The First Sunday after Christmas Day
26 December 2021 11:15 A.M.
Christmas Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion The Reverend Canon Lauren R. Holder, Celebrant Voluntary Arietta (based on “Rise up ye shepherds and follow”) The Welcome
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Thomas H. Kerr (1915-1988)
THE WORD OF GOD The Processional: Hymn 102
music: Irby, melody Henry John Gauntlett (1805–1876); harm. Arthur Henry Mann (1850–1929) words: Sts. 1–2, 4–6, Cecil Francis Alexander (1818–1895), alt.; st. 3, James Waring McCrady (b. 1938)
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The Bidding Prayer 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 mission 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 all 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. And now, to sum up all these petitions, let us pray in the words which Christ himself has taught us, saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 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. The First Lesson
Genesis 3:8-15
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Read by Cynthia Lamb They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” 3
Hymn 100
music: Antioch, George Frideric Handel (German, 1685-1759) adapt. Lowell Mason (American, 1792-1872), arr. Craig Phillips (American, b.1961) words: Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748), alt.
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The Second Lesson
Micah 5:2-4 The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem. Read by Mark Siegel
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; Hymn 92
music: Personent hodie, melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582; harm. Gustav Theodore Holst (1874–1934) words: Piae Cantiones, 1582; tr. Jane M. Joseph (1894–1929)
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The Third Lesson
Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel appears to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read by Kay McPherson
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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 ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
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Hymn 265
music: Gabriel’s Message, Basque carol; harm. Edgar Pettman (1865–1943) words: Basque carol; para. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924)
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The Fourth Lesson
Luke 2:1-7 St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. Read by Mary Perrin
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Hymn 101
music: Cradle Song, melody William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921); harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) words: Traditional carol
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The Fifth Lesson
Luke 2:8-16 The shepherds go to the manger. Read by The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. Hymn 105
music: God Rest You Merry, melody from Little Book of Christmas Carols, ca. 1850; harm. Charles Winfred Douglas (1867–1944) words: London carol, 18th cent.
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The Sixth Lesson
Matthew 2:1-11 The wise men are led by the star to Jesus. Read by Timothy Gunter
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Hymn 109
music: The First Nowell, English carol, 17th cent.; harm. John Stainer (1841–1901); alt. refrain harm. and desc. Healey Willan (1880–1968) words: English Carol, 18th cent.
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The Seventh Lesson
John 1:1-14 St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation. Read by Canon Lauren Holder
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.
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Hymn 82
music: Divinum mysterium, Sanctus trope, 11th cent., adapt. Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr. Dale Adelmann words: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (384-410?), trans. John Mason Neale (1816-1866) and Henry William Baker (1821-1877), alt.
(1-2 choir alone, 3-4 sung by all. Sing using equal note values)
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The Peace
The Celebrant says
All
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
All greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Parish Notices
THE HOLY COMMUNION The Offertory The Offertory Anthem
music: Puer nobis nascitur, 14th cent. melody publ. in Piae Cantiones (1582), arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015), Unto us is born a Son words: medieval Christmas carol (c.14th century), transl. G.R. Woodward (1848-1934)
Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal: See on earth his life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal. Christ, from heaven descending low, Comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know, Be cradled in the manger. This did Herod sore affray, And grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, And slew the little childer. Of his love and mercy mild, This the Christmas story; And O that Mary’s gentle Child Might lead us up to glory! O and A, and A and O, Cum cantibus in choro [all singing in chorus], Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino [let us bless the Lord].
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The Presentation: Hymn 112
music: Cranham, Gustav Theodore Holst (1874–1934) words: Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
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The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer B, The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 367 Celebrant The Lord be with you. All And also with you. Celebrant All
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant All
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Celebrant
Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: The Sanctus and Benedictus
S 128; setting: William Mathias (1934-1992)
Celebrant
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 16
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: 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 for the remembrance of me.” Therefore, according to his command, O Father, All
We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;
Celebrant
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Breaking of the Bread: Hymn 324, stanza 2
music: Picardy, French carol, 17th cent.; melody from Chansons populaires des Provinces de France, 1860; harm. after The English Hymnal, 1906 words: Liturgy of St. James; para. Gerard Moultrie (1829-1885)
The Communion Communion Anthem
music: Stephen Paulus (American, 1949-2014), A Savior from on High words: William Ballet (English, 17th-century)
O sweet was the song the Virgin sang When she to Bethl’em Judah came, And was delivered of a son, And Jesus was his name. Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby. “O sweet babe,” sang she, “my son.” And so a Savior is born, Who was given from on high To visit us that were forlorn. Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby.
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All sing the
Communion Hymn 107
music: In dulci jubilo, German carol, 14th cent.; harm. Charles Winifred Douglas (1867-1944) words: John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt.
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The Postcommunion Prayer Celebrant Let us pray. All Almighty and everliving God, 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 for ever. Amen. The Blessing
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The Processional: Hymn 87
music: Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847); adapt. William H. Cummings (1831-1915) words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), alt.
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The Dismissal Deacon All
Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God.
Voluntary Noël Suisse (Grand Jeu et Duo)
Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
All music is reprinted by permission under ONE LICENSE (license number A-717455). Music from The Hymnal 1982 © Church Publishing, Inc., unless noted otherwise below: Hymn 92 words © G. Schirmer Inc.; music used by arrangement with G. Schirmer Inc. Hymn 102 words: stz. 3 © 1982 James Waring McCrady; music © 1957 Novello & Co. Ltd. Hymn 105 words by permission of Fleming H. Revell Co. Hymn S-128 by permission of Oxford University Press.
THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP
The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler, Dean Dale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music The Reverend Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Community and Education The Reverend George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar The Reverend Catherine Zappa, Canon for Liturgy and Pastoral Care The Reverend Julia B. Mitchener, Priest Associate The Reverend Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries The Reverend Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate Mr. Del King, Senior Warden Mr. Samuel T. Wilmoth, Junior Warden 2744 Peachtree Road, NW ∙ Atlanta, GA ∙ 30305-2920 ∙ (404) 365-1000 www.cathedralATL.org
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