SAINT GABRIEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, INC. (Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Long Island)

331 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn, New York                    Telephone: 1.718.774.5248 / 1.718.774.5584

Email: stgabrielschurchbrooklyn@gmail.com              Website: stgabrielschurchbrooklyn.org

Facebook: StGabrielsEpiscopalChurch / YouTube: StGabrielsChurchBrooklyn

Zoom: 970 3502 6969 / Password: 026667 / Telephone: 1.646.876.9923

Live Streaming on Facebook and YouTube

THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 The  Holy   Eucharist - Rite II (Year A)

July 26, 2026     9:30 AM

This Bulletin, with Psalm and Prayers, is from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. The Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All Hymns/Music are used with permission under Saint Gabriel’s Copyright License #21688433 and #21688440 from Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc.

(In preparation for worship, please remain in silent meditation, ensuring that all mobile devices are silenced.)

Opening Sentence and Prayer  

Entrance Hymn  (The Hymnal 1982, #388)    ‘O worship the King’

Greeting and Acclamation                                                            Prayer Book, page 355

Prayer of the Day                                                                           Prayer Book, page 231

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

THE  LITURGY  OF   THE  WORD 

A Reading from the First Book of Kings (3: 5 - 12)                                       Ashley Cox

⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” ⁶And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” ¹⁰It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹²I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

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

Responsorial Psalm (119: 129 - 136)     Pe, Mirabilia                Prayer Book, page 774                    Jean Cox-Dickson

129   Your decrees are wonderful; * therefore I obey them with all my heart.

130   When your word goes forth it gives light; * it gives understanding to the simple.

131   I open my mouth and pant; * I long for your commandments.

132   Turn to me in mercy, * as you always do to those who love your Name.

133   Steady my footsteps in your word; * let no iniquity have dominion over me.

134   Rescue me from those who oppress me, * and I will keep your commandments.

135   Let your countenance shine upon your servant * and teach me your statutes.

136   My eyes shed streams of tears, * because people do not keep your law.

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (8: 26 - 39)                    James Cox

²⁶The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. ³¹What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³²He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. ³⁵Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

Sequence Hymn  (The Hymnal 1982, #493)    ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing’

Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (13: 31 - 33, 44 - 52)

³¹Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; ³²it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ³³He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” ⁴⁴“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; ⁴⁶on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ⁴⁷“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; ⁴⁸when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ⁴⁹So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁵¹“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” ⁵²And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Sermon

Profession of Faith (The Nicene Creed)                                       Prayer Book, page 358

Prayers of the People (Form V)        Malike Cummings            Prayer Book, page 389

Confession of Sin and Absolution                                                Prayer Book, page 360

Gesture of Peace  ‘Let there be love shared among us’

THE   LITURGY  OF  THE   EUCHARIST

Offertory Hymn (Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #194)  ‘Lead me , guide me’

Doxology (African American Heritage Hymnal, #651)

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING (Eucharistic Prayer A)                  Prayer Book, page 361

Hymns during the Administration of Holy Communion

(The Hymnal 1982, #488 / #508) ‘Be thou my vision’ / ‘Breathe on me, breath of God’

(Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #72)  ‘Just a closer walk with thee’ 

Prayer after Communion (Stand or kneel)                                 Prayer Book, page 365

The Blessing

Welcome and Announcements (Birthday, Travel, Children, Other Prayers)

The National Anthem of Liberia 

All hail, Liberia, hail!   All hail, Liberia, hail!  

This glorious land of liberty shall long be ours.
Though new her name, green be her fame, and mighty be her powers, and mighty be her powers, in joy and gladness with our hearts united, we’ll shout the freedom of a race benighted, long live Liberia, happy land!
A home of glorious liberty, by God’s command! A home of glorious liberty, by God’s command! All hail, Liberia, hail! All hail, Liberia, hail!
 In union strong success is sure we cannot fail!   With God above our rights to prove we will o’er all prevail, we will o’er all prevail, with heart and hand our country’s cause defending we’ll meet the foe with valor unpretending.  Long live Liberia, happy land!  A home of glorious liberty, By God’s command!  

A home of glorious liberty, by God's command!

Mission Hymn (Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #12)  ‘We’re marching to Zion’

Organ Postlude  

(Please remain seated until the Postlude ends and the candles are extinguished. Be mindful of those who have stayed behind for prayer.)

WELCOME * BIENVENIDOS * BIENVENUE

The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of our Parish welcome all visitors and members who have joined us in celebrating God in Christ Jesus.

