The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 4, 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.
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Reader People
Isaiah 40:21–31
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel Priest People
Mark 1:29–39
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 Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell
The Nicene Creed
page 326
The Prayers of the People
Form IV, page 388
The General Confession
page 331
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 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
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
Isaiah 40:21–31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The Epistle
1 Corinthians 9:16–23
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
The Gospel
Mark 1:29–39
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
The Book of Remembrance This week we remember Roland Lee Lillie. The Beauty of Flowers The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Scott Cawley by his family.
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, February 4, 2024 Announcements TODAY Dean’s Hour: Secondhand Religion • Our Secondhand Religion series returns today at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. 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. Caregivers Gathering • Those in care giving roles are invited to gather for a time of mutual support, connection, and a sharing of resources and ideas. Join us in Jeffers Conference Room in person or virtually on the 3rd Thursday, February 15, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Contact Minister for Pastoral Care, Claire Soard, at csoard@christchurchcathedral.org for more information. 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.