10/19/2026
Sunday, October 25th, 2026: THE HOLY EUCHARIST: RITE II
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
PROCESSIONAL HYMN O God, our help in ages past Hymnal #680
All standing, the Celebrant says
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Celebrant says
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty 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 Celebrant and People together
Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis S 280
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
All sit.
THE OLD TESTAMENT Deuteronomy 34:1-12
A Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy.
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.
Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Remain seated.
THE PSALM Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 ; BCP p.717
Domine, refugium
1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.
3 You turn us back to the dust and say, *
"Go back, O child of earth."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
and like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep us away like a dream; *
we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
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.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.
THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
A Reading from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL HYMN God of mercy, God of Grace Hymnal #538
All stand.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 22:34-46
Priest The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head---and in my understanding
God be in my eyes---and in my looking
God be in my mouth---and in my speaking
God be in my heart---and in my thinking
God be at my end---and at my departing
THE SERMON The Rev. Philip F. Kunder+
All stand.
THE NICENE CREED
We 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Hear Our Prayer - p.86
All remain standing
The Leader and People pray responsively
God of deliverance, hear our prayers and deliver us into your kingdom as we say,
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Silence
Deliver your church from arrogance and fear; lead us into the places you wish us to go and into the work you wish us to do.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Deliver this nation from division and anger; bend our hearts that, united, we might work towards justice and dignity for all people.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Deliver our world from indifference to the welfare of others as we negotiate new ways of being to overcome our global challenges.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Deliver all of us who hear these words from indecision and doubt, that we might boldly take up Christ’s work of healing and reconciliation as our own.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, watch over and protect those who serve on our behalf to defend and protect us. Grant them resilience and wisdom in the pursuit of their duties and return them to us safe, especially, Bill, Brandon, Charles, Caitlin, David, Dean, Drew, Dylan, Grace, Jordan, Kiev, Mark, Mikaela, Sam, Tane, Tom, and Zachary.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Deliver all who suffer from their distress and grant them peace and a sense of well-being. Especially we pray for______________________.
The People may add their own petitions
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lift in prayer those in our community that suffer from illness, or incapacity, especially Bill, Billy, Bob, Chuck, Diane, Greg, Jean, Jim, Joan, Johnnie, Larry, Lila, Linda, Lois, Marty, Nancy, Pat, Paulette, Susan, Timothy, and Tom.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Deliver the dead into your eternal kingdom, comfort those who grieve with the hope of reuniting again one day in the resurrection. Especially we pray for_________.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Silence
In our parish cycle of prayer, we remember today, Craig, Millie, and Elizabeth Morrison.
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God; and in loving memory of the families of Eleanor & Shepard A. Burroughs, and Leota & James Morehouse.
The Leader and People say
For Joy in God’s Creation
O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remembrance Collect
O God, who called your servant Alfred to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom and gave him zeal for your Church and
love for your people: Grant that we, inspired by his example and prayers, may remain steadfast in the work you have given us to do for the building up of your reign of love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Celebrant says
Loving God, who time and again has heard your people’s cry and lifted them from their despair, hear our prayers and lift us up that we might, more fully, be the people you created us to be and empower us for your mission of love. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SIN
The Celebrant says
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.
The Priest stands and says
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.
THE PEACE
All stand.
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Announcements; Birthday & Anniversary Blessings
*Announcements may be made at this point in the service.*
THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Celebrant says
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.
Psalm 50:14
OFFERTORY MUSIC All hail the power of Jesus’ name Hymnal #450
Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offerings of bread and w**e, and money or other gifts, to the deacon or celebrant. The people stand while the offerings are presented and placed on the Altar.
Doxology “Praise to God” Hymnal 380, verse 3
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
GREAT THANKSGIVING.
All remain standing.
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.
Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth.
For by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a new people in Jesus Christ our Lord, to show forth your glory in all the world.
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:
Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy Lord: Sanctus S 130
The Hymnal 1982, Service Music, #130
The people stand or kneel.
The Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us
for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become
subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the
God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself,
in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or to lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing w**e to be
consecrated.
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 w**e; 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:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in
this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death,
resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
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,
People and Celebrant
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 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.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.
Priest Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The Celebrant says
These are the Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.
The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]
{All baptized persons are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Those not baptized or not wishing to receive Holy Communion, please cross your arms with your hands on your shoulders
to receive a blessing.}
COMMUNION HYMN Brother, sister let me serve you MHSO #94
After Communion, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FINAL BLESSING
The priest blesses the people, saying
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
and give thanks in all circumstances:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
RECESSIONAL HYMN Come with us, O blessed Jesus Hymnal #336
DISMISSAL
Priest Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
WORSHIP 411
What is the prayer that Fr. Phil prays before each sermon?
It is called “the Sarum Prayer.” “Sarum” comes from a liturgical rite dated as early as 1527 (so it likely appeared much earlier) associated with a region in England called Sarum or Old Sarum (modern day Salisbury).
The Sarum Payer has a simpler name, “God be in my head.”
Five simple but elegant lines:
God be in my head---and in my understanding
God be in my eyes---and in my looking
God be in my mouth---and in my speaking
God be in my heart---and in my thinking
God be at my end---and at my departing
This prayer is:
Short—expresses a lot with a little.
Old—composed in a time when use of words were less than today.
Physical—focused on the 4 faculties associated with the 4 parts of a human body.
Memorable: Head=understanding
Eye=looking
Mouth=speaking
Heart=thinking
End=departing
Genderless—no he/she/it, just God
Mystical—prayer focuses on our bodies (temples of the spirit).
Prayer focused on God who dwells in us.
This prayer can enrich our spiritual formation and life journey
About the Remembrance Collect
Alfred, alone of all English rulers, has been called “the Great,” because of his courage and Christian virtues. Born in 849 at Wantage, Berkshire, the youngest of five sons of King Aethelwulf, Alfred spent his life in a time of “battle, murder, and sudden death” during the Viking invasions and settlement in Britain. He was deeply impressed when, on a visit to Rome at the age of four, he was blessed by Pope Leo IV, and two years later, when he witnessed the marriage of Aethelwulf to a young princess of the Frankish court. Following his
father’s death and the short reigns of his brothers, Alfred became King in 871.
In heroic battles and by stratagems against the Danes, Alfred halted the tide of their invasion and secured control of the southern, and part of the midland, regions of England for the English. After a decisive victory in 878 at Edington over the Danish leader Guthrum, he persuaded his foe to accept baptism. Alfred died on October 26, 899, and was buried in the old Minster at Wi******er.
A man of deep piety, Alfred’s leadership in battle and administration was grounded by his faith. His biographer Asser wrote of his commitment to a monastic influenced life of prayer, “He learned the daily course, that is, the celebrations of the Hours, and after that certain psalms and many prayers, gathered together in one book for the sake of prayer, which he carried around with him everywhere on his person by day and night, just as we have seen, inseparable from himself, in all of the doings of this present life.”
In his later years, Alfred sought to repair the damage that the Viking invasions had inflicted on culture and learning, especially among the parish clergy. With the help of scholars from Wales and the Continent, he supervised translations into English of important classics of theology and history, including works of Pope Gregory the Great, Augustine of Hippo, and the Venerable Bede. In one of them he commented: “He seemed to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear.”
