I don’t know why I didn’t think to put this on the blog sooner.
The Diocese of Washington has passed a resolution petitioning the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to include Thurgood Marshall, whose wife, Cissy, still worships at St. Augustine’s parish in our diocese on our calendar of lesser feasts and fasts.
We are proposing that May 17 be designated as his feast day because that is the day on which the U. S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, the decision the began the long (and still incomplete) process of desegregating America’s public schools. Marshall was lead attorney for the plaintiffs.
All this is a long way of letting you know why we’re so pleased that Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Il., held a Eucharist to honor Marshall just two weeks ago (on this May 17th.) Click the keep reading line to find the order of service.
(And my thanks to John Hartman of S-W.)
And by the way, if you are an Episcopalian, and you know who your deputies are, please feel free to lobby on behalf of Justice Marshall.
Welcome to the first service at Seabury celebrating the life of former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, who in June, at the 2006 General Convention,
will be nominated for inclusion in Lesser Feasts and Fasts.
At the sound of the bell, all stand for the entrance of the Ministers into the chapel.
Unless otherwise noted all hymns and anthems are from Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
Organ Prelude
Liturgy of the Word
Presider Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Song of Praise
Christ Has Arisen LEVAS 41
Collect of the Day
Presider God be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray.
Presider continues
Eternal and ever-gracious God, you blessed your servant Thurgood with special gifts of grace and courage to understand and speak the truth as it has been revealed to us by Jesus Christ. Grant that by his example we may also know you and seek to realize that we are all your children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, whom you sent to teach us to love one another; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Old Testament Lesson Amos 5:10-15, 21-25
Gradual Psalm Psalm 34:15-22
Sung to the tune of Dunedin, Hymnal 455
1. The eyes of God are on the just,
His ears are open to their cry;
His face is set against the false,
To root them out from memory.
2. He saves the righteous in their need,
For when they cry, the Lord will hear;
Those crushed in spirit he will save;
The broken-hearted he is near.
3. The troubles of the just are great
And yet the Lord will save his own
And keep them safe from every harm;
Not one shall break a single bone.
4. Evil shall slay the false, and those
Who hate the just shall know his wrath;
He ransoms all his servants’ lives
And chastens none who walk his path.
Sequence Zimbabwe Alleluia
Holy Gospel Matthew 23: 1-11
Sermon: Rosemary Gooden
Prayers of the People Form VI Book of Common Prayer, Page 392
Peace
Presider The peace of Christ be always with you.
People And also with you.
Holy Communion
Offertory Hymn
How Great Thou Art LEVAS 60
Great Thanksgiving
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Life up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Presider It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, all-holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy…
…we lift our voices with all creation as we sing:
Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy LEVAS 255
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Memorial Acclamation Sung to the tune of We Shall Overcome
Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
Jesus Christ will come again.
Lord’s Prayer (Traditional) Book of Common Prayer, Page 364
Fraction Anthem
Do This in Remembrance of Me LEVAS 272
Communion Hymn
Just As I Am LEVAS 137
Postcommunion Prayer
Presider and People
God of abundance,
you have fed us
with the bread of life and cup of salvation;
you have united us
with Christ and one another;
and you have made us one
with all your people in heaven and on earth.
Now send us forth
in the power of your Spirit,
that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world
and continue for ever
in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
Blessing
Presider
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
Processional Hymn
Revive Us Again LEVAS 157
Dismissal
Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Organ Postlude