GRACE CHURCH OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD

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  • WELCOME
  • Contact Us
  • 2024 Evaluation Form
  • Leadership
  • Parish Calendar
  • Online Sunday Services at Grace
    • 11.30.2025 Advent 1 Year A
    • 11.23.25 Last Sunday after Pentecost
    • 11.16.25 Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
    • 11.09.25 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
    • 11.02.25 Sunday After All Saints
  • Church and Faith
    • African American Heritage Trail
    • Our Three-Year Plan
    • Weddings
    • History of Grace Church
  • Praise and Sweat Classes
  • 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
  • Community Suppers
    • Community Suppers
    • Summer Lobster Rolls
  • Playground
  • Photographs
  • The Tisbury Connection
Picture

The Holy Eucharist, according to the Book of Alternative Services
Of the Anglican Church of Canada

​
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.

Welcome

​Prelude


Hymn 565 He who would valiant be
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The Gathering of the Community

All stand. The presiding celebrant greets the community

Celebrant    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
                    and the love of God,
                    and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
People       And also with you.
 
The following prayer may be said.
 
 Celebrant    Almighty God,
 All                to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.  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.



Glory to God WLP 898
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Picture

The Collect of the Day

​Celebrant  Let us pray.
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Lessons 

The First Reading: Isaiah 1:1-1  read by David Grey

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
​
     Hear the word of the Lord,
          you rulers of Sodom!
     Listen to the teaching of our God,
          you people of Gomorrah!
     What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
          says the Lord;
     I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
          and the fat of fed beasts;
     I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
          or of lambs, or of goats.
     When you come to appear before me,
          who asked this from your hand?
          Trample my courts no more;
     bringing offerings is futile;
          incense is an abomination to me.
     New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation--
          I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
     Your new moons and your appointed festivals
          my soul hates;
     they have become a burden to me,
          I am weary of bearing them.
     When you stretch out your hands,
          I will hide my eyes from you;
     even though you make many prayers,
          I will not listen;
          your hands are full of blood.
     Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
          remove the evil of your doings
          from before my eyes;
     cease to do evil,
          learn to do good;
     seek justice,
          rescue the oppressed,
     defend the orphan,
          plead for the widow.
     Come now, let us argue it out,
          says the Lord:
     though your sins are like scarlet,
          they shall be like snow;
     though they are red like crimson,
          they shall become like wool.
     If you are willing and obedient,
          you shall eat the good of the land;
     but if you refuse and rebel,
        you shall be devoured by the sword;
        for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

​The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 50:1-8,23-24 read by John Hickey

     1 The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; *
          he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

     2 Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
          God reveals himself in glory.

     3 Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
          before him there is a consuming flame,
          and round about him a raging storm.

     4 He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
          to witness the judgment of his people.

     5 "Gather before me my loyal followers, *
          those who have made a covenant with me
          and sealed it with sacrifice."

     6 Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
          for God himself is judge.

     7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
          "O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
          for I am God, your God.

     8 I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
          your offerings are always before me.

     23 Consider this well, you who forget God, *
          lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.

     24 Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 read by Karen Huff

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

The Word of the Lord.
​

Thanks be to God.

HYMN My Heart Sings Out 62  Stay awake
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The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke (12:32-40)

People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.

​
Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
​

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
​​
The Gospel of Christ.
​
People               Praise to You, Lord Christ.
Homily               The Rev'd Stephen Harding

The Nicene Creed

​Celebrant    Let us confess our faith, as we say

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.

With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped 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  read by Ribbons Harris

Let us pray with confidence to the Lord, saying, “Lord hear our prayer.”
O Lord, guard and direct your Church in the way of unity, service, and praise.
Lord, hear our prayer. 

Give to all nations an awareness of the unity of the human family.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Cleanse our hearts of prejudice and selfishness, and inspire us to hunger and thirst for what is right.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Teach us to use your creation for your greater praise, that all may share the good things you provide.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Strengthen all who give their energy or skill for the healing of those who are sick in body or in mind.
Lord, hear our prayer. 

Set free all who are bound by fear and despair.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Grant a peaceful end and eternal rest to all who are dying, and your comfort to those who mourn.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Confession and Absolution
 
Celebrant   Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy and welcomes sinners and invites them to God’s table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Silence is kept.