We hope that you have had a rewarding spiritual experience, and we pray that you will come again. If you are looking for a spiritual home, we invite you to join our fellowship and worship. Please speak with the Priest or one of the Ushers.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: JULY - AUGUST

Holy Eucharist, Sundays, 9:30 am (Sanctuary / Online)

(Facebook / YouTube / Zoom ID: 970 3502 6969 / Passcode: 026667)

Morning Prayer, Wednesday, July 29, 10 am (Sanctuary / Zoom ID: 953 4196 0007 / Passcode: 025388 / Telephone: 1.646.876.9923 / ID: 953 4196 0007)

Saint Gabriel's Angels Summer Camp 2026 (Registration required)

Saturday, August 8, Canon Leys 40^th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood: Mass - 9:30 am / Luncheon - 12 noon (Donation: $100 / Children under 12: $50)

Friday, August 14, 7 pm – 12 am, Bingo Night - $25 (Ushers’ Guild)

Saturday, August 29, 1 pm, New York Liberty West Indian Night - $42 (Youth Fellowship)

SPECIAL   OFFERINGS  AND   INTENTIONS

ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: The Anglican Church of Tanzania; Armagh, Ireland; Armidale, Australia; Arochukwu/Ohafia, Nigeria; Aru, Congo; Asaba, Nigeria; Asante-Mampong, West Africa.

ANNIVERSARY 

Bread and wine is given by Canon Leys in thanksgiving to God as he observes the fortieth anniversary of ordination to the sacred Priesthood (July 27, 1986) and forty-first anniversary of ordination to the Diaconate (July 28, 1985). 

Flowers and candles are given by Izetta Thompson in thanksgiving for the 179^th Independence of Liberia (July 26). “The land of liberty that brought us here.” To God be the glory.

Flowers are given for Beverly Clark as she celebrated her birthday (July 23). Given by the Panamanian Group. “Happy birthday Beverly.” May God continue to bless and keep you safe.

Candles are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for Kay Leslie as she celebrated her birthday (July 22). Given by her mother, Marva and the entire Family.

Candles and flowers are offered in thanksgiving for our beloved daughter Petal Laverne Elbers as she celebrated her birthday (July 19). Given with love by her parents Carl and Joycelyn Elbers, her niece Ayana and Family. To God be the glory in her life.

BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK: Andrea Flynn (26), Patricia Gregory (26), Malike O. Cummings ( 27), Marilyn Codrington (28), Claudette Johnson (28), Linton Greaves (29), Fay Hunt (1), Wilma Callender (1).

DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: All Saints’, Brooklyn; Church of the Ascension, Brooklyn; Community Justice Ministry; Calvary and Saint Cyprian’s, Brooklyn; Christ Church, Bay Ridge; Christ Church, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; Saint Andrew’s, Saltaire.

HEALING PRAYERS for SICK and SHUT-IN MEMBERS: Handel Andrews, Nola Archer-Springer, Claudette Baptiste, Richard Buery, Janet Beaton, Gwendolyn Blackett, Joyce Bourne, Eleanor Brown, Derek Butters, Beverly Clark, Andria Clarke-Worrell, Esther Elder, Kenneth Fleary, Pearl Fox, Dolsy Greaves-Prince, Lindora Hall, Nerissa Hawker-King, Althea Howell, Lynette Hunte, Patricia Johnson, Meta Kane, Mavis King, Emmie Lambert, Raymond Maynard, Deborah McPherson, Lynette Neptune, Paul Oseni, Ashton Parris, Lucille Peters, Miriam Prince, Erene Radix, Sybil Robinson, Mavis Rose, Barbara Sammerson, Chase Semper, Frederica Smith, Jean Soso, Pauline Thomas, Ivonne Waldron, Margaret Williams, Pamela Wilson, Winslow Wilson, Ines Wyatt.

HEALING PRAYERS for SICK and SHUT-IN RELATIVES and FRIENDS: Jennifer Allen, Carmen Baez, Manuela Blot, Richard Boyce, Georgia Cameron, Cheryl Clarke, Leslie Clarke, Tiffany Clarke, Patrick Codrington, Gilberto Donaldson, Jean Desouza, Cleve Esson, Sonia Estrada, Raymond Fenty, Celia Fikes, Betty Forde-Bovell, Monica Garcia, Randy Garcia, Adrian Garner, Zie Garraway, Hazel Gittens, Taniyah Graham, Avril Green, Al Shura Hayden, Anthony Hayden, Antonette Hayden, Marlene Herbert, Vernice Hinds, Myrna Johnson, Edward Jones, Elizabeth Kane, Colleen Kane, Cyril Kane, Ika Kane, Thelma Kane, Vilima Kane, Carol Kane-Hicks, Syrrea Kane-Price, Cedric Layne, Adrienne  Le’Blanc, Delcan Lewis, Maureen Lewis, Mildred Liburd, Eloise Lord, Mary Kurkela, Igor Nelubin, Greta Niles, Howard Norman, Princess O’Garro, Jeannine Pierre-Louis, Michael Pollard, Pheobe Roberts, Rosa Russo, Joan Scott, Elias Joseph Silvero, Gamal Steele, Gail Stewart, Alana Tompkins, Philip Tudor, Gabriels Vivas, Jr., Ann Walker, Mary Forde-Walters, Bryon Wilson, Lemar Wynn.

