Messiah - St.

Bartholomew Episcopal Church

November 1, 2020
11:00 a.m.
(an online service)

The Rev. Isaac K.N.O. Bonney, Priest –In-Charge

Clifford Michael Gale and Donna M. Strickland, Wardens
Introit Shall We Gather At The River
Song For All the Saints Pg 10
Opening Acclamation
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
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 the Holy Spirit, that
we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Collect
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in
the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed
saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you
have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

First Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from
every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and
before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a
loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the
Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four
living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power
and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Then one of the elders addressed me,
saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him,
"Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out
of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb. "For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night
within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will
hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to
springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

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Psalm 34:1-10, 22
Refrain: Taste and see that the Lord is good.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; *

his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice. .
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt his Name together. .
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
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.
22 The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.

Second Reading: I John 3:1-3

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is
what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we
are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this:
when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this
hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Song When Peace Like A River (It Is Well) Pg 10

The Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples
came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Homily Fr. Isaac K.N.O. Bonney

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

During the Prayers of the people unmute or press *6 on your phone to join in the responses.

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to
our God forever and ever! We bring into your eternal presence, O God, our prayers and
intercessions, as we say: Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the
Most High!
You have blessed and called your Church to be your own children, O Holy One, and to live in
the spirit of Christ: Guide and sustain us until we join with those who have led the way into
your eternal presence.
Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!

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You bring into your glory a multitude from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and
languages, Almighty One: Let those who exercise authority in the world live in the light of your
eternal wisdom.
Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!
Your eternal glory fills earth and heaven, Infinite One: Look throughout the earth to bless the
poor in spirit and those who mourn; the meek and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness;
the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers; and those who are persecuted for right.
Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!
You bless our community with gracious affection, O Loving One: Let all who live among us
live as Jesus has taught us to live.
Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!
Listen for those who call in their affliction, and save them from their troubles, especially sick
and shut-in:

Let us exalt God’s Name together, as we offer our grateful thanksgivings, especially for His
Mercy and Grace.

Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb: We remember those who have died and entrust
them into your eternal glory, especially our ancestors. Clothe them in their white robes of
triumph that they may praise you before your heavenly throne.
Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!

Let your eternal glory shine in heaven and earth to cast away all darkness by the light of your
presence, O God: As we join the heavenly hosts to worship you in our prayers, let the Lamb be
our shepherd to guide humanity to the springs of the water of life; and let your Spirit wipe away
every tear from every eye, through Jesus Christ the Blessed One, who lives and reigns with you,
and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

The Peace
The Blessing
You are God’s beloved children.
In Christ, you are blessed in your every need.
Through the Holy Spirit the victorious saints intercede to support you.
And the blessing of our loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and strengthen
you, now and for ever. Amen.

Closing Song By and By Pg 10

The Dismissal

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 ALL SAINTS’/ALL SOULS’ 2020
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is now at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
II Timothy 4: 6-7

Moses Opeoluwa Abayomi

Clifford Murray Gale
George R. Hall
Shirley Burns Latham
Anna Harris Perkins
***
Ahmad Arbery
Rayshard Brooks
Victims of COVID-19
Damian Daniels
George Floyd
Dijon Kizzee
Julian Lewis
Tony McDade
Jonathan Price
Priscilla Slater
Breonna Taylor
Walter Wallace

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away. ~Rev. 21:4
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 SPECIAL INTENTIONS
Please pray for those in distress of body, mind or spirit: Marzelle, Laura,
Dianne, Renee, Sarah, Florence, Ted, Van, Cannute, Mary Hope, Shirley W.,
Covid-19 patients, The City of Chicago, Jean Anthony, Jacob Blake Jr.,
Louis Jordan. Darryl Fleming
November Birthdays: Dianne Bouyer

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday Service at 11 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81276874031?pwd=S2xSVTJ4T0t1RWdFUjV5NSt1MFZ5UT09
Phone: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 812 7687 4031
Passcode: 902663
George and Matthias News
Thursday Evening Bible Study. Each Thursday at 7:00 p.m., our weekly Bible Study
reading will be taken from the assigned Gospel for the following Sunday.
Readings can be found at http://lectionarypage.net/. The Zoom link for our Bible Study is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81914495508.

MSB EXPRESS
Diocesan News
183rd Annual Convention. The 183rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of
Chicago will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2020 as a virtual gathering between 9:00
a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Voting participants at convention include the clergy of the diocese and
lay delegates elected from each congregation. All voting will be conducted electronically.
General attendees and visitors are invited to observe the proceedings online or to listen by
phone. . Our MSB lay delegates are: Ms. Marjorie Jones, Mr. Darius Fearrington, and
Dr. Florence Townsend. Fr. Bonney will also be in attendance.
In our continuing series on the candidates for the next Bishop of Chicago, let’s get to know
the second candidate in alphabetical order: The Rev. Dr. Fulton L. Porter III
I have only just a minute, Only sixty
seconds in it, Forced upon me - can't refuse
it, Didn't seek it, didn't choose it, But it's up
to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it, Give
account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute
-But eternity is in it. ~ Anonymous

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This poem summarizes my life philosophy, as I seek every day to live with purpose and
meaning. From childhood my family instilled this belief in me and encouraged me not to
waste the precious resources and opportunities that were made available through the
sacrifice of others. Born in Jackson, Mississippi to a music teacher, who would later go on
to earn a doctorate in this field, and a mortician, I nonetheless was not far removed from
the struggles which had allowed them to succeed. My maternal grandparents were a
particularly important part of my extended family. They gave me and my mother before me
an appreciation for struggle. They themselves survived the segregated sharecropping rural
south where they picked cotton, often with my mother about their hips, to etch out a better
existence. Constantly they admonished me to work hard, study hard, and get a good
education, although they had only matriculated through the third and fifth grade.
Consequently, my grandfather was unable to read. It is from this foundation that I was
influenced to strive for excellence. I was urged to make the most of my minute through
their words and life experience.

Not only were my grandparents an important part of my life, but also my mother. Through
her achievement, she provided a road map to guide me to success. Most importantly,
however, she gave to me her spirit of laughter, love, kindness, and an appreciation of the
arts. She fostered in me a need to achieve and to love. Her untimely death at the age of 37,
at the hands of a murderer, was a significant turning point in my life. At the age of 19, I
became more focused and my resolve more firm to make the most of my minute which
God has given me. Out of this experience, I also learned what it means to forgive. I learned
that the value of forgiveness lies not in the object of the act but the subject of the act. Only
with forgiveness can life move forward fully.

I attended medical school at Northwestern University on an army scholarship after my

graduation from Morehouse College. I had a 7-year Army career and began my
discernment to the priesthood toward the end on my stint. My last deployment was to
Kuwait where I subsisted in the desert in a tent and where I learned in a real way about the
commodity of time. Time was at once my friend and my foe. I had left my family, my
young children, and my wife, to go to a place where duty called. Time seemed to move like
molasses, but time also gave me the space to trust God in a different way— to trust God
with my life and my purpose. This was important, because after my deployment and
ultimate separation from the Army, after having gone into a comfortable private practice, I
and the church discerned another call to duty. I left a perfectly good job and uprooted my
family and went to seminary. God was faithful to me then just as God was in the desert. I
had learned to trust God with my life, my family’s life, and my purpose. God made a way.
Priest, father, husband and physician; this has made up the totality of my call to ministry.
Each facet makes up an important part of the whole. Without one of these component parts,

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the call would be incomplete. Hopefully, through my life as an ordinary person doing
extraordinary things, I might lift the standard of the love of Jesus to draw humankind to Him.
Devotion
Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng
What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and
mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.
~ Luke 13:20-21~

One does not have to put a lot of yeast in dough for to be effective in the dough.
It just needs to form part of the whole mix, indistinguishable from it.
So also we must be as Christians. If we are really embedded in the world, we will make our
presence felt, not through hate and judgement but through love and compassion. A presence
that is strong but separate from the world, or even opposed to it, will not have any effect.

Prayer
Dear God, grant me the courage to enter the struggle to change the world through my
loving presence. Amen

Action item
Today, let’s identify one judgmental attitude we have about the world, maybe we’re
judgmental of how people come too late for things. Now let’s ask ourselves, how we can
lovingly change at least one person’s attitude about lateness. If we can get at least one person
to change their attitude about something that detracts from the integrity of the kingdom of
God, then we know we’re starting to do our part to work the love of Christ through the
dough of humanity. God bless.

Conversations/Coffee Hour: After today’s service.

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 SERVICE HYMNS
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their
might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3 O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
4 O blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
5 And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia
6 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warrior cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
8 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest
coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless
host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.
2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials
should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain
3 My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain
4 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul. Refrain 
1 We are often tossed and driv'n
On the restless sea of time.
Somber skies and howling tempests
oft succeed a bright sunshine.
In that land of perfect day,
When the mists have rolled away,
We will understand it better by and by.
Refrain:
By and by when the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We will tell the story how we've overcome;
For we'll understand it better by and by.
2 We are often destitute of the things that life
demands.
Want of food and want of shelter,
thirsty hills and barren lands.
We are trusting in the Lord,
And according to his Word,
We will understand it better by and by. [Refrain]
3 Trials dark on ev'ry hand,
And we cannot understand,
All the ways that God would lead us
to that blessed Promised Land.
But he guides us with his eye
And we'll follow till we die.
For we'll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]
4 Temptations, hidden snares
Often take us unawares,
And our hearts are made to bleed
for some thoughtless word or deed.
And we wonder why the test
When we try to do our best,
But we'll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]
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