PRELUDE
OPENING HYMN Go, Tell it on the Mountain Hymn #99
Go tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go tell it on the mountain,
that Jesus Christ is born!
1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Refrain
2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Refrain
3 Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessèd Christmas morn.
Refrain
Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Celebrant
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are
hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Good Christian Friends, Rejoice Hymn #107
1 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
2 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss;
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door,
and we are blest for evermore.
Christ was born for this!
3 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Celebrant
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant
that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.
First Lesson Isaiah 61:10-62:3
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.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
The Word of the Lord Response: Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 147: 13-21 Please read in unison
13 Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
he has blessed your children within you.
15 He has established peace on your borders; *
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends out his command to the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool; *
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
who can stand against his cold?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, *
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21 He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments.
Hallelujah!
EPISTLE Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith
would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so
that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer
subject to a disciplinarian.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under
the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive
adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of
his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a
child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
The Word of the Lord. Response Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL HYMN Awake My Soul Hymn #11
1 Awake, my soul, and with the sun
thy daily stage of duty run;
shake off dull sloth, and early rise
to pay thy morning sacrifice.
2 Lord, I my vows to Thee renew.
Disperse my sins as morning dew;
guard my first springs of thought and will;
and with Thyself my spirit fill.
3 Direct, control, suggest, this day,
all I design or do or say,
that all my pow’rs, with all their might,
in Thy sole glory may unite.
4 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise Him all creatures here below;
praise Him above, ye heav’enly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
GOSPEL John 1:1-18
Gospeler The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
People Glory to you Lord Christ.
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. (John testified to him and
cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me
because he was before me.'”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon
grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to
the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
The Gospel of the Lord. Response Praise to you Lord Christ
SERMON
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin
Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death
and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Form I
(Leader and People pray responsively.)
Leader: With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “Lord,
have mercy.”
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our
souls, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have
mercy.
For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to
the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this city, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray
to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve
it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners
and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us
pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to
the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of Mark and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one
another, and all our life, to Christ our God. To thee, O Lord our God.
Celebrant:
Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who
now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty;
even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
CONFESSION
Celebrant/Deacon: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Celebrant:
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus
Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in
eternal life. Amen.
THE PEACE
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Please greet one another with a sign of peace.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Following the announcements, the ushers will collect this week’s offering.
OFFERTORY/PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING – Eucharistic Prayer B
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant
It is right, and a good and joyful think, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father
Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Because you sent your beloved Son to
redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that
when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may
without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.
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:
Sanctus – Holy Holy Holy The Hymnal 1982, Service Music, #124
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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.”
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,
Celebrant and People:
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory.
The Celebrant continues
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 Mark and 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 him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is
yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
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, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD/FRACTION
Celebrant Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Response Therefore let us keep the feast.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION:
Celebrant: The gifts of God for the people of God.
All are invited to God’s table. Receive the bread with outstretched hands. You may
sip from the chalice or lightly dip the wafer into the wine. (Please use hand sanitizer
available in the aisle.) If you prefer a blessing, cross your arms over your chest as a
signal to the ministers.
COMMUNION HYMN Strengthen for Service, Lord Hymnal #115
1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading. [Chorus]
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him. [Chorus]
POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
Celebrant Let us pray.
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
THE BLESSING
The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN The Snow Lay on the Ground Hymn #110
1 The snow lay on the ground, the stars shone bright,
When Christ the Lord was born on Christmas night.
Venite, adoremus Dominum,
Venite, adoremus Dominum.
Refrain:
Venite, adoremus Dominum,
Venite, adoremus Dominum.
2 ‘Twas Mary, Virgin pure of holy Anne,
That brought into this world the God made man.
She laid him in a stall at Bethlehem;
The ass and oxen shared the roof with them. [Refrain]
3 Saint Joseph, too was near to tend the child,
To guard him, and protect his mother mild:
The angels hover’d round, and sang this song:
Venite, adoremus Dominum. [Refrain]
4 And thus that manger poor became a throne;
For he whom Mary bore was God the Son.
O come, then, let us join the heav’nly host,
To praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. [Refrain]
DISMISSAL
The congregation is dismissed.
Celebrant/Deacon: Let us bless the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Please join us for coffee in the Fellowship Room of the Community Building.
————————————-
Welcome to St. Mark’s! During the service, please assume the postures of prayer and
devotion as best suits your ability. If you are able, please stand for the Gospel, singing
hymns, and the prayers. Kneeling and sitting are also appropriate for the prayers of
the people and the Eucharistic prayers. Remember, the posture of your heart is more
important to God than the position of your body.
Ministry Assignments for December 29, 2024
Acolyte: TBD
Lay Readers: Judy Rudd and Carol Williamson
Chalice Bearers: Jim Rudd and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber
Tech Table: Gary Welch
Ushers: Ginny Tuxhorn and Carol Williamson
Counters: Tony Rubino and TBD
Open/Close: TBD
Coffee Hour: Jackie and Jim Hoskinson (coordinating)
Altar Guild: The Welch family and Janet Reuter
Interim Organist: Joel Hootman
We have openings for coffee hour. Please sign up to help on the bulletin board sheets
next to the church office. The sign-ups for flowers and candles are there also.
If you are unable to serve on your date, please find your substitute and notify the
church office.
LOVE. GROW. SERVE
Outreach at St. Mark’s: Make a difference right now
Hope4Riverside Ministry
Hats, gloves, and socks are solicited for grades PK through 12 th for the students of Mad
River Local Schools. These items are being collected for these needy students through
the month of November. Please drop your donations off in the narthex. Thank you.
Neighborhood Bridges
Using the platform created by Neighborhood Bridges, which identifies specific needs for
individuals in participating school districts, we will be meeting urgent personal needs
for students at Riverside’s Mad River Local Schools. The Outreach Committee will be
choosing different “Opportunities for Kindness” which will be announced in church, and
inviting parishioners to participate by donating the requested items the following week.
This program connects us directly to neighbors who need support in concrete and
manageable ways. For more information about Neighborhood Bridges, visit
https://www.neighborhoodbridges.org. For questions about fulfilling needs selected by
the Outreach Committee, see the