Digital Courtyard – Join us HERE!

We invite each of you to join us immediately following the service in the “courtyard!”  Connect and visit with one another for a few minutes in this online gathering.

If you have a birthday or anniversary this week (or had one last week), text your name to 512-290-9967 so that we can pray for you by name at the end of the service.

We invite you to, as much as possible, kneel, sit, stand, and participate with your body and voice just as you would in our physical assembly.

Opening Hymn  

The People Stand

My Song Is Love Unknown
Words: Samuel Crossman, 1664; Music: John Ireland, 1918

My song is love unknown,
my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne,
salvation to bestow;
but men cared not, and none
the longed-for Christ would know.
But oh, my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way,
and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! Yet all his deeds
their hatred feeds; they ‘gainst him rise.

They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord sent away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of Life  they slay.
Yet willing he to suff’ring goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.

In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb
but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was his home,
but mine the tomb wherein  he lay.

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Opening Sentences

OFFICIANT     Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.

PEOPLE           His mercy endures for ever.

The Collect for Purity

OFFICIANT
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession and Absolution of Sin

OFFICIANT      Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

OFFICIANT & PEOPLE
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    maker and judge of us all:
We acknowledge and lament our many sins and offenses,
    which we have committed by thought, word, and deed
    against your divine majesty,
    provoking most justly your righteous anger against us.
We are deeply sorry for these our transgressions;
    the burden of them is more than we can bear.
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
    for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
    forgive us all that is past;
    and grant that we may evermore serve and please you \
    in newness of life,
    to the honor and glory of your Name;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CELEBRANT
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Song of Worship

Holy
Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin, and Matt Redman, 2011

What heart could hold the weight of your love,
And know the heights of your great worth?
What eyes could look on your glorious face,
Shining like the sun?

You are Holy, Holy, Holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are Holy, Holy, Holy          
Jesus, you are
Jesus, you are

Your name alone has power to raise us
Your light will shine when all else fades               
Our eyes will look on your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like you, God?

Who shall we say you are?
You’re the living God
Who shall we say you are?
You’re the great I Am
The highest name of all
You’re all you say you are

And you will come again in glory
To judge the living and the dead
All eyes will look on your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like you, God?

The Collect of the Day 

The People Stand

OFFICIANT    The Lord is here.

PEOPLE          And his Spirit is with us.

OFFICIANT    Let us pray.

ALL
Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

WELCOME

children’s sermon

Let the Flame Burn Brighter

Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Terrice’s video

First Reading 

The People Sit 

^20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ “You shall not murder.

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

¹⁶ “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Exodus 20:1–17

Psalter 

The People Stand

LECTOR  Let us pray Psalm 19 responsively by half verse.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
  and the firmament shows his handiwork.

2 One day tells its tale to another, *
  and one night imparts knowledge to another.

3 Although they have no words or language, *
  and their voices are not heard,

4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
  and their message to the ends of the world.

5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
  it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
  it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
  nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
  the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

8 The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
  the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
  sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
  and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
  cleanse me from my secret faults.

13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
     let them not get dominion over me; *
  then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *
  O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Psalm 19

ALL
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Gospel 

DEACON     The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark.
PEOPLE      Glory to you, Lord Christ

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. ² And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ³ “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. ⁶ And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. ⁸ And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” ⁹ And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

¹⁰ And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. ¹¹ And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, ¹² so that

“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
    and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

¹³ And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²⁰ But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Mark 4:1–20

DEACON      The Gospel of the Lord
PEOPLE       Praise to you, Lord Christ

The Sermon 

The People Sit

The Prayers of the People

LEADER
In penitence and faith let us make our prayer to the Father and ask for his mercy and grace.

O God, almighty and merciful, you heal the broken-hearted, and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy, Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, or forgotten. Bless the multitude of your poor. Lift up those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for the most vulnerable in our city, those who have been most adversely affected by the pandemic, and all who are suffering.

.    .    .

God of all, who freely gives out of overflowing abundance and whose generosity knows no end, cause our hearts to feel the confidence and freedom of knowing that you are with us and for us, and cause that freedom to overflow in generosity that would be a blessing to the world.

Take a moment to ask the Lord how he might be calling you to reflect his heart of generosity to the world.

.    .    .

CELEBRANT
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Peace  

On a typical Sunday when we are physically together, we pass the peace of the Lord to each other simply by turning to those around us and saying, “The peace of Christ to you,” or “God’s peace.”  We would like to invite you now to pass the peace not only to those who may be sitting with you at home, but also to friends and loved ones who are in other locations, perhaps through a text or other messaging app.

