Welcome Home To Your . . .
Your Local & Global Queer Church Community for All A Positive Worship Experience Theme for Today Christmas: Poetry, Proclamation, and Purpose Christmas Day December 25th 2023 All Are Welcome!
Service of Praise
Service of Gathering Welcome
Opening Hymn
Rev Dr Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister Rev Dr Robert Griffin, Executive Minister
Announcement
Deck the hall with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Rev Dr Anne Atwell Minister of Connections Please rise as you are able.
Introit
Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly
Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la la la la, la la la. Troll the unknown Yuletide carol, fa la la la la, la la la la.
In the Bleak Midwinter (NCH)
In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan Earth stood hard as iron Water like a stone. Snow had fallen Snow on snow on snow In the bleak midwinter Long, long ago.
See the blazing Ule before us, fa la la la la, la la la la. Strike the harp and join the chorus, fa la la la la, la la la la. Follow me in merry measure, fa la la la la la, la la la. While I tell of Yuletide treasure, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Angels and Archangels May have traveled there Cherubim and Seraphim Thronged the air; But only his Mother In her maiden bliss Worshiped the beloved With a kiss.
Fast away the old year passes, fa la la la la, la la la la. Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, fa la la la la, la la la la. Sing we joyous all together, fa la la la la la, la la la. Heedless of the wind and weather, fa la la la la, la la la la.
What could I offer Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would give a lamb. If I were a magus I would do my part. But what I can I offer? Offer all my heart.
Opening Prayer - (BCP, adapted)
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of your Incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives through Christ the Lord.
Sunshine Cathedral Affirmation
Amen.
Sunshine Cathedral is a different kind of church where: *Our God is love. *Kindness is our worship. *Compassion is our prayer. *The sacred value of all people is our creed; and *Healing the hurts caused by hatred is our mission.
Sung Response
Adeste Fideles
Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes, venite, venite in Bethlehem, Natum videte regem angelorum. Venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus dominum.
The Call to Worship One: This is the day that has been made. All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Sing, choir of angels, sing in exultation, O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; glory to God, all glory in the highest. Venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus dominum.
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Please be seated.
Service of Proclamation
Prayer Chorus
O We Believe in Christmas
O we believe in Christmas, and we keep Christmas day; and we will honor Christmas the ancient worldwide way: the Christmas of all peoples, the sun’s returning cheer rung out from towers and steeples at midnight of the year.
A Poem by Marian Swinger Rev Dr Anne Atwell It never snows at Christmas in that dry and dusty land. Instead of freezing blizzards, there are palms and drifting sands, And years ago a stable and a most unusual star And three wise [ones] who followed it, by camel, not by car, While, sleepy on the quiet hills, a shepherd gave a cry. He’s seen a crowd of angels in the silent starlit sky. In the stable, ox and ass stood very still and calm And gazed upon a baby, safe and snug in Mary’s arms. And Joseph, lost in shadows, face lit by an oil lamp’s glow Stood wondering, that first Christmas Day two thousand years ago.
Shine out ye lights of Christmas from hearth and tree and star! And let the warmth of Christmas shed kindness near and far! And clang, ye bells of Christmas, upon the frosty air! And may the joy of Christmas spread gladness everywhere! Pastoral Prayer Bidding Prayer Children of God, let us pray for the needs of the whole world – for peace on earth and goodwill among all people; for unity and concord within this parish and for blessings to flow into our community, our nation, and the whole world.
In these human words, God's voice is heard. Thanks be to God. Please rise as you are able. Sung Response Angels from the Realms of Glory, (NCH)
And because this of all things would rejoice the heart of Jesus, let us remember the poor and challenged, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children, and those who seek spiritual peace, comfort, strength or guidance.
Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; as you sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth: come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, give thanks and sing.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light (+), that multitude which no one can number, who are held forever in the love of God. Sign of Peace Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child
(+) A Reading from Luke’s Gospel (2.7) Rev Dr Anne Atwell
Service of Sacraments
Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Sacrament of Sharing (Tithes & Offerings) Stewardship Prayer
One: Because we value our community and believe in our inspired mission, because we want every person to live with hope and joy, and because we know that even a little can mean a lot, we participate in the Sacrament of Sharing, the joyful giving of resources meant to help more and more people discover that they are God’s miracle and not God’s mistake.
In these human words, God's voice is heard. Thanks be to God. Sung Response
Angels from the Realms of Glory (NCH)
Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear, suddenly your prayers attending, Christ beside you shall appear: come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, give thanks and sing.
All: We give what we can and do so with love. Every dime and every dollar given with the intention to bless others will make a difference in someone’s life. This brings us joy, and in this way, we worship. God bless our gifts to faithful service, for the sake of your love. Amen.
Please be seated. The Anthem Grown-Up Christmas List By David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner Performed By Sara Burns
Offering Music Listen to the Angels Arr Mark Hayes - Performed By Jihong Adams-Park Rise as you are able.
Homily Rev Dr Durrell Watkins Christmas: Poetry, Proclamation, and Purpose Altar Call and Anointing
Rev Kevin Tisdol
Doxology Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains: Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo, glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Please rise as you are able.
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Sacrament of Hospitality
Communion Song God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
We Remember Wes Brooks Chuck George Ray Dillinger Jeff Adams Valariee Morris Kurt Depetris George Lane
12/24/2003 Norman McLean 12/24/2004 Fernando Herrea 12/25/1995 Bob Astbury 12/27/1986 Arnold Thomas 12/28/1994 Wayne Bennett 12/28/1998 Paul Bass 12/28/2005
God rest ye merry, gentle souls, let nothing you dismay! Remember Christ will bring love’s light the dawn of Christmas day, To heal us all from weariness when we have gone astray.
