Sunday Service:
Holy Eucharist
at 9:30 am
Child care is available
Church of Our
Saviour
191 Flanagan Way (Rt 153) Secaucus, NJ 07094
Tel: 201-863-1449
Fax: 201-863-1474
Mark A. Lewis, Vicar MLewis@secaucus.org
Dorothy Fowlkes
Pastoral Associate
This page revised 18
Apr 08
http://www.secaucus.org/
oursaviour
The Church of
Our Saviour
in the Town of Secaucus, New Jersey
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Worship
for the Lord's Day
The
Fifth Sunday of Eastertide
and Earth Day observed
20 April 2008
Holy Eucharist - 9:30 am
Almighty
God, to 
know you is
everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your son-the
way, the truth, and the life - that we may steadfastly
follow his steps to eternal life. We ask this with
confidence in your love. Amen.
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts. We ask this with confidence in your love. Amen.
Today's
Lessons
Acts 17:1-15 / Psalm
66:1-8
I Peter 2:1-10 / John 14:1-14
Today's
Hymns
416
- For the beauty of the earth
405
- All things bright and beautiful
400
- All creatures of our God and King (Vv:1-5)
376
- Joyful, joyful, we adore thee
A reading
from
the Acts of the Apostles 17:1-15
When Paul and his fellow apostles set out to spread the Word of Christ, they often preached in synagogues. Many gentiles (here called "Greeks") were welcomed at the synagogue services and regularly attended. I think they were attracted by the idea, new for them, of one universal god. But many had not converted because circumcision was painful and dangerous. When Paul offered to take them as they were into "the Body of Christ," they jumped at the chance. Some Jews were also persuaded by Paul, but others were alarmed that he was taking away so many members of their congregations. -Arthur Cash
After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you."
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus." The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.
(To be read by Lisa Dever)
Psalm 66:1-8 Jubilate Deo
Be joyful in God, all you lands;
sing the glory of his Name;
sing the glory of his praise.
Say to God, "How awesome are your
deeds!
because of your great strength your enemies cringe before
you.
All the earth bows down before
you,
sings to you, sings out your Name."
Come now and see the works of
God,
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
He turned the sea into dry
land,
so that they went through the water on foot,
and there we rejoiced in him.
In his might he rules for ever;
is eyes keep watch over the nations;
let no rebel rise up against him.
Bless our God, you peoples;
make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life,
and will not allow our feet to slip.
(To be read by Howie Allen)
A reading
from
Peter's First Letter Peter 2:1-10
As verse 18 makes clear, Peter -- whoever this Peter was -- is here addressing An appeal to gentile converts to lead a holy life. The images are boldly mixed. The first is that rare Biblical image of God as a woman. She succors her children. This is followed by an image of Christ as "our living Stone" and his followers as lesser living stones. The idea here is that the community of believers make a Temple which replaces the great Temple in Jerusalem. In place of temple priests the believers themselves are a priesthood. Along with the 12 tribes or nations of Israel there is a new nation of gentile Christians dedicated to God. -Arthur Cash
Rid yourselves of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
- "See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
- a cornerstone chosen and precious;
- and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
- "The stone that the builders rejected
- has become the very head of the corner,"
and
- "A stone that makes them stumble,
- and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
- Once you were not a people,
- but now you are God's people;
- once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
(To be read by Lisa Dever)
The
Gospel According to
John 14:1-14
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."
(To be read by Dorothy Fowlkes)
The Prayers of the People will
be led by Thurman Hart
Comments on the Readings
The prefaces to the lessons (above) are composed each week by a literature scholar at Columbia University, Professor Arthur Cash, for use at St. Peter's Church in Chelsea, New York City. Professor Cash has generously offered their use to our congregation.
The Diocese of Montreal additionally offers an attractive and useful guide to the lectionary readings (including the Psalm and Gospel). Because it comes from of the Anglican Church of Canada which follows the Revised Common Lectionary, the readings sometimes may vary from those of the Episcopal Church, but it still can be most helpful. Link
The image above has been made available by The Franciscan Brothers of the White Cross, in Spain.
The Sunday Bulletin Link
Reflections on Sermons
Mark Lewis's
sermons have been interpreted for reading on the internet.
They are indexed at the bottom of the Sunday
page.
Link
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