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
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the last sunday after pentecost

Grace Church, Vineyard Haven
November 23, 2025


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 & Announcements

Hymn 372 Praise to the living God
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Celebrant    Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People        And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
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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.

 S277 Gloria
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Collect of the Day
 
Celebrant               The Lord be with you.
People                   And also with you.
Celebrant               Let us pray.
 
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lessons 

The First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6 read by Michelle Lynch
 
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle 16 The Song of Zechariah  read by Maranda Post

Luke 1: 68-79

          Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
               he has come to his people and set them free.
          He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
               born of the house of his servant David.
          Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
          that he would save us from our enemies, *
               from the hands of all who hate us.
          He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
               and to remember his holy covenant.
          This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
               to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
          Free to worship him without fear, *
               holy and righteous in his sight
               all the days of our life.
          You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
               for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
          To give his people knowledge of salvation *
               by the forgiveness of their sins.
          In the tender compassion of our God *
               the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
          To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
               and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

          Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
               as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
​

Colossians 1:11-20  read by Faith Laskeris

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn  170 To mock your reign, O Lord
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The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke (23:33-43)

People             Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

The Gospel of the Lord
​

People               Praise to You, Lord Christ.

Homily                 The Rev. 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 IV read by Karen Huff
 
Deacon or other leader
 
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
 
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may
be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal
your glory in the world.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the
ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another
and serve the common good.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others
and to your honor and glory.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant
that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he
loves us.

Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or
spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and
bring them the joy of your salvation.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will
for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share
with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
 
The Confession of Sin
 
Celebrant
 
Let us confess our sins to God.
 
Silence may be kept
 
Celebrant 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 Absolution
Celebrant
 
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
​
The Peace
 
Celebrant    The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People     And also with you.
Announcements

Hymn 388  O worship the king
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The Doxology: Hymn 380 v 3
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The Holy Communion
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Eucharistic Prayer A

S120 The Holy Eucharist II, Lift up your hearts
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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:

S130 Holy, holy, holy​
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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.

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.
 
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray.
 
Celebrant and People
 
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.


 
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread
 
A period of silence is kept.
 

S154 The Holy Eucharist, Fraction Anthem: Christ our Passover
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Celebrant
 
Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.
 
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 loved one of us that God sent God’s Only-Begotten Son into the world for us.

Hymn 328  Draw nigh and take
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The Post Communion Prayer
 
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 494 Crown him with many crowns
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Dismissal
Leader        Let us go forth in the name of Christ. 
People       Thanks be to God. ​

Postlude


Flowers this week are given in memory of Paul Morris, Bob Lescinskas,
Patricia McDermott, Jim Burke and Paul Burke.
​

​

November Birthdays
Pat Waring, Cynthia Grant, Dorie Clark, Julie Pringle & Grace Douglas


Please email [email protected] to update or include yours!
 
 
Sunday Prayers

Sarah, the Archbishop of Canterbury
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; All those relying on SNAP benefits

For our planet
All those affected by Hurricane Melissa
​
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

            Sarah & Richard, Chelsea, Debbie and Alan, Deanna, Bill, Deborah, Jen B., Judy B., Kathy, Lorraine & Richard, Margaret, Mark & Donna, Mary & Gregg, Maureen M., Nancy, Pat, Paul, Ralph, Suzanne, Ralph, Janet, Corby, Molly, Lorraine S. and her family, James and his family, Jon, Rhonda, John, Newton and his family, Deborah & Kenneth,
​Milica Radoyevich and family, Siobhan, Bill, Liam & Delany, Howard Leonard Jr & his family,
and Luiza and Wayne

Those who have died and their families

 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
Vestry Officers:
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
 
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