 IN MEMORIAM +

Candles, bread and wine are given in blessed memory of Bishop Daniel Allotey who departed this life (July 28, 2025). Given by Izetta Thompson. May he continue to rest in peace and rise in glory.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

40^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Tickets for the Luncheon are available  from the following persons; Fernella Allen, Noel Browne, Marilyn Codrington, Malike Cummings, Breanah Folkes, Monica Forde, Canon Leys, Vernon Lynch, Dianne Miller, George Miller, Helen Walker and Andrea Wesley (Church Office).

Today, we welcome Reverend Father Joseph Diele as our celebrant and preacher. We pray God’s continued blessings on his Ministry.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Hosted by Izetta Thompson in celebration of Liberia’s Independence. If you would like to host on any Sunday, please contact Cynthia Daniel (Vice-Chair), Fay Hunt, Dianne Miller, Gloria Miller (Chair), Zelma Murray or Veronica Phillips.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: If you have moved or changed your telephone number, please update your contact information with the Office or ask one of the Ushers for a Membership Update Form.

OFFERING: As we move into the month of August, especially if you are going to be away, please be reminded that your continued financial support of Saint Gabriel’s is important. Please bring your offering to the Office, mail it to the Church, or send it via Zelle (SaintGabrielsBrooklyn@gmail.com). Please write checks to St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Inc.

PRACTICE OF HOLY HABITS: As a Christian Steward, I affirm that I am tithing or have adopted a plan to work towards tithing as a minimum standard of giving, and if I am not already doing so, I am committed to giving priority to Corporate Worship, Personal Daily Prayer and Study and Sabbath Time in my life.

READINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, July 29 (Mary and Martha of Bethany): 1 Samuel 25: 18 - 38 (Audrey Ottey); Psalm 36: 1 - 5; Luke 10: 38 - 42; Prayers of the People, Form V (Andrea Royal). READINGS FOR THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (August 2): Isaiah 55: 1 - 5 (Mikaylah Cummings); Psalm 145: 8 - 9, 15 - 22 (Carl Elbers); Romans 9: 1 - 5 (Nash Fraser); Matthew 14: 13 - 21; Prayers of the People, Form VI, Page 392 (Stephanie Glasgow).

SUMMER CAMP: To enroll your children in the Saint Gabriel’s Angels Summer Camp, please contact the Office to receive an application form.

SUMMER HIATUS: All Organizations and Ministries meetings will resume on September 6.

SUMMER SCHEDULE: The Holy Eucharist will NOT be celebrated on Wednesdays during the month of August.

Spiritual Theme 2026

‘Encouraging a year of growth, deep introspection, meaningful connections, and individual realignment with Christian values.’

Mission Statement

‘Expanding God’s Work in His Kingdom through Joyful Worship, Witness, Education and Outreach’

Ministers of the Church

The Very Reverend Canon Donovan Ivanhoe Leys, Priest and Rector

1.917.216.7599 / sgecpriest@gmail.com

The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano

Bishop Diocesan, Diocese of Long Island

The Reverend Doctor Adam J. Shoemaker

Bishop-Elect, Diocese of Long Island

The Most Reverend Sean W. Rowe

Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Dame Sarah Mullally

Archbishop of Canterbury and Leader of the Anglican Communion

Noel Browne and M. Helen Walker, Wardens

R. Clifford Loncke and Ivonne E. Waldron, Wardens Emeritus

Andrea Wesley, Administrative Assistant

Christopher Bryant, Organist and Music Minister

Natalee Chin and Pablo Martinez, Custodians

THE VESTRY OF OUR CHURCH

The Very Reverend Canon Donovan Ivanhoe Leys, Chair

Noel Browne (1.917.681.6312)  / M. Helen Walker (1.347.407.1364), Wardens

2027: Audrey Cox, Dianne Miller (Treasurer), Leila Reid (Secretary)

2028: Malike Cummings, Michelle McKenzie (2027), Heather Moise  

2029: Carl Elbers, Breanah Folkes, Linda Watson-Lorde