We are so glad you chose to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with us this morning. Our worship is a balance of Scripture, Spirit and Sacrament. It is our prayer that you will experience an authentic connection to the Lord today. HEARING RECEIVERS AVAILABLE. PLEASE SEE USHER FOR ASSISTANCE. Church Information Address: 701 Kensington Drive, Rockwall, TX 75032 Phone: 972-772-5525 Website: www.transformationac.org Hours: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday 1
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: Lessons & Carols December 30, 2018 Call to Worship Celebrant And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11) Joy To The World! A Bidding Prayer Celebrant Dear People of God: In this Christmas Season, let it be our duty and delight to hear once more the message of the Angels, to go to Bethlehem and see the Son of God lying in a manger. Let us hear and heed in Holy Scripture the story of God s loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption brought to us by his holy Child Jesus, and let us make this place glad with our carols of praise. But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world, for peace and justice on earth, for the unity and missions of the Church for which he died, and especially for his Church in our country and in this city. And because he particularly loves them, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and unloved, the aged and little children, as well as those who do not know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and that whole multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in Jesus, we are one for evermore. 2
Celebrant The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above, may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen. I Wonder As I Wander Proclaim the Word of God First Lesson (Sit) Genesis 3:1-15 (Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden) 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" 3
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." What Child Is This? Second Lesson (Sit) Isaiah 7:10-15 (God promises that a child shall be conceived who will be known as God with us ) 10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." 13 And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night Third Lesson (Sit) Luke 1:26-58 (The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of the Most High ) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall 4
call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. 57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 5
Away In A Manger Lesson Four (Sit) Luke 2:1-20 (Jesus is born at Bethlehem and is worshiped by angels and shepherds) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 6
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Lesson Five (Sit) Hebrews 1:1-12 (In the fullness of time, God sent his Son whose reign is forever and ever) 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God s angels worship him." 7 Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire." 8 But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." 10 And, "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end." The Nicene Creed Celebrant and People We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from 7
Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Ministry of the Sacrament The Peace Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And with your spirit. Celebrant Let us offer one another a sign of peace. [Please exchange the peace with those immediately around you as an act of worship; the Sanctus bells will be rung to signal the end of this time.] Pew Books: VISITORS AND MEMBERS, please be sure you fill the pew book out completely with address, zip code, etc.; without this information we have no way of welcoming visitors and making address changes for members. Prayer Request: If you wish, you may complete the Thanksgiving and Prayers form inserted in this bulletin for inclusion in our Corporate Prayers at the Offertory and our Intercessory Prayer time during the week. The Offertory (Sit) Celebrant Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 8
We encourage you to use offering envelopes for tax purposes. If you do not currently have offering envelopes or have forgotten to bring same, please ask an usher for one. Call 972-772-5525 if you would like a set of numbered envelopes. Offertory Anthem (Sit) Ensemble (Food offerings may be brought to the front of the Church.) Doxology The Sursum Corda Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with your spirit. 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 our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary his mother, was made truly man, yet without the stain of sin, so that we might be cleansed from sin and be given the right to become your children. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: The Sanctus Celebrant and People The Prayer of Consecration Celebrant (Sit) 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 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 9
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. Alleluia! 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, so that he may dwell in us and we in him. And bring us with all your saints into the fullness 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 forever. Amen. And now as our Savior Christ taught us, we are bold to sing: Lord s Prayer Celebrant and People 10
The Fraction The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept. Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. 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. Fraction Anthem All Baptized Christians are invited to communion. Please extend both hands to receive the bread and assist the server by guiding the chalice to your lips. If you do not desire the cup, leave the bread in your hand. The server will dip it in the wine and return it to you. For those not receiving communion, you are welcome to come for a blessing by crossing your arms over your heart. PRAYER MINISTRY: After receiving communion, Prayer Teams are available through the door to the right of the altar. Communion Music O Little Town of Bethlehem Silent Night The Post Communion Prayer Celebrant Let us pray. Celebrant & People 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 forever. 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 11
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. Recessional Good Christian Men Rejoice The Dismissal Deacon Alleluia, alleluia! Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia! Ministers - Congregation The Most Rev. Foley Beach, Archbishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood, Bishop The Rev. Don McLane, Pastor The Rev Bob Hackendorf, Assisting Priest The Rev. Bill Schulgen, Deacon John Shaver, Executive Director of Ministries Jennifer Horan, Nursery Director STAFF Randy Wills, Music Director Anne Horan, Parish Administrator ADVISORY COUNCIL Jim Blevins, Rick Maneval, Tom Ryan; Sharon Figueroa, Senior Advisor; and Dan Liane, Treasurer PROPERS FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018 OT Isaiah 60:1-9 Psalm 72 NT Ephesians 3:1-13 Gospel Matthew 2:1-12 SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS December 30, 2018 TODAY 10:30 a.m...lessons, Carols & Eucharist* MONDAY/TUESDAY Church Office closed THURSDAY 9:30 a.m Women s Bible Fellowship-Crolls Home SATURDAY 7:30 a.m...men s Bible Study 10:00 a.m..shawl Ministry Please call the Church office at (972) 772-5525 for more information regarding any of these meetings. *Nursery Provided. 12