The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany January 28, 2024 8 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. Canon Bradley Varnell Celebrant The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP).
The Word of God Celebrant People
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 323 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 People Celebrant
The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and in our time grant us thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading Reader People
Deuteronomy 18:15–20
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel Priest People
Mark 1:21–28
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory be to thee, O Lord. After the Gospel reading, the Priest says
People
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to thee, O Christ.
The Sermon The Nicene Creed The Prayers of the People The General Confession
The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell page 326 Form IV, page 388 page 331
The Peace Celebrant People
The peace of the Lord be always with you. 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 Celebrant People Celebrant People Celebrant People
Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340
The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. 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 People
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; 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
page 339
The Blessing 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
Deuteronomy 18:15–20
Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own
people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak — that prophet shall die.”
The Epistle
1 Corinthians 8:1–13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
The Gospel
Mark 1:21–28
Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The Book of Remembrance This week we remember Fontaine Carrington Weems. The Beauty of Flowers The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of her parents Mary John and Ralph Spence by Judy Tate.
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, January 28, 2024 Announcements TODAY Dean’s Hour: Secondhand Religion • Our Secondhand Religion series returns today at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. Family Ministries’ Spring Fling • On Saturday, February 3, enjoy an afternoon with your Cathedral family! We’ll have a nacho bar, kid friendly games, and tons of fun. Beginning at 4 p.m., join us at the Dugat family home. For the address, please email KariAnn Lessner, Minister for Children and Families, at kalessner@christchurchcathedral.org Cathedral Book Club • A different book is discussed on the first Wednesday of the month. On February 7, we’ll be discussing Symbol or Substance: A Dialogue on the Eucharist with C. S. Lewis, Billy Graham and J. R. R. Tolkien by Peter Kreeft. For more details on this book and other reads this spring, visit: www.christchurchcathedral.org/bookclub Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper • Pancakes, then penance. Before you dig out your sackcloth and get your ashes, celebrate one last feast before Easter with the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Join us in Reynolds Hall on February 13 at 6 p.m. Register to attend or sign up to volunteer! Visit the table in the Cloister on Sundays through February 11, or via www. christchurchcathedral.org/pancakesupper Ash Wednesday • Services will be offered February 14 at 7 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and a bilingual service at 6:30 p.m. in the Cathedral. A priest will be available to offer imposition of ashes in Golding Chapel from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Cathedral Celebrates Black History Month • On Saturday, February 17, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the Justice and Peace Council will host the viewing of the documentary “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song.” After the film, the Rev. Francene Young will lead us in discussion. All are welcome, and there will be special activities for children. Learn more and register at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/celebrateblackhistory Mornings at the Museum • Contemplate the relationship of art, religion, and spirituality this spring over three Saturday morning tours at the MFAH. Each date will highlight a different collection — March 2, April 6, and May 11. Learn more and register at www.christchurchcathedral.org/ morningsatthemuseum Make your 2024 EMC Pledge • There’s still time to make your annual pledge! Submit your pledge by dropping a pledge card in the offering plate or scan the QR code to pledge online. Questions? Contact CFO Patrick Saccomanno at psaccomanno@christchurchcathedral.org or 713-220-9759. Looking for Children’s Ministry • Follow Agnus to the Jones Building: gather first in the Chapel of the Christ Child at 10 a.m. Sunday School for ages 2 years–5th grade is held on the 2nd floor following the gathering. Childcare for infants (6 weeks–5 yrs) can be found on the 1st floor, or enjoy some time on the Huffington Playground. Questions? Contact KariAnn Lessner at kalessner@ 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. Look for the guide under the crucifixion window at the rear of the nave.
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.