The Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2023 9 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. We are glad you are here! The Cathedral is equipped with a hearing loop for assisted listening via telecoil.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two The Rev. Canon Bradley Varnell Celebrant The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
Opening Voluntary
Prelude on Winchester New
Alan Bullard (b.1947)
Hymn 56 (verses 1, 5, and 6)
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
The Word of God Celebrant People
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 355 And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity Trisagion S 102
page 355 Alexander Archangelsky (1846–1924)
The Trisagion is sung three times, first by the cantor and then twice by the congregation and choir.
The Collect of the Day Celebrant People Celebrant
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Reader People
Hymn 75
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Ascension
The Holy Gospel Priest People
John 1:6-8,19-28
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, Lord Christ. After the Gospel reading, the Priest says The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
People
Children’s Sermon and Lighting of the Advent Wreath KariAnn Lessner, Minister for Children and Families
The Sermon
The Rev. Elizabeth Parker, Assisting Priest
The Nicene Creed
page 358
The Prayers of the People
Form IV, page 388
The General Confession
page 360
The Peace Celebrant People
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
The people greet one another in the name of the Lord, after which the people are seated for brief announcements.
The Holy Communion Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
At the Offertory Anthem
Marty Wheeler Burnett (b.1961)
Come, thou long-expected Jesus born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king, Born to reign in us for ever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art: Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne. — Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
The Great Thanksgiving Celebrant People Celebrant People Celebrant People
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God, source of life abundant. From before time you made ready the creation. Your Spirit moved over the deep and brought all things into being: sun, moon, and stars; earth, winds, and waters; and every living thing. You made us in your image, and taught us to
walk in your ways. But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away; and yet, as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us. Time and again you called us to live in the fullness of your love. And so this day we join with saints and angels in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity, lifting our voices to magnify you as we sing:
Sanctus and Benedictus S 129
Robert Powell (b.1932)
The Eucharistic Prayer continues Glory and honor and praise to you, holy and living God. To deliver us from the power of sin and death and to reveal the riches of your grace, you looked with favor upon Mary, your willing servant, that she might conceive and bear a son, Jesus the holy child of God. Living among us, Jesus loved us. He broke bread with outcasts and sinners, healed the sick, and proclaimed good news to the poor. He yearned to draw all the world to himself yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love. Then, time came for him to complete upon the cross the sacrifice of his life, and to be glorified by you. On the night before he died for us, Jesus was at table with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again, he gave thanks to you, gave it to them, and said: “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Now gathered at your table, O God of all creation, and remembering Christ, crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come, we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice. Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ. Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation, the Body of Christ given for the world you have made. In the fullness of time bring us, with all your saints, from every tribe and language and people and nation, to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
page 364
The Breaking of the Bread Celebrant People
Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand 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; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.
At the Administration Anthem
David Ashley White (b.1944)
The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit, and always green: The trees of nature fruitless be compared with Christ, the apple tree. His beauty doth all things excel; by faith I know, but ne’er can tell The glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ, the apple tree. For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought: I missed of all; but now I see ’tis found in Christ, the apple tree. I’m weary with my former toil, here I will sit and rest awhile: Under the shadow I will be, of Jesus Christ, the apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ, the apple tree. — anon., from “Divine Hymns and Spiritual Songs,” Joshua Smith, 1784
Prayer after Communion
page 365
The Blessing Hymn 76
Winchester New
The Dismissal Priest People
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Closing Voluntary
Epilogue on Winchester New
Eric Thiman (1900-1975)
Refreshments are available in Reynolds Hall.
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary The Old Testament
Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion — to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient continued on next page
continued from previous page ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 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.
The Epistle
1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
The Gospel
John 1:6–8, 19–28
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. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The Book of Remembrance This week we remember Clyde Barrington Holloway. The Beauty of Flowers The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Robert C. and Madie M. Richter by Bob Richter Jr. The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Cherry Gulledge by her children and grandchildren. 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. Please be advised that our services are livestreamed to Vimeo and Facebook. Your participation in the service serves as your consent to the broadcast of your image and voice and to the broadcast of the image and voice of your participating minor children.
Welcome
Sunday, December 17, ,2023 Announcements TODAY Christmas Movie: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” • During the 10 o’clock hour all parishioners are invited to join us in Reynolds Hall for a viewing of the Christmas classic, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” There will be popcorn and spiced cider, as we reflect on how to create more kindness in our world and await the coming of the Christ child. Gran Posada and Sancocho Supper • All are welcome to join this evening at 5:45 p.m. in Reynolds Hall, as we break bread and enjoy sancocho, a traditional Dominican soup. Following the meal, we’ll journey together as the Cathedral grounds become our home for the Las Posadas walk. Mendeliz will provide the music, and we’ll have seasonal treats for all ages. 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 713-220-9759. Las Posadas • All are welcome to commemorate the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. Join us each night through Dec. 23 from 7-9 p.m. in various locations. For details visit: www.christchurchcathedral.org/posadas The Longest Night Service • This a tender, candle-lit service that provides a reflection on loss and hope. Join us in the Cathedral on Wed., Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. as we hold space for sorrow and struggles alongside joy. This service will also be livestreamed for those who may not be able to attend in-person. Annual Parish Retreat at Camp Allen • Join your Cathedral family for the Parish Retreat at Camp Allen, Jan. 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. 17, 24, and 31 or Jan. 7. To register or learn more: www.christchurchcathedral.org/parishretreat Costa Rica Mission Trip • The deadline for registering for the mission trip to Costa Rica is Jan. 12. The mission trip is for adults, high school youth, and eighth graders in confirmation class. To register visit: www. christchurchcathedral.org/youthcostarica 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 Cathedral offices will be closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 • The Cathedral offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday Monday, Dec. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 26. Offices reopen with regular hours Wednesday, Dec. 27. After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332