The Third Sunday After Pentecost

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - THE FEAST OF ST. ALBAN THE MARTYR

JUNE 21 2026

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn:    Ye Servants of God    #535

The Opening Acclamation                                                                

  Presider:  Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

  People:       And blessed be His kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Purity                                                      BCP p. 355         

 Song of Praise Holy God, We Praise Thy Name #366                                                                                                   

The Collect of the Day

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Reading                                                    Exodus 19:2-8a

When the people of Israel had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness: Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.” So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

            Reader:  The Word of the Lord.               People:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 116:1,10-17

1 I love the LORD, because he has heard

the voice of my supplication,

because he has inclined his ear to me

whenever I called upon him.

10 How shall I repay the LORD

for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call upon the Name of the LORD.

12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

13 Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his servants.

14 O LORD, I am your servant;

I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;

you have freed me from my bonds.

15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call upon the Name of the LORD.

16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

17 In the courts of the LORD’s house,

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

The Second Reading:                                           Romans 5:1-8

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

     Reader:      The Word of the Lord.           People:     Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn      Blest Are the Pure in Heart             #656

The Holy Gospel                                                  Matthew 9:35-10:16

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.” “Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Reader:  The Gospel of the Lord. People:  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Nicene Creed                                    BCP p. 358          

Hymm Lord, You Give the Great Commission #528

The Prayers of the People

Strengthened by the Spirit who gives us words to speak and hearts that care, let us bring our hopes and needs to God who listens.

Fill your church with bold witnesses who will work for justice, serve with compassion, share your love, and spread the Gospel. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour out your Spirit on those without access to fresh water, and on those who dig wells to provide it for them, that they may be refreshed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Stir the hearts of those who thirst for justice, that they may bring peace, speak out against oppression, and preserve human dignity across the globe. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help families everywhere to be places of safety, encouragement, and love. Protect and uphold healthy relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and neighbors, and all your people. Bless and protect the people of Ukraine and the Middle East; Christians being persecuted for their faith; the victims of shootings and disasters; and for Barb, Becky, Cathy, Derek, Erin, Gary, Gloria, Helena, Holly, Jeanne, Judy, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Ray, Robert, Zach, and others? (pause) Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Wherever there is brokenness, bring healing. Bind up our wounds, teach us compassion, and dry our tears. Give them comfort, reconciliation, and hope. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We thank you for those who through their words and deeds have passed on the faith from one generation to the next. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift our prayers to you, God of mercy, confident that all things are in your hands. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Confession of Sin

Most merciful God,

we confess that have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.  

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive the Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

and since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn Thou Whose Almighty Word     #473

The Blessing

May the peace of God,

which passes all understanding,

keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,

and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

and may the blessing of God almighty:

the Father. and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be with us all, evermore.

Amen.

The Dismissal

Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 

People:        Thanks be to God.