CELEBRANT    The peace of the Lord be always with you.

PEOPLE            And also with you.

Visit our homepage for the latest announcements and upcoming events!

Birthday names are read.

prayer for birthdays

Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their hearts may thy peace which passes all understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anniversary names are read.

prayer for anniversaries

O God, you have so blessed the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send your blessing upon these your children, that their lives together may continue to reflect your love and forgiveness and that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

offering & congregational song

CELEBRANT    Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.

We invite you to give online at christchurchofaustin.org/give. If your giving comes in by check, we are still receiving mail.

Song of Worship:

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Stuart Townend, 1995

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only Son
To make a wretch his treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon his shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him, all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen

Holy Communion

The People Stand

CELEBRANT     The Lord is here.
PEOPLE             And his Spirit is with us.
CELEBRANT     Lift up your hearts.
PEOPLE             We lift them up to the Lord.
CELEBRANT     Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
PEOPLE              It is right to give him thanks and praise.

CELEBRANT
It is right, our duty and joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full, O Lord, of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full, O Lord, of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

The People Kneel or Stand

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and when we had sinned against you and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent your only Son Jesus Christ into the world for our salvation. By the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary he became flesh and dwelt among us. In obedience to your will, he stretched out his arms upon the Cross and offered himself once for all, that by his suffering and death we might be saved. By his resurrection he broke the bonds of death, trampling Hell and Satan under his feet. As our great high priest, he ascended to your right hand in glory, that we might come with confidence before the throne of grace.

On the night that he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Word and Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Sanctify us also, that we may worthily receive this holy Sacrament, and be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us with all your saints into the joy of your heavenly kingdom, where we shall see our Lord face to face.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray…

Our Father  Our Father 
Who art in heaven  Who art in heaven 
Hallowed be thy Name  Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come  Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done  Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven  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  And lead us not 
Into temptation  Into temptation
But deliver us from evil  But deliver us from evil  
For thine  For thine 
Is the kingdom  Is the kingdom
And the power and the glory  And the power and the glory
Forever and ever, Amen.  
Amen  Amen  Amen  Amen  Amen  Amen

The Breaking of the Bread 

CELEBRANT     Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

PEOPLE             Therefore let us keep the feast.

CELEBRANT     
The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

If you have consecrated elements in your home, please take communion now and enter into a time or worship. You may administer the sacrament with these words:

“The body of Christ, the bread of heaven,”

“The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”

If you do not have consecrated elements, we invite you to pray this prayer for spiritual communion:

Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

Communion Music 

We Do Not Presume
Music by Andy Piercy & David Clifton

We do not presume to come to your table
Trusting in our own righteousness
For we are not worthy so much as to gather
The crumbs from under your table
But trusting, O Lord, in your great and manifold mercies
For you are the same Lord, whose nature is always to have mercy
So cleanse us and feed us with the body and blood of your Son
That we may live in him and that he may live in us
For ever and ever. Amen.

Sing to Jesus
Fernando Ortega and Rich Nibbe, 2002

Come and see, look on this mystery
The Lord of the universe, nailed to a tree
Christ our God, spilling his holy blood
Bowing in anguish, his sacred head

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great Redeemer
Sing to Jesus, honor his name
Sing of his faithfulness
Pouring his life out unto death

Come, you weary, and he will give you rest
Come, you who mourn, lay on his breast
Christ who died, risen in paradise
Giver of mercy, giver of life

Sing to Jesus, his is the throne
Now and forever
He is the King of Heaven
Sing to Jesus, we are his own
Now and forever
Sing for the love our God has shown

Teach Me to Pray
Marty Reardon, 2011

Lord, teach me to pray
Not just words, not what to say
But my heart and where it should lay
O Lord, teach me to pray

Let your kingdom come
Let your will be done
Here on earth and in my life
As it is in heaven, as it is in heaven

Prayer for Mission

ALL 
Heavenly Father, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal Kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing

CELEBRANT
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Closing Hymn

O Love that Will Not Let Me Go
George Matheson (1882), Christopher Miner (1997)

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

Oh light that followest all my way
I yield my flickering torch to thee
My heart restores its borrowed ray
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be

Oh joy that seekest me through pain
I cannot close my heart to thee
I chase the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be

Oh cross that liftest up my head
I dare not ask to fly from thee
I lay in dust life’s glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be

The Dismissal

DEACON    Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
PEOPLE     Thanks be to God.

~    ~    ~

Digital Courtyard – Join us HERE!

We invite each of you to join us in the “courtyard!”  Connect and visit with one another for a few minutes in this online gathering.