Celebrant   Most merciful God,
All     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 neighbours 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    Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
​
People     Amen.
​

The Peace
 
All stand, and the presiding celebrant addresses the people.
​

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People     And also with you.
 
The members of the community, ministers and people, may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Hymn 636  How firm a foundation
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The Celebration of the Eucharist
​​
The Great Thanksgiving

​Eucharistic Prayer 1


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 our thanks and praise.

Celebrant   It is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all things.
 
You formed us in your own image: male and female you created us.
When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us,
but opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with Israel,
and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a blessing to all nations.
 
Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom; through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give thanks and raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.

S122 ​Holy, holy, holy
Picture
Celebrant  Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise.
 
In the fullness of time,
you sent your Son Jesus Christ, 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 healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and to those in need.
In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.
 
On the night he freely gave himself to 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.”
 
Gracious God,
his perfect sacrifice
destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him to life
you give us life for evermore.
 
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.
 
All    Christ has died.
        Christ is risen.
        Christ will come again.
 
Celebrant Recalling his death,
proclaiming his resurrection,
and looking for his coming again in glory, we offer you O God,
this bread and this cup.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,
that all who eat and drink at this table may be one body
and one holy people,
a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever.
​
People Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer

Celebrant And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
All  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, the power, and the glory,
      for ever and ever. Amen.


Silence

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant “I am the bread of life,” says the Lord. “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
All  Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him!

​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.

The Communion
 
The celebrant invites the people to share in communion and may say,

The gifts of God for the People of God.
People     Thanks be to God.
​

The celebrant and people then receive communion.

The 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 the God so loves each one of us the God sent God’s Only-Begotten Son into the world for all of us.


Hymn 488 Be thou my vision
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Prayer after Communion
 
Celebrant   Let us pray.
 
Standing, the community prays in silence
 
Celebrant   All your works praise you, O Lord.
 
All  And your faithful servants bless you.
 
Gracious God
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we, who share his body, live his risen life;
we, who drink his cup, bring life to others;
we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so that we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Blessing
The celebrant may bless the people.
​

​Hymn 536 Turn back, O man
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Dismissal
​

The deacon, or other leader, dismisses the people,
Leader     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People     Thanks be to God.




August Birthdays
Diana Waring, Selden Griffen, Jeffrey Pratt, James Pringle
 
Please email [email protected] to update or include yours!


Sunday Prayers


Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Julia, our Bishop
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
 
For peace in the Middle East
For the people of Ukraine; the people of Iran; All Refugees
The Campers, Counselors, and Staff of Camp Jabberwocky; The People of Pine Ridge

For our planet
All those affected by climate change
​
All Staff of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital
Our Vineyard EMS, Fire and Police Departments
All the Members of the New York City Fire Department
 
Those working to address racial injustice

            Aquinnah, Ann Marie, Sarah & Richard, Chelsea,
Debbie and Alan, Deanna, Bill, Deborah, Eileen, Gail, Jen B., Joe, Judy B., Kathy, Libby, Lloyd, Lorraine & Richard, Margaret,  Mark & Donna, Mary & Gregg, Maureen M., Nancy, Pat, Paul, Ralph, Shauna, Suzanne, Tanya, Tony, Ralph, Janet, Corby, Molly, Donna, Mary, Lorraine S. and her family, James and his family, Jon, Charles L., and Polly

 
Those who have died and their families:  
 Paul Cotton and Samuel Denbo

 All those killed because of oppression, gun violence, hatred, war, or the color of their skin.


 


GRACE CHURCH
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
(508) 693-0332

Rector:                    The Reverend 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:             Jamie Norton
Treasurer:                     Andrea Wong–Monteiro
Clerk:                           Liz DaSilva
 
Vestry:       Anna Cotton, Gary Eckhardt,
Donna Griffen, Betsy Holcomb, Karen Huff,
Deborah Koines, Faith Laskaris, Maranda Post
 
ASSISTING IN OUR WORSHIP
Pianist: Molly Sturges
A/V Wizards: Selden Griffen, Betsy Holcomb, Gary Eckhardt, & 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, 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] 
​

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