Holy Eucharist 

December 9, 2023

4:00 pm

 St Peter’s by-the-Sea, Narragansett

The Right Reverend W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop

PRELUDE: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

HYMN 525 The Church’s One Foundation

OLD TESTAMENT Ecclesiasticus 39:1-8 

He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients, and is concerned with prophecies; he preserves the sayings of the famous and penetrates the subtleties of parables; he seeks out the hidden meanings of proverbs and is at home with the obscurities of parables. 

He serves among the great and appears before rulers; he travels in foreign lands and learns what is good and evil in the human lot. He sets his heart on rising early to seek the Lord who made him, and to petition the Most High; he opens his mouth in prayer and asks pardon for his sins.

If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own and give thanks to the Lord in prayer. The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge, as he meditates on his mysteries. He will show the wisdom of what he has learned, and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.

PSALM 119:33-40 He: Legem pone

The psalm will be sung by the choir. 

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, * 

and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; * 

I shall keep it with all my heart.

35 Make me go in the path of your commandments, * 

for that is my desire.

36 Incline my heart to your decrees * 

and not to unjust gain.

37 Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; * 

give me life in your ways.

38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, * 

which you make to those who fear you.

39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, * 

because your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for your commandments; * 

in your righteousness preserve my life.

EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

HYMN 508 Breathe on Me Breath of God

THE GOSPEL Luke 12:35-38 

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

People Glory to you, Lord Christ

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.

Deacon The Gospel of the Lord

People Praise to you, Lord Christ

THE SERMON The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely 

Hymn 504 Veni Creator Spiritus 

OFFERTORY HYMN “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” arr. John Rutter

Sung by the choirs of St Peter’s by-the-Sea and Grace Church

SANCTUS S-127

AGNUS DEI S-165

HYMN LEVAS 133 I Surrender All

HYMN LEVAS 108 “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus”

HYMN 57 “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending”

PARTICIPANTS IN TODAY’S SERVICE

Presider and Preacher The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, SOSc

Assisting Priest The Rev. Craig Swan

Master of Ceremonies The Rev. Linda Griggs

Bishop’s Chaplin The Rev. James Kelliher

Litanist Mr. Nicholas Halar

Readers Ms. Sarah Neumann, Ms Caroline Blosser

Presenters The Rev Craig Swan, The Rev Canon Jonathan Huyck, Mr. Ron Cowie, 

Mrs. Carissa Mills

Vester Dr. Charles Carroll

Presenters of Eucharistic Gifts Mrs. Angel Hilliard and Mrs. Debbie Wilson

Acolytes Ms. Isla Clarity, Mr. Ben Clark, Mr. John Clark

Organist Mr. David Heinze

Choirmaster Mr. Tony Romeo 

Pianist Mr. Vince Edwards

Ushers/Greeters Ms. Jackie Lennon, Mr. John Hines, Mrs. Susan Hines, Mr. Robert Manke, Mr. Jack Florence, Mr. Tony Capezza

Choirs of St. Peter’s By-the-Sea, Grace Church

We are grateful to St. Peter’s by-the-Sea for their hospitality today.