Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Nativity
Prelude: Trumpet Tune for Organ, Op. 879 Carson Cooman Juliana Witt, organ
Processional Hymn Please stand and join in singing #106 in the blue hymnal Christians, Awake, Salute the Happy Morn (vs. 1, 2 & 5)
# 106 verse 1 Christians, awake, salute the happy morn whereon the Savior of the world was born; rise to adore the mystery of love, which hosts of angels chanted from above; with them the joyful tidings first begun of God Incarnate and the Virgin s Son.
# 106 verse 2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, who heard the angelic herald s voice: Behold, I bring good tidings of a Savior s birth to you and all the nations on the earth: this day hath God fulfilled his promised word, this day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.
# 106 verse 5 Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ our grateful voices to proclaim the joy; trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss, from his poor manger to his bitter cross; treading his steps, assisted by his grace, till our first heavenly state again takes place.
Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen
Celebrant: 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. People: Amen.
Please join in singing Gloria #96 in the blue hymnal
#96 verse 1 Angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night, and the mountains in reply echoing their brave delight. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
#96 verse 2 Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer? What great brightness did you see? What glad tidings did you hear? Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
#96 verse 3 Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
#96 verse 4 See him in a manger laid whom the angels praise above; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while we raise our hearts in love. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Let us pray.
Celebrant: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. People: Amen.
First Lesson: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 A Reading from Isaiah. The readings are also printed in the bulletin.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 147: 13-21 Book of Common Prayer 804
13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; * praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; * he has blessed your children within you.
15 He has established peace on your borders; * he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends out his command to the earth, * and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool; * he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; * who can stand against his cold?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; * he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, * his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21 He has not done so to any other nation; * to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah!
Second Lesson: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 Reading from Galatians. The readings are also printed in the bulletin.
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn Please stand and join in singing #88 hymn in the blue hymnal Sing, O Sing, This Blessed Morn (vs. 1-3)
#88 verse 1
#88 Refrain
#88 verse 2
#88 Refrain
#88 verse 3
#88 Refrain
Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. People: Glory to you, Lord Christ Gospel: John 1:1-18 The readings are also printed in the bulletin.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
(John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Rev. Dr. Wayne V. Whitney
Holy Baptism (From Common Worship of the Church of England)
Celebrant: People of God, will you welcome for baptism and uphold them in their new life in Christ? All: With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The Profession of Faith
Celebrant Let us affirm together our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Celebrant Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist? All: I believe and trust in God the Father.
Celebrant Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature, died for us and rose again? All: I believe and trust in God the Son.
Celebrant Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known to the world? All: I believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit.
Celebrant This is the faith of the Church. All: This is our faith. We believe and trust in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit..
The Prayer over the Water
Celebrant Praise God who made heaven and earth. All: Who keeps his promise forever..
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Celebrant: We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
Celebrant: We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son, we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Celebrant: Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, may be cleansed from sin and born again. Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and forever. People: Amen.
The Baptism
Celebrant: _, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.
The Signing of the Cross
Celebrant: --, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ s own forever. People: Amen.
The Welcoming into the Church
Celebrant: Let us welcome the newly baptized. People: We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you. Please share a sign of Christ s peace with your neighbors.
Announcements Please be seated
Offertory: On this Day Earth Shall Ring! By Jane M Joseph/Personet hodie, 1582 Melissa Iglesias, soprano
Please stand and sing The Doxology: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving: Book of Common Prayer, page 367 Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. (Here a Proper Preface is said or sung.) 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:
Please join in Singing The Sanctus # S130 in the blue hymnal From Deutche Messe, F.P. Schubert (1797-1828), Arr. Richard Proulx (b. 1937)
# S130 Sanctus
Celebrant: We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son.
Celebrant: For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
Celebrant: On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Celebrant: After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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.
Celebrant: Therefore, according to his command, O Father: Celebrant and People: We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;
Celebrant: And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
Celebrant: We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant.
Celebrant: Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with [. and] all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
Celebrant: 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. People: AMEN.
Celebrant: And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:
Celebrant and People: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Please join us in singing The Fraction Anthem S164 in the blue hymnal From Deutche Messe, F.P. Schubert (1797-1828), Arr. Richard Proulx (b. 1937)
Celebrant: The Gifts of God for the people of God.
The Invitation to Communion All who seek God are welcome to the Lord s Table to receive the Bread and Wine of Christ s Body and Blood. Even if you do not seek God, God seeks you. For those with special needs, you may receive either the Bread or Wine, standing or kneeling. You may also receive a gluten free wafer upon request. If you would prefer a blessing instead of communion, fold your arms across your chest.
Communion Music God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman English Melody, Arr. Marilyn Thompson Juliana Witt, piano
Communion Hymn Please join in singing #81 in the blue hymnal Lo, How a Rose e er Blooming (vs. 1-3)
#81 verse 1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming, as seers of old have sung. It came, a blossom bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.
#81 verse 2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when half spent was the night.
#81 verse 3 O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; true man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load.
Communion Hymn Please join in singing #112 in the blue hymnal In the Bleak Midwinter (vs. 1-4)
# 112 verse 1 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
# 112 verse 2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.
# 112 verse 3 Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
# 112 verse 4 What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him - give my heart.
Celebrant and People: Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Celebrant and People: Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
Recessional Hymn Please stand and join in singing #87 in the blue hymnal Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (vs 1-3)
#87 verse 1 Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
#87 verse 1 (cont. d) Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King!
#87 verse 2 Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb.
#87 verse 2 (cont. d) Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with us to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King!
#87 verse 3 Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
#87 verse 3 cont. Risen with healing in his wings, light and life to all he brings, hail, the Sun of Righteousness! hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn King!
Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude: Fanfare and Toccata on The First Noel Dennis Janzer (b. 1954) Juliana Witt, organ