The First Sunday after Christmas December 31, 2023 8:00 a.m. We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship. To learn more about the ministries we share in this place, you are invited to fill in one of the welcome cards found in the pew rack.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite One The Rev. Elizabeth Parker, Assisting Priest Celebrant The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP).
The Word of God Celebrant
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
BCP page 323
People
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity and the Summary
page 323
Gloria in Excelsis
page 324
The Collect of the Day Celebrant
The Lord be with you.
People
And with thy spirit.
Celebrant
Let us pray.
Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Reader
The Word of the Lord.
People
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel
Isaiah 61:10–62:3
John 1:1–18
Priest
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People
Glory be to thee, O Lord. After the Gospel reading, the Priest says The Gospel of the Lord.
People
Praise be to thee, O Christ.
The Sermon
The Rev. Elizabeth Parker, Assisting Priest
The Nicene Creed
page 326
The Prayers of the People
Form IV, page 388
The Peace Celebrant
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People
And with thy spirit. The People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Holy Communion Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
The Great Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340
Celebrant
The Lord be with you.
People
And with thy spirit.
Celebrant
Lift up your hearts.
People
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Celebrant
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
People
It is meet and right so to do.
Sanctus and Benedictus Celebrant and People Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Eucharistic Prayer continues
page 341
The Breaking of the Bread Celebrant
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
You do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Holy Communion. Communion is received either kneeling or standing at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand, and the Wine either by drinking from the Cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; ask at the altar rail.
Prayer after Communion The Blessing
page 339
The Dismissal Priest People
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary The Old Testament
Isaiah 61:10–62:3
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 Epistle
Galatians 3:23–25; 4:4–7
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 Gospel
John 1:1–18
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.
The Book of Remembrance This week we remember Donald McDonald.
Weekday Services Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m., Monday-Friday on Zoom Evening Prayer, 6 p.m., Monday- Friday on Zoom Contemplative Prayer, 11:15 a.m., Mondays in Mellinger Room Holy Eucharist, Noon, Wednesdays in Golding Chapel Links available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/weekdayservices
Welcome
Sunday, December 31, 2023 Announcements TODAY There is still time to fulfill your 2023 EMC pledge and to pledge for 2024 • Submit your pledge by dropping a pledge card in the offering plate or scan the QR code to pledge online. To pay a remaining pledge balance you can make a payment online, via PayPal, or even text to give by visiting: www.christchurchcathedral.org/give Questions? Contact CFO Patrick Saccomanno at psaccomanno@christchurchcathedral.org or 713-2209759. Starry Night Express • On Sunday, January 7, stargazers of all ages are welcome to join the Houston Museum of Natural Science in their Discovery Dome. Find constellations, planets, the Moon, and more from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Reynolds Hall. Each showing is 20 minutes, and will be offered in both English and Spanish. Registration is recommended: www. christchurchcathedral.org/starrynight Epiphany Evensong • On Sunday, January 7, join the Cathedral Choir to celebrate the feast of Epiphany. Invite a friend to start the new year with an evening of beautiful music and prayer. There will be an organ recital at 4:15 p.m., and the service will begin at 5 p.m. in place of The Well. A reception will follow Evensong, and everyone is welcome. Costa Rica Mission Trip • The deadline for registering for the mission trip to Costa Rica is January 12. The mission trip is for adults, high school youth, and eighth graders in confirmation class. To register visit: www. christchurchcathedral.org/youthcostarica Annual Parish Retreat at Camp Allen • Join your Cathedral family for the Parish Retreat at Camp Allen, January 12-14, 2024. Reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and renew your relationship with God. Questions? Stop by the cloister table on Sundays, Dec. 31 and Jan. 7. To register or learn more: www.christchurchcathedral.org/parishretreat Dean’s Hour: Secondhand Religion • Our Secondhand Religion series returns January 14 at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. Dean Katz shares more on spiritual ancestors whom we celebrate as saints, whether living or dead. Annual Parish Meeting • The Cathedral’s annual parish meeting will be held Sunday, January 21 during the 10 o’clock hour in Reynolds Hall. All are welcome to hear an update on the Cathedral and elect new vestry members. Live translation of English to Spanish will be available. Childcare is available during worship services • Follow Agnus the Lamb to the Jones Building where you can find childcare for various ages (6 weeks–5 yrs). Have questions? Contact KariAnn Lessner at kalessner@christchurchcathedral.org For more information about these and other events at the Cathedral, visit www.christchurchcathedral.org. After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral! We are blessed by your presence. If you are new to the Cathedral, please fill out the W E L C O M E card in your pew and put it in the offering plate or give it to an usher. Tours of the Cathedral are available every Sunday following the 11 a.m. service and on the third Sunday of each month after the 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. services. If you would like a tour, meet the tour guide by the eagle lectern.
Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.