Grace Church of Martha's Vineyard
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Thanksgiving for the life of
Carlton Durham Leaf
March 25, 1928 - January 21, 2022


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​January 27, 2022
11:00 am
 
Grace Episcopal Church
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts


Prelude
 
Opening sentences
 
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die. And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever.
 
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.
 
For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies. For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's possession.
 
Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit,
for they rest from their labors.
 
Celebrant        The Lord be with you.
People             And also with you.
Celebrant        Let us pray.
 
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother Carl. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word
 
Psalm 107: 23-32, read by Morgan Heffner
 
Some went down to the sea in ships *
     and plied their trade in deep waters;
 
They beheld the works of the Lord *
      and his wonders in the deep.
 
Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *
      which tossed high the waves of the sea.
 
They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; *
      their hearts melted because of their peril.
 
They reeled and staggered like drunkards *
      and were at their wits’ end.
 
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
      and he delivered them from their distress.
 
He stilled the storm to a whisper *
      and quieted the waves of the sea.
 
Then were they glad because of the calm, *
      and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.
 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
     and the wonders he does for his children.
 
Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people *
      and praise him in the council of the elders.
 
The Word of the Lord
 
People             Thanks be to God.

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​Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; *
     I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *
     he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; *
     he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
                                      Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
    For thou art with me;
    Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
                                   mine enemies; *
    Thou anointest my head with oil;
    My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
                                     of my life,*
    and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The Holy Gospel
 
Celebrant   The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (8:1-10)
People          Glory to you, Lord Christ.
 
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’
 
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
 
Celebrant       The Gospel of the Lord.
People            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Reflections                              Oliver Carnahan, on behalf of Carl's Grandchildren
                                                    Fr. Harding, on behalf of Carl's children

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The Apostles’ Creed

Celebrant
​

In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
 
Celebrant and People
 
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
    creator of heaven and earth.
 
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
    He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
        and born of the Virgin Mary.
    He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
        was crucified, died, and was buried.
    He descended to the dead.
    On the third day he rose again.
    He ascended into heaven,
        and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
 
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
    the holy catholic Church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting. Amen.
​
Prayers of the People

For our brother Carl., let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, "I am Resurrection and I am Life."

Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Carl, and dry the tears of those who weep.
Hear us, Lord.

You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.
Hear us, Lord.

You raised the dead to life; give to our brother eternal life.
Hear us, Lord.

You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our brother to the joys of heaven.
Hear us, Lord.

Our brother was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give him fellowship with all your saints.
Hear us, Lord.

He was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant him a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
Hear us, Lord.

Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

Silence may be kept.

Celebrant

Loving God, we pray to you for Carl, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
​

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

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Holy Communion
 
Eucharistic Prayer A
 
The people remain standing.
 
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.

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

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.

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:

Celebrant and People

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Hosanna in the highest.


The people stand or kneel.

Then 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."

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 of your Son, the holy food 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,

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.

Celebrant        Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People             Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
 
People who are online
 
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.

Online leader
 
Let us spend a few moments reflecting on the fact that God so loved each one of us that God sent God’s Only-Begotten Son into the world for all of us.
 
[Silence is kept]

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​Postcommunion prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People
​

Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual of the Body of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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The Commendation 
​
Celebrant        Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Carl with your saints,
People              where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Celebrant        You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Celebrant and People     Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Carl with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Celebrant.          Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Carl. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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  • WELCOME
    • Contact Us
  • Leadership
  • Annual Report 2023
  • Online Sunday Services at Grace
    • The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany February 5, 2023
    • Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany January 29, 2023
    • Sung Compline
    • Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 22, 2023
    • The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 15, 2023
  • Church and Faith
    • Our Three-Year Plan
    • Weddings
    • Mission of Grace and Who We Are
    • History of Grace Church
  • Climate Change
  • Photographs
  • 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 and More
    • Community Suppers
    • Summer Lobster Rolls
  • Playground
  • The Tisbury Connection