A service of song and prayer in the Spirit of Taize’

Saturday, August 22, 2020 | 5:30 p.m.Sunday, August 23, 2020 | 10:00 a.m.

Officiant: The Rev. Lynn PerkinsDeacon: The Rev. Scott Deasy

Music: Charly Spining and Mary Anne BrunerReader: Janis Lipton

Taizé Service

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This service of song and prayer in the spirit of Taize’ includes two periods of meditative music that each lasts several minutes. You may choose to use these

as times of prayer or personal reflection. Some of us may choose to light a candle as a sign of our prayer for someone or some situation.

The Officiant Welcomes the People

Sing Praises

Psalm 124From Nan Merrill’s Psalms for Praying

Reader: Let us read together the Psalm for todayAll If it were not for You, O Beloved, You who make all things new, Fear and chaos would reign in every heart; in You will I trust forever.

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When doubt threatens to overwhelm and separate me, when anger makes me blind, Then You, O Merciful One, are ever-ready to Awaken the holy, the sacred within me; Then do your Living Streams of Grace enfold me.

Blessed are You, who are a very Presence to us, a comfort to troubled hearts! Grant us the strength of eagle wings, the courage to soar to new heights! Break within us the bonds of fear that we may live with love!

Our guidance comes from You, O Counselor, Blessed are You, O giver of Life! Beloved of my heart!

Scripture Reading Matthew 16:13-20 (CEB)Deacon A Reading from Matthew Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Human One is?” They replied, “Some say John the Bap-tist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fas-tened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.” Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Christ.

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Silence

Christ Jesus

Silence

The Lord’s PrayerOfficiant And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect of the DayOfficiant O God, with all your faithful followers of every age, we praise you, the rock of our life. Be our strong foundation and form us into the body of your Son, that we may gladly minister to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Prayers of the PeopleReader Let us pray for the Church and for the world. God of love, we pray for your church: For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Jenni-fer, our bishop; for all lay and ordained ministers; and for all who seek you in the community of the faithful. Equip us with compassion and love, to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world. God of love,

All Hear our prayers for the church.

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Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Reader God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: For peace and unity across barriers of language, color, and creed; for elected and appointed leaders, that they would serve the common good. Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love. God of freedom,

All Hear our prayers for the world.

Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Reader God of justice, we pray for the earth, your creation entrusted to our care: For the animals and birds, the mountains and oceans, and all parts of your creation that have no voice of their own. Stir up in us a thirst for justice that pro-tects the earth and all its resources, that we may leave to our children’s children the legacy of beauty and abundance that you have given us. God of justice,

All Hear our prayers for the earth.

Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Reader God of peace, we pray for this community: For our local leaders; for our schools and markets; for our neighborhoods and workplaces. Kindle in every heart a desire for equality, respect, and opportunity for all. Give us courage to strive for justice and peace among all people, beginning here at home. God of peace,

All Hear our prayers for this community.

Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Reader God of mercy, we pray for all in any kind of need or trouble: For those whose lives are closely linked with ours, and those connected to us as part of the human family. For refugees and prisoners; for the sick and suffering in this time of pandemic and those who care for them, and the lonely and despairing in quarantine; for those facing violence; for all held down by prejudice or injustice. Awaken in us compassion and humility of spirit, as we seek and serve Christ in all persons. God of mercy,

All Hear our prayers for all who are in need.

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Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Reader God of grace, we pray for those who have died: For the faithful in every generation who have worked for justice; for prophets who called us to racial reconciliation; for martyrs who died because of hatred; and for all the communion of saints. Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light. God of grace,

All Hear our prayers for those who have died.

Silence — Add your prayers, aloud or in your hearts

Priest Hear our prayers, Holy God. Breathe your Spirit over us and all the earth, that barriers would crumble and divisions cease. Make us more fully your co-healers of the broken world. Unite us with all people in bonds of love, that the whole earth and all its peoples may be at peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ConfessionDeacon Let us confess our sins against God and one another.All Almighty God, Source of all that is, Giver of every good gift: You create all people in your image and call us to love one another as you love us. We confess that we have failed to honor you in the great diversity of the human family. We have desired to live in freedom, while building walls be-tween ourselves and others. We have longed to be known and accepted for who we are, while making judgments of others based on the color of skin, or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience.

We have tried to love our neighbors individually while yet benefiting from systems that hold those same neighbors in oppression. Forgive us, Holy God. Give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people. Strengthen us for the work of reconciliation rooted in love. Restore us in your image, to be beloved community, united in our diversity, even as you are one with Christ and the Spirit, Holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer for Spiritual CommunionPriest Let us join together in the Prayer for Spiritual Communion.All Jesus, may all that is you flow into me. May my food and drink be your body and blood. May your passion and death be my strength and

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life. Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given. May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross. Let me not run from the love which you offer But hold me safe from the forces of evil. On each of my dyings shed your light and your love. Keep calling to me until that day comes When, with your saints, I may praise you for ever. Amen.(1989 Anglican Church of South Africa Prayer book)

Final BlessingPriest Lord, bind us to you and to our neighbor with love, May our hearts not be turned away from you. May our souls not be deceived nor our talents or minds enticed by allurements or error. Thus may we love our neighbor as our-selves, with strength, wisdom, and gentleness. And may God our Creator, Re-deemer, and Sustainer be with us all forever more. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Anthony of Padua)

DismissalDeacon Dismissal of their choice.People Thanks be to God.

In God Alone

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Meditations in a Time of Silence: Epiphany parishioner and composer Tom Cleman has written a piece for organ entitled “Meditations in a Time of Silence” which was heard as one of the meditations during this weekend’s Taize’ Service (August 23rd). The piece is dedicated to “Epiphany Church, Flagstaff, Arizona,

and all who worship there.”

Virtual Coffee Hour: We are offering a virtual version of Coffee Hour at 10:30am right after the Sunday morning worship service! If you join at 10:00am we will be watching the service together. Coffee and Chat is an informal way to pop in and have a chat with your church community! You can join the Zoom gathering by by entering the Meeting ID: 989 0659 2488. The Password for the gathering is: 618030

Creation Care Ministry Shoe Strike: On August 29 from 10 AM until 3 PM the Creation Care Ministry is inviting Epiphany to participate in a “Shoe Strike”. This is an international demonstration by placing our shoes where and when we can-not demonstrate in person due to COVID 19. The theme of this month’s Strike is “Climate Refugees”. You can drop off your pair of shoes at the following Flagstaff locations up until August 27th:

• 8610 Arroyo Trail 86004 (in Doney Park)• 1818 North Mesa Drive 86001 (north of the hospital)• 3855 South Jewel Drive 86005 (in University Heights)

If you want your shoes returned to you, put your contact information on tape or paper inside the shoe and tie a ribbon or yarn on the laces. Unmarked shoes will be donated after the Strike(s). Let’s stand up and take steps for climate action regarding refugees fleeing droughts, floods, excessive heat or hunger due to our changing climate.

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Exploring the Naj Hammadi documents with the Rev. Ann Johnson: When the Naj Hammadi documents were discovered in the Egyptian desert in 1945, the Christian world was faced with new information about the earliest understandings of the teachings of Jesus. In this three-week course, we will discuss this archeo-logical find and its implications for Christians today. We will also delve into sever-al of the texts themselves, specifically the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Thomas. Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, September 9, 16, 23. Contact Mother Ann at 42annjohnson@gmail.com to receive the Zoom invita-tion for this series.

In September, Epiphany will be offering a new opportunity in our online Adult Formation. Poet and philosopher David Whyte is leading a three-part online series, Half a Shade Braver: The Tiny Transformative Disciplines of an Everyday Life on September 6, 13, and 20 at 10:00am Pacific Time. What are the small disciplines that give us courage for the future? “Whether we are enclosed at home, in our home country or on the front lines of the pandemic, many of us feel held-in and neutralized by present circumstances. Our times seem to call for different understandings of courage than the ones we might have inherited.

Join David Whyte for a look at the micro-disciplines of an everyday life: those small, everyday steps - sometimes just half-steps - that can radically transform our approach to the future. Practices where we are not trying to become an Olympic hero, but where we change our future for the better by becoming just half a shade braver in almost everything we do.”

Online registration is $60. If you cannot afford the registration price due to pres-ent hardship, please contact Priest Marianna priestm@epiphanyaz.org. There are scholarship funds available. Register here: https://live.davidwhyte.com

The Food Pantry has NOT been supplied with loaf bread for over 10 days. It is hard for folks with no or little income to make sandwiches for their families with-out bread. Please consider buying a loaf of bread (or two) to take to the Food Pantry whenever you go shopping. You can drop it off Wednesday - Sunday from 3 - 6 PM at 2573 E 7th Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

Flagstaff Shelter Services: Due to the continued use of by-night hotel rooms, and extra staffing, in order to support between 150 - 250 people/night, the Flag-staff Shelter Services request our financial help. Please prayerfully consider a contribution for FSS for them to carry on the good work they are doing in Flag-staff. Mailing address: Flagstaff Shelter Services, P.O. Box 1808, Flagstaff AZ 86002. Thank you.

Pledges and Giving: These are uncertain times for all of us. If you are able to, please try to keep your pledge payment as current as possible. Epiphany is committed to paying our staff throughout our time apart, but we need everyone’s support in order to accomplish it.

This week we give thanks for the Vestry and their hard work and continued leadership during this time of pandemic.