I do, and with God's grace I will follow him as my Savior and Lord.

After all have been presented, the Bishop addresses the congregation, saying

Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person/these persons in their life in Christ?

People We will.

The Bishop then says these or similar words

Let us join with this person/these persons who is/are committing herself/themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.

THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT

Bishop

Do you believe in God the Father?

People

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Bishop

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Bishop

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Bishop

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?

People

I will, with God’s help.

Bishop

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

People

I will, with God’s help.

Bishop

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

People

I will, with God’s help.

Bishop

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

People

I will, with God’s help.

Bishop

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

People

I will, with God’s help.

PRAYERS FOR THE CANDIDATES

The Bishop then says to the congregation

Let us now pray for this person/these persons who has renewed her/their commitment to Christ.

Deliver her/them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death. Lord, hear our prayer.

Open her/their heart(s) to your grace and truth. Lord, hear our prayer.

Fill her/them with your holy and life-giving Spirit. Lord, hear our prayer.

Keep her/them in the faith and communion of your holy Church. Lord, hear our prayer.

Teach her/them to love others in the power of the Spirit. Lord, hear our prayer.

Send her/them into the world in witness to your love. Lord, hear our prayer.

Bring her/them to the fullness of your peace and glory. Lord, hear our prayer.

A period of silence follows.

HYMN 512 Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove

Then the Bishop says

Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you have overcome sin and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in this/these your servant(s) the covenant you have made with her/them at her/their Baptism. Send her/them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before her/them; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

LAYING ON OF HANDS

For Confirmation (10:15 a.m. service)

The Bishop lays hands upon each one and says

Strengthen, O Lord, your servant Jacqueline with your Holy Spirit; empower her for your service; and sustain her all the days of her life. Amen.

For Reaffirmation (10:15 a.m. service)

Hawazoe, may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and uphold you in the

service of Christ and his kingdom. Amen.

The Bishop concludes with this prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, let your fatherly hand ever be over this/these your servant(s); let your Holy Spirit ever be with her/them; and so lead her/them in the knowledge and obedience of your Word, that she/they may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PEACE

The Peace is now exchanged

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.

The Holy Communion

OFFERTORY SENTENCE

The Celebrant says

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 50:14

OFFERTORY ANTHEM It Is Well With My Soul (arr. Larson)

The Great Thanksgiving SURSUM CORDA S 120 Lift up your hearts

The People remain standing.

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is truly right to glorify you, Holy One, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever.

Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance.

Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we say,

SANCTUS

Celebrant and People

The People stand or kneel.

The Celebrant continues

We acclaim you, holy Lord, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.

When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them he 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.”

Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. Recalling Christ’s death and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.

Celebrant and People

We praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you, and we pray to you, Lord our God.

The Celebrant continues

Lord, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon us, and upon these gifts, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.

Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace.

Remember Michael, our presiding Bishop, Nicholas our Bishop and Craig our Rector. And all who minister in your Church.

Remember all your people, and those who seek your truth.

Remember all who have died in the peace of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone; bring them into the place of eternal joy and light.

And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with blessed Peter our patron and all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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

People and Celebrant

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass...