Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prelude

Announcements:  Diana Patterson                                                                                                                         

The Gathering of the Community

      Processional Hymn     # 486     Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

      The Collect for Purity and Summary of the Law, p. 36                   

       Collect of the Day: Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful

       people, that richly bearing the fruit of good works, we may by you

       be richly rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive

       and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for

       ever.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-11, Paul Hobson

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (see over)

Second Reading:  Philemon 1-21, Murray Phillips

Gradual Hymn                 # 439     Blest Are the Pure in Heart                       

The Holy Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Nicene Creed (sung), p. 38

Sermon

The Celebration of Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn                    # 259     For the Fruit of All Creation

The Thanksgiving over the Offering (sung), p. 39

The Prayers of the People, Rev’d Ann Watson

The Invitation, Confession and Absolution

      The Thanksgiving and Prayer of Consecration, p. 42

      Prayer of Humble Access, p. 47

The Communion                       Eucharistic Assistant: James Nelson

Communion hymns:                         #647 Spirit of the Living God     

                                     #65 Here, Lord, We Take the Broken Bread

      The Lord's Prayer and Prayer after Communion, p. 48

The Blessing

The Gloria (sung), p. 49

Closing Hymn                 # 320     Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

Postlude

Sidespeople: Kathy Phillips & Diana Patterson

Psalm 139 1-6, 13-18

Lord, you have searched me out and known me;

you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I will thank you because I am marvellously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book; they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.

How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

We pray for the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Archbishop Daniel

Deng Bul Yak

We pray for all people and their ministries in our Companion Diocese of Manicaland in Zimbabwe

We pray for those suffering from the effects of the recent flooding in Pakistan and for the work of the Church and relief agencies providing food, housing and support

We pray for the Diocese of Quebec, Bishop Dennis Drainville

Remembering the Valley Region, we pray for the clergy and people of

        the parishes of New Ross and Rawdon

We pray for those inviting family members or friends to Back to

        Church Sunday, and for those being invited: that we may grow in

        faith and in service to one another

We pray for God’s guidance and grace for those preparing for

        ordination: Mike Foley, Janet Freda, Ed Trevors and Sue Walters

The flowers in the church are offered to the Glory of God and in loving memory of:   Doug Clark from his family

Announcements for the bulletin should be forwarded to Debbie, before Thurs. evening for inclusion in next Sunday’s bulletin. See front of bulletin for her contact info

Tuesday, September 7^th, 2pm: Pastoral Care Committee meets in the sunroom

Wednesday, September 8th, Wolfville Baptist Church: Soup and Taize Prayer. Soup is served at 5:30pm. Sung prayer and silence in the sanctuary from 6-6:40pm. All welcome.

Wednesday, September 8^th, 7:30pm: WAICC meeting in Manning Chapel

September 12^th – Welcome Back Breakfast (details posted at the back of the church – sign up now!)

September 12^th, 7:30pm – Parish Council meets in the sunroom

September 22^nd, 6pm – Dinner at the rectory for post-secondary students (details to follow). See the sign-up sheet at the back of the church if you can help with food.

Today is Food Bank Sunday. Thank you for your donations of food.

Rector’s schedule: Sandra will be in the church office on Tuesday

        from noon till 2 pm and on Wednesday from 9:30 till noon. She

        will be off on Monday and Saturday.

Confirmation planning: If you or someone you know is interested in

        preparing for confirmation, see Sandra as soon as possible.

Changes in worship schedule for September: what do you think?

For the remainder of our 10am worship services this month, we will use the format from The Book of Alternative Services found in our parish booklet The Book of Services. We normally alternate between the BAS and BCP, except for the 5^th Sunday of the month, when we use liturgies from other countries or traditions. Since September is a time of transition when many return to church after a long absence, the wardens and I agree that this temporary change in our worship schedule will be helpful. However, some parishioners have asked for more BAS worship on a regular basis. What do you think? We will discuss this further at our September 12^th Parish Council meeting as we consider our worship plans for the fall and the need to update The Book of Services. I know that each of you will have an opinion on this. Please talk to me or to one of the wardens to make your views known.           -- Sandra

PWRDF Response to Flooding in Pakistan – The Primate’s             World Relief and Development Fund is responding with         partners on the ground following the devastating floods in         Pakistan. This is now considered a humanitarian crisis. Please

        send your donation to PWRDF to assist with relief efforts by   September 12^th to be eligible for matching funds from CIDA

        (details in bulletin insert). To make a donation through St. John’s,

        mark your cheque or envelope PWRDF, Pakistan floods.

September 26^th is Back to Church Sunday –Who will you invite?

        You’ll find invitations at the back of the church.