The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Presider

The Chautauqua Choir

Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist

Owen Reyda
Pianist

Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive: A Service of Ecumenical Communion

We invite you to quietly prepare your hearts for worship during the Prelude.

* Denotes that the congregation is invited to rise in body or spirit.It is our custom to sing the first and last verses of hymns in unison,the interior verses may be sung in parts.

Hymn

“Day is dying in the west”

Chautauqua, William Fisk Sherwin, 1877
Mary Lathbury, 1877

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
through all the sky.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee;
Heav’en and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

Opening Acclamation & Prayer*

Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.

Glory to God for ever and ever.

God our rock and refuge: keep us safe in your care and

strengthen us with your grace, that we may pray to you faithfully

and love one another boldly, following the example of Jesus, who

with you and the Holy Spirit lives for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession*

Let us confess our sins to God.

God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you, 

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves, and in the world you have created. 

We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done,

and the evil done on our behalf. 

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, 

that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

Declaration of God's Mercy and Grace*

Sharing a Sign of God's Peace*

Hymn

“Forgive our sins as we forgive” 

Detroit, Supplement to Kentucky Harmony, 1820
Rosamond E. Herklots, 1969, 1983, alt.

1"Forgive our sins as we forgive,"
you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace
to live the words we say.

2 How can your pardon reach and bless
the unforgiving heart
that broods on wrongs and will not let
old bitterness depart?

3 In blazing light your cross reveals
the truth we dimly knew:
what trivial debts are owed to us,
how great our debt to you!

4 Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
and bid resentment cease.
Then, by your mercy reconciled,
our lives will spread your peace.

First Reading

Genesis 50:15–21

Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Alleluia*

Alleluia 7, Jacques Berthier, 1984

Gospel Reading*

Matthew 18:21–35 

Peter came to Jesus and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Homily

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton

Anthem

“Draw us in the Spirit’s tether” 

Harold Friedell, 1957
B.R. Percy Dearmer, 1931

Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; for when humbly, in thy Name,
two or three are met together, thou art in the midst of them:
Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment’s hem.

As the brethren used to gather in the Name of Christ to sup,
then with thanks to God the Father break the bread and bless the cup,
Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of thee,
that by caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be.
Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully.

Prayer of Communion*

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.

Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, suns, planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.

By your will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, 

and blessed us with memory, reason and skill.

You gave us this universe you created, to care for and to nourish.

But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust;

and we turned against one another.

Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.

Again and again, you called us to return.

Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law.

And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, 

to fulfill your Law,

to open for us the way of freedom and peace.

By his blood, he reconciled us.

By his wounds, we are healed.

And therefore we praise you, joining the heavenly chorus,

with prophets, apostles, and martyrs,

and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

“Holy, Holy, Holy”

A Community Mass, Richard Proulx, 1971

Holy, holy, holy, Lord. God of power and might

Heaven and earth are full of your Glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

The prayer continues:

And so, Creator, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said,

“Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you.Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, 

“Drink this, all of you: 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 for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,

We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

Lord God of our Ancestors; 

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; 

God of Sarah, Miriam, and Rachel; 

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:

open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us.

Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.

Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the bread.

Accept these prayers and praises, Lord God, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church give honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. 

Amen!

United by one baptism in the same Holy Spirit and the same Body of Christ, we pray as God’s sons and daughters the prayer many of us first learned as children:

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.

Lord Jesus Christ, you told your apostles: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church; in order that your will be done, grant us always this peace and guide us towards the perfect unity of your Kingdom for ever.

Amen.

The bread which we break is the communion of the Body of Christ; 

the cup of blessing for which we give thanks is the communion 

of the Blood of Christ.

The Presider now breaks the consecrated bread.

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Communion of God's People

If you believe that the Risen Lord is here giving himself to his people, you are invited to commune with us.

To receive the elements, you are invited to come forward to any of the stations near the stage. When you receive the communion bread you may either dip (intinct) it in the cup and consume it, or consume it first and then drink from the cup, according to your own tradition. Please note that each station will have two cups: the cup nearest the bread will be for intinction, and the cup further from the bread will be for drinking Gluten-free bread with accompanying cups will be distributed during communion at the center station.

If for any reason, religious or personal, you do not wish to partake of the bread and cup, please know that you can still come forward, and if you place your arms across your chest, the Chaplain will give you an ecumenical blessing. All are welcome to the table of the Lord!

Communion Anthem

“Draw us in the Spirit’s tether” 

Robert W. Lehman, 2021
Brian Wren, 1968

This anthem is a gift from the composer for Joshua Stafford and the Chautauqua Choir in appreciation for the music offered in daily worship throughout the summer season.

I come with joy to meet my Lord
forgiven, loved, and free, 
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near 
to find, as all are fed, 
the new community of love 
in Christ’s communion bread,

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends. 
The love that made us, makes us one, 
and strangers now are friends,

And thus with joy we meet our Lord,
his presence ever near, 
is in such friendship better known, 
we see and praise him here

Together met, together bound 
we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world, 
we’ll live and speak his praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Let us pray together:

O Risen Christ, who made yourself known to the disciples 
in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus;
the bread we break at this table
is a sign of the brokenness of all the world;
through our sharing in the Bread of Life 
in our many Christian communions,
open our eyes and hands to the needs of all people.
Let our hearts burn to share your gifts
and help us to go forth with one another with Bread:
Bread of Hope, Bread of Life, Bread of Peace.
Amen.

-Jesus Christ- the Life of the World:
A Worship Book for the World Council of Churches, 1983

Hymn

“There’s a wideness in God’s mercy"

St. Helena, Calvin Hampton, 1977
Frederick William Faber, 1854, alt.

1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty. There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good; there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.

2 There is no place where earth’s sorrows
are more felt than up in heaven; there is no place where earth’s failings
have such kindly judgment given. There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed; there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head.

3 For the love of God is broader
than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful,
we should take him at his word; and our life would be thanksgiving
for the goodness of the Lord.

Benediction

Hymn

“Now the day is over” 

Merrial, Joseph Barnby, 1868
Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,
shadows of the evening steal across the sky.

Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet repose
with thy tend’rest blessing may our eyelids close.

When the morning wakens, then may I arise
pure, and fresh, and sinless in thy holy eyes. Amen.

Postlude

Largo

George Frederick Handel, 1738
from the opera Xerxes

Use of this piece to close the Sunday evening service has been Chautauqua’s tradition since the dedication of the Massey Memorial Organ on August 6, 1907.Part of the custom has been to remain in our seats until the piece is finished.It is a gesture that we treasure, and one in which you are invited to join.We invite you to leave the Amphitheater silently — without applause.

JOIN THE CHAUTAUQUA CHOIR
Thursday 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Smith Wilkes Hall
Friday 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Saturday 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna Hall

We invite you to join us and sing with the Chautauqua Choir this season. This group is open to anyone who has experience singing in choirs and the ability to read music, and requires members to attend at least one out of three weekly rehearsals, though two or more rehearsals are preferred. Our preference is for members to sing both Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening services, though it is possible to sing only one. Questions can be directed to choir@chq.org or by calling the choir library at 716-357-6321. Click here to register ahead of rehearsals.

CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Department of Religion

Melissa Spas
Vice President of Religion

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Senior Pastor

Rafia Khader
Director of Religion Programs

Joshua Stafford
Director of Sacred Music & The Jared Jacobsen Chair Organist

Rees Taylor Roberts
Organ Scholar

Owen Reyda
Organ Scholar

Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant

Annie Leech
Student Minister