Prelude: Organ Voluntary
Please stand as you are able.
The Processional, Hymn 362: Holy, holy, holy!
The Opening Acclamation
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
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 Gloria in Excelsis: S-280, Powell
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
The First Lesson: Isaiah 6: 1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm: Afferte Domino Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, * ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; * worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; * the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; * the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, * and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe * and strips the forests bare.
9 And in the temple of the Lord * all are crying, "Glory!"
10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; * the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.
11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
The Second Lesson: Romans 8: 12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Sequence Hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
The Gospel: John 3: 1-17
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon: The Rev’d. Hank Tuell
The Commissioning
The Celebrant, Priest-in-Charge, Warden and Vestry gather at the front of the nave, in view of all.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one Body, and given gifts for a variety of ministries for the common good. Our purpose now is to welcome and commission The Rev’d Hank Tuell, in the Name of God, as Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s Church, in Staten Island, New York.
You have called him to serve as a pastor, priest, and teacher in this congregation, and as a leader in this next season of your common life and mission. Do you believe that he is well qualified, and that he has been prayerfully and lawfully chosen?
The Warden and Vestry respond: We do.
Hank Tuell, do you, in the presence of God and this congregation, commit yourself to this new responsibility?
The Priest-in-Charge responds: I do.
The Celebrant addresses the Congregation:
Will you, the people of St. John’s Church, support this new pastoral relationship, uphold The Rev’d Hank Tuell in his ministry, and join him in faithful witness to Jesus Christ?
The People respond: We will.
Let us now join these commitments to the first promises we made as followers of Jesus Christ by renewing our baptismal covenant.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
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.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
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.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
Everliving God, strengthen and sustain Hank Tuell with patience and understanding, that he may love and care for your people; and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ, offering to you their gifts and talents; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The new Priest-in-Charge kneels or stands in the midst of the Congregation, and prays:
O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called your servant to stand in your house, and to serve at your altar. To you and to your service, I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude; in preaching, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
The new Priest-in-Charge, the Warden and the Vestry stand before the Celebrant, who prays:
Almighty and everlasting God, in Baptism you claimed us; and by your Holy Spirit you continually equip and strengthen us to lead lives worthy of our calling. Establish Hank Tuell and all the members of this congregation in your truth, and guide them by that same Spirit, that they may grow in faith, hope, and love, and in their vocations and ministries, steadfastly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever
Amen.
If desired, the Warden and Vestry present the new Priest-in-Charge with a gift symbolic of the new pastoral relationship.The Celebrant presents the new Priest-in-Charge to the Congregation, saying:
Greet your new Priest-in-Charge
The Congregation expresses its approval. Applause is appropriate. The Celebrant offers greetings, then invites the new Priest-in-Charge to say to the Congregation:
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
The Prayers of the People – Form I
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Andrew, Allen, and Mary, our Bishops, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this city of New York and this borough of Staten Island, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those on our Parish Prayer List and those suffering from Covid-19, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died, especially those that have died from Covid-19, in the hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of St. John and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord our God
Silence; The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect and the people respond.
Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
The Announcements
Offertory Anthem: In Our Day of Thanksgiving, William H. Draper
Offertory Hymn: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
The Great Thanksgiving - B
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every- where 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.
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 & Benedictus: S-130, Schubert
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, 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, according to his command, O Father,
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,,
We await his coming in glory;
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Andrew and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honour and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
The Great Amen
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to sing:
The Lord's Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The Presider breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The Fraction Anthem: S-164, Schubert
The Invitation
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The Communion
As mandated by The Bishop, only the Celebrant will administer Communion (Bread Only). The Clergy’s hands have been properly washed and sanitised. Please wait to be directed.
Communion Hymn: Precious Lord
The Post Communion Prayer
Let us pray.
God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim you redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing
May God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
Recessional Hymn: 473 Lift High the Cross
The Dismissal
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
The Postlude: Organ Voluntary