12/28/2008 12/29/1991 12/29/1996 12/29/1998 12/29/2014 12/30/2014
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. God rest you, queer and questioning, your anxious hearts be still, Believe that you are deeply known and part of God’s good will For all to live as one in peace; the global dream fulfilled.
Intercessions Rev Dr Anne Atwell One: For the Sunshine Cathedral Global Fellowship and local congregation, for all who are on our prayer list, for our loved ones, for world and community leaders, and for our own needs.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
One: With people all over the world we pray – All: May peace prevail on earth.
God rest your mind, O humankind, let strife and conflict cease. Remember love is active here, and only to increase, To carry us to well-springs of God’s joyous hope and peace.
Let us now continue to pray as Jesus modeled: Model Prayer
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
Creator which art in heaven, hallowed be thy names. Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And leave us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kin-dom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Please rise as you are able. The Prayer of Protection
Please be seated. The Lord’s Supper Invitation to Communion
Rev Kevin Tisdol
The light of God surrounds us; the love of God enfolds us. The power of God protects us; the presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are, God is.
Rev Dr Robert Griffin Rev Dr Anne Atwell
One: These are the gifts of God for all the people of God. All: Thanks be to God.
Benediction
Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Final Song
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth its praises bring; let every heart prepare Christ room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Christ fills the world with truth and grace, and Makes the nations proves the glories of God’s righteousness and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love. Commissioning One: Our worship has ended. Let our service begin! All: Thanks be to God! Postlude
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Barbara Ramcharitar
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Sunshine Cathedral Church Affiliates
The Cathedral Staff
Divine Science Federation International Council of Community Churches International New Thought Alliance Metropolitan Community Churches
1480 SW 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 954.462.2004 SunshineCathedral.org
Sunshine Cathedral Programming
Executive Leadership Team
Administration Ministry Assisted Living Facility Ministry Broadcasting Ministry Center for the Performing Arts Local & National Partnership Ministry Food Sharing Ministry Global Fellowship Ministry Global Justice Institute Partnership Music Ministry SAGE - Friendly Visitor Program Samaritan Institute Sunshine Social Services - SunServe Social Justice Ministry Advisory Team Sunshine Cathedral Foundation Wellness Ministry Worship Ministry
Rev. Durrell Watkins, DMin, Senior Minister Rev. Robert Griffin, DMin, Executive Minister Rev. Anne Atwell, DMin, Minister of Connections Rev. Kevin Tisdol, Minister of Education Mr. Darren Loli - Director of Communications Mrs. Sara Burns, Co-Director of Worship Arts & Vocalist Ms. Barbara Ramcharitar, Co-Director of Worship Arts & Organist
Artists-in-Residence
Jessica Borbone, Vocalist Gabe Salazar, Vocalist Aaron Ball, Vocalist Teresa Flores, Percussion Felipe Diaz, Percussion Laura Gonzalez, Violin David Suarez, Flute Jihong Adams-Park, DMA, Pianist Kurt Litzenberger, Set/Sound & Lighting Phi McChesney, Handbell Director
Sunshine Cathedral Partnership
Support Ministries Leaders
American Red Cross | South Florida Region BOLD Justice Broward House Broward Women's Chorus Campbell's Company Care Plus Care Resource The Cupboard - Kosher Pantry Feeding South Florida Fort Lauderdale Seventh-Day Adventist Church Gateway Terrace Apartments Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida Happening Out TV Network Homeless Outreach - Hollywood Latinos Salud Medflo (ALF) Opera Fusion Our Fund The Pantry of Broward Paradise Manor (ALF) Presidential Place (ALF) Pride Center Project Lifeline (United Way) Publix The Residences at Equality Park SAGE Salvation Army - Fort Lauderdale Chapter South Florida Hunger Coalition TLC Little Free Pantry Unlimited Healthcare Williamsburg Landing (ALF) Women in Distress
Rev. BK Hipsher, DMin, Virtual Minister Rev. Kurt Krieger, Seasonal Members Chaplain Rev. Marian Cavagnaro, Hospice Chaplain Rev. Ren Bell, Hospice Chaplain Rev. Lynda Pantoja, Interfaith Spirituality Rev. Margarita Rodriguez, Minister of Spiritual Companionship Deacon Ed Huckemeyer, DD, Diaconal Minister of Pastoral Care Deacon Jean Johnson, Community Chaplain Deacon Lydya Chapman, Women’s Ministries Deacon Michael Karban, Diaconal Minister of the Chancel Deacon Sue Gallagher, EdD, Teaching Associate Peggy Brereton, Usher Team Leader Trevor Stewart, Bookkeeper
Consultant
Rev. Elder Don Eastman, Systems & Leadership
Officers of Sunshine Cathedral Board of Directors Gary Grieve, Chair, Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Vice-Chair; Linda Edin, Secretary; Lynda Pantoja,Treasurer, BOD@sunshinecathedral.org
Chair of Sunshine Cathedral Foundation Phil McChesney Info@SunFound.org
Sunshine Cathedral Two Sunday morning services 9:00am & 10:30am (Live Broadcast) Sunday 5:00pm in Second Life 1480 SW 9th Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 954.462.2004
Note: Sunshine Cathedral is not liable for any vehicle incident, including acts of nature, while attending any events. CCLI - Copyright: 11274929 | CCLI - Streaming Plus: 20947089 CCLV - Video: 21-03857842
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