St. Stephen's Episcopal church is a welcoming church located in the historic community of New Harmony, Indiana. Please join us every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Our Worship Service is also streamed lived on Facebook at 10:00 a.m. CST
VISIT our FACEBOOK PAGE and watch our Worship Services at:
The church office is open on Mondays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
and on Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
PALM / PASSION SUNDAY, April 13th.
We will be sharing Holy Eucharist with Rev. Mary Bargiel.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
The Food Pantry needs grocery bags.
A basket is in the parish hall to receive your donated bags.
AGAPE FEAST
Thursday, April 17th at 6:00 p.m.
bring a side dish to share
GOOD FRIDAY CROSSWALK, April 18th at 1:00 p.m.
starting at the First Christian Church
and making stops at the traditional seven New Harmony churches.
If it is raining or other acclimate weather,
the First Christian Church will be the location.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
April 20th at 6:30 a.m. at The Roofless Church.
Bring your own chair or sit on one of the stone benches.
In case of acclimate weather,
the service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
with Rev. Mary Bargiel
Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
after Coffee Hour
CHAIR YOGA
9:00 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays
Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting on a chair
or standing using a chair for support. Good for all ages and levels.
Morning Prayer
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church | New Harmony, Indiana
March 30, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Welcome to worship. Please join in speaking the bolded words.
Prelude Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
Announcements
The service begins with the ringing of the bell; the people stand as able.
When I survey the wondrous cross H474
When I survey the wondrous cross
where the young Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the cross of Christ, my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet
sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
The Officiant says
Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13
Confession of Sin
Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to set forth his praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.
Silence may be kept; all kneel as able for the confession.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we 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.
The Officiant remains kneeling and says
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
The Invitatory & Psalter
All stand as able.
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Officiant and People
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy:
Come let us adore him.
Venite, said responsively by half verse Psalm 95:1-7; 96:9, 13
O come, let us sing unto the Lord;
Let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
And show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God,
And a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the corners of the earth,
And the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his and he made it,
And his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down
And kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is the Lord our God,
And we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of
his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
Let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth,
And with righteousness to judge the world and the
peoples with his truth.
Psalm 32 Beati quorum
Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,
and whose sin is put away!
Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
and in whose spirit there is no guile!
While I held my tongue, my bones withered away,
because of my groaning all day long.
For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and did not conceal my guilt.
I said," I will confess my transgressions to the Lord."
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time
of trouble;
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach
them.
You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go;
I will guide you with my eye.
Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding;
who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they
will not stay near you."
Great are the tribulations of the wicked;
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord;
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
At the end of the Psalm, all say together
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Lessons
The people sit for the readings.
A period of silence will follow each reading.
First Reading
A reading from the book of Joshua. (Joshua 5:9-12)
The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence may follow.
Canticle 14 A Song of Penitence Kyrie Pantokrator
(WLP # 888; all stand as able.)
Almighty Lord Most High draw near
whose awesome splendor none can bear;
eternal God, in mercy hear,
receive once more the sinner’s prayer;
upon your word of grace we call
whose word of power has ordered all.
How measureless your mercies stand,
the hope and pledge of sins forgiven;
those sins, unnumbered as the sand,
that hide the very stars of heaven;
O God of grace, to us impart
a penitent and contrite heart.
From such a heart we bend the knee
and all our sin and shame confess.
Lord, your unworthy servants see,
and clothe us round with righteousness;
that loved and pardoned, healed and blest,
we taste your mercies manifest.
So lift on high the Savior’s praise
with all the hosts of heaven above,
and sing through everlasting days
the God of glory grace and love.
The Lord of all let us adore,
for ever and for evermore.
Second Reading
The people sit.
A Reading from the book of Second Corinthians.
(2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence may follow.
Please stand as able.
Canticle 10 The Second Song of Isaiah Quaerite Dominum
(The canticle is read responsively by half verse; all stand as able.)
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found;
Call upon him when he draws near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
And the evil ones their thoughts;
And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion,
And to our God, he will richly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain and snow fall from the heavens
And return not again, but water the earth,
Bringing forth life and giving growth,
Seed for sowing and bread for eating,
So is my word that goes forth from my mouth;
It will not return to me empty;
But it will accomplish that which I have purposed,
And prosper in that for which I sent it.
Gospel Reading
The people are seated.
A Reading from the gospel of Luke. (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32)
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So Jesus told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Homily Mike Staubitz
The Apostles’ Creed
The people stand as able for the creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Offertory
The people are seated.
Let us with gladness present the offering and oblations of our life and labor to the Lord.
Offertory Anthem Come, thou fount of every blessing
During the offertory (or at your own convenience), please consider giving to St. Stephens at the following link: https://onrealm.org/StStephensEpisc/-/give/now or by texting
SSNH to 73256 and following the prompts. All donations go toward sustaining our church operations and our ministries.
The people stand.
Doxology Hymnal 380 v. 3
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Prayers
The people stand or kneel as able for the prayers.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The Suffrages
O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;
And grant us thy salvation.
Endue thy ministers with righteousness;
And make thy chosen people joyful.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in thee can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under thy care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let thy way be known upon earth;
Thy saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collects
The Collect of the Day
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Prayers of the People: Intercessions
In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy”.
For the holy Church of God, that it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the day of your coming, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For Sean Rowe, our Presiding Bishop, for Jennifer, our Bishop, for all bishops and other ministers, and for all the holy people of God, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who fear God and believe in you, Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease, and that all may be one as you and the Father are one, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost their faith, that they may receive the light of the Gospel, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those in positions of public trust, that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who live and work in this community, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger; that they may be relieved and protected, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this congregation – those who are present, and for those who are absent, that we may be delivered from hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in al that we do, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our enemies and those who wish us harm; and for all whom we have injured or offended, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have commended themselves to our prayers; for our families, friends, and neighbors; that being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For others: ___________, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the communion of your church, and those whose faith is known to you alone, that, with all the saints, they may have rest in that place where there is no pain or grief, but life eternal, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, blessed St. Stephen, and all saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and all our life to Christ our God.
To you, O Lord our God.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions.
Intercessor: I invite your additional prayers out loud, in the silence of your heart, in the comments below the Facebook Live Stream.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayers.
The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
For yours is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee, and hast promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name thou wilt be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul H439
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to lay aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown
for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb,
I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb
who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme
I will sing.
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
The Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
Postlude Lead us, heavenly Father
Announcements
Thanks to those serving!
Altar Guild, Peggy Meyer
Greeter,
Facebook Greeter,
Tech Coordinator, Carol Stratton
Officiant, Hope Staubitz
Lector, Charles Gaston
Intercessor,
Music, Mr400
Homilist, Mike Staubitz
Contact information for Rev. Bargiel:
Cell 765-721-3037
Email mbargiel@me.com
Offertory, Gloria, Doxology, Sanctus, & Communion Anthem
used with permission © Windelm Music.
W
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
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