GRACE CHURCH OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD

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  • WELCOME
  • Contact Us
  • Leadership
  • Parish Calendar
  • Online Sunday Services at Grace
    • 07.19.26 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
    • 07.12.26 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
    • 07.05.26 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
    • 06.28.26 The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
    • 06.21.26 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
  • Church and Faith
    • Annual Report 2025
    • African American Heritage Trail
    • Our Three-Year Plan
    • Weddings
    • History of Grace Church
  • Climate Change
  • Donate
  • Liturgies to Say at Home
    • Spiritual Communion
    • Morning Prayer
    • Daily Devotions
    • Noonday Prayer
    • Evening Prayer
    • Compline for nightly use
    • The Angelus
    • BCP Services
  • Lobster Rolls and More
    • Summer Lobster Rolls
    • Community Suppers
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The Holy Eucharist Rite II:  Eucharistic Prayer A
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All music printed by permission in accordance with ONE LICENSE, License #A-734784.   Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with License #A-734784.
All rights reserved.

Prelude
​
 Welcome

Hymn LEVAS 1 Lift every voice and sing
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The Word of God

Celebrant
     Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People         And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Celebrant         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.

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory to God in the highest,
   and peace to God's 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.

Collect of the Day
 
Celebrant               The Lord be with you.
People                   And also with you.
Celebrant               Let us pray.
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O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.   Amen.

The Lessons 

The First Reading: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67  read by Kim Garrison
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The servant said to Laban, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’
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“I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also” —let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.”
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And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will.” So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes.” Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, and said to the servant, “Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
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​The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 45:11-18  read by Faith Laskaris

       
11 "Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *
               forget your people and your father's house.
          12 The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *
               he is your master; therefore do him honor.
          13 The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *
               the rich among the people seek your favor."
          14 All glorious is the princess as she enters; *
               her gown is cloth-of-gold.
          15 In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *
               after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
          16 With joy and gladness they are brought, *
               and enter into the palace of the king.
          17 "In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *
               you shall make them princes over all the earth.
          18 I will make your name to be remembered
               from one generation to another; *
               therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever."

Romans 7:15-25a  read by John Hickey

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Word of the Lord.
​

Thanks be to God.

Anthem LEVAS 61 The Right Hand of God sung by the choir

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.
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Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

          ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
               we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Gospel of the Lord
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People               Praise to You, Lord Christ.
Homily                 The Rev'd Stephen Harding

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.
​

The Prayers of the People Form III, read by DiAnn Ray

The Leader and People pray responsively

God, we pray for your holy Church;
That we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others, particularly Sarah & Richard, Chelsea, Debbie and Alan, Bill, Deborah, Jen B., Judy B., Kathy, Lorraine & Richard, Molly, Margaret, Mark & Donna, Mary & Gregg, Maureen M., Nancy, Pat, Paul, Suzanne, Janet, Ralph, Corby, Jon, Lorraine S. and her family, James and his family, Rhonda, John, Newton and his family, Carey, Luiza, and Tony

We pray for those who have died and for their families, especially, Joanna Shulman, Ken Medders,
and Jack Danckert

Silence

The People may add their own petitions.
​

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
The General Confession
 
Minister      Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

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.
 
Celebrant              The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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

Announcements

Hymn 719  O beautiful for spacious skies
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The Great Thanksgiving​

Eucharistic Prayer A

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.
Celebrant      It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. 
...

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:
 
 
Sanctus 130
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Then the Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious God: 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.

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 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 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,
 
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.

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Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

 
A period of silence is kept.
 
Celebrant      Alleluia.  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People          Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia.
 
Celebrant   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.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion
 
Leader and People

​In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, we desire to offer You praise and thanksgiving. We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that we may always be united to you. [And since we can not now receive you sacramentally,] we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves to you, and embrace you with all the affections of our souls. Let nothing ever separate you from us. May we live and die in your love. Amen.
 
The Leader continues
 
Let us spend a few moments reflecting on the fact that God so loves each one of us that God sent God’s Only-Begotten Son into the world for all of us.

Hymn 304 I come with joy to greet my Lord
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The Post Communion Prayer
 
After Communion, the Celebrant says
 
Let us pray.
 
Celebrant and People

Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Blessing

​Hymn 718 God of our fathers
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Dismissal
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Leader         Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People         Thanks be to God.
Postlude

Sunday Prayers
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Sarah, the Archbishop of Canterbury  • Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Julia, Ian and Mary our Bishops
Stephen, Storm, and Sharon, our Priests.
The Very Reverend Amy McCreath & the Cathedral Congregation of St. Paul
The Manna Community • The Diocese of Rio Grande Borderland Ministries • The Cape & Islands Deanery
 
Donald, our President  •. The Members of Congress; Maura our Governor, and all our elected officials
Pray for Our Country
 
Sarah & Richard, Chelsea, Debbie and Alan, Bill, Deborah, Jen B., Judy B., Kathy, Lorraine & Richard, Molly, Margaret, Mark & Donna, Mary & Gregg, Maureen M., Nancy, Pat, Paul, Suzanne, Janet, Ralph, Corby, Jon, Lorraine S. and her family, James and his family, Rhonda, John, Newton and his family, Carey, Luiza, and Tony

Those who have died and their families especially, Joanna Shulman, Ken Medders, and Jack Danckert



Rector:                                      The Reverend Dr. Stephen Harding
Priest Associates:                    The Rev’d Sharon Eckhardt
                                                  The Rev’d Dr. Storm Swain
Parish Administrator:              Heather Raveling
Cellist:                                       Jan Hyer
Bookkeeper:                            David Smith


Senior Warden:                       Jennifer Haynes
Junior Warden:                        Liz DaSilva
Treasurer:                                Andrea Wong-Monteiro
Clerk:                                        Kim Garrison
 
Vestry:  Gary Eckhardt, Donna Griffen, Betsy Holcomb, Karen Huff,
Faith Laskaris, Rori Peters, Deborah Koines -Alternate
 
ASSISTING IN OUR WORSHIP
Organist:  Debby Lewis
A/V Wizards: Gary Eckhardt, Betsy Holcomb & The Rev’d Dr. Storm Swain
Videographer & Curator: Karen Huff
Zoom Hosts:  The Rev’d Ribbons Harris & Karen Huff
Hospitality: Lorraine Clark, Bebee Green & members of the parish
Readers and Intercessors: Judy Carter, Carolyn Eddy, Kim Garrison, David Grey, Ribbons Harris, Jennifer Haynes, John Hickey, Betsy Holcomb, Karen Huff, Jan Hyer, Faith Laskaris, Michelle Lynch, Gus Harris, Daniela Lynch, Mateo Lynch, Grace Douglas, Maranda Post & DiAnn Ray
Eucharistic Ministers: Abby Bates, Judy Carter, Carolyn Eddy, Jennifer Haynes & DiAnn Ray
Singers:  Abby Bates, Judy Carter, Rev. Sharon Eckhardt, David Grey, Donna Griffen,
Rev. Stephen Harding, John Hickey, Betsy Holcomb, Jan Hyer
Ushers:  Lorraine Clark and BeBee Green

We invite you to join us! Please email [email protected] for particulars.

PO Box 1197 • 34 Woodlawn Avenue • Vineyard Haven MA 02568
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www.graceepiscopalmv.org • 508 693-0332