Happening This Sunday

Who's Preaching Where on Sunday?

• Traditional Services | 9 am & 11:15 am in the Church – Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (9 am) & Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit (11 am)
• Awesome Worship Service for Families | 9:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Libby Garfield
• Modern Worship | 11:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Trent Pettit
• Traditional Service | 8 am & 5 pm in the Chapel – Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon (8 am) & Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit (5 pm)

Worship Online

• Traditional Service in the Church (9 am - with Order of Service & Announcements)
• Modern Worship in the HLC (11:15 am - with Announcements) 
  

Happening Today

SJD Blood Drive
Join us in the Parlor, from 8:30 am to 12 pm, for a community blood drive. Your donation can save lives—it's a simple act of kindness with a powerful impact. Whether you're a first-time donor or a regular, we’d love for you to be part of this life-saving event. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule your appointment online.

The Collect of the Day

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. 

Luke 14:1, 7-14

14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

14:7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Musical Offering in the Church

Preparing us for worship today at the Prelude is an organ work by seventeenth century German composer, Dieterich Buxtehude. Ciacona in E minor is based on a recurring theme first presented in the pedal. This recurring theme bears resemblance to the form of a litany in liturgy: a repeated invocation or refrain, over which new variations and responses unfold. Just as a litany’s steady refrain grounds the prayer while voices expand upon it, the pedal’s recurring theme anchors the piece as figurations are woven above.

The choral anthems sung during the preparation of the altar and communion highlight God’s mercy. Frederick Faber’s text “There’s Wideness in God’s Mercy” was written for use during the parish missions he conducted in 19th-century England and Ireland. It is an example of the sentimental poetry of many nineteenth-century hymn texts and quickly entered popular hymnody throughout Protestantism. Over the years, it has been paired with several different tunes; today the Chorale sings this text to Maurice Bevan’s lyrical tune.

Henry Bull was a 16th-century English Protestant theological writer. He published his “Lidley’s Prayers” in 1566, and it is from this collection that we find the prayer “Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake.” It has enjoyed wide popularity over the centuries, with many composers setting this prayer to music. Today, the choir sings Tudor composer Richard Farrant’s setting of the text.

20th Anniversary Concert of the Letourneau Organ – Saturday, September 20, 5:00 pm.

Join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the church’s grand, Letourneau organ in an inspiring concert by famed organist, Ken Cowan. Save the date!!

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What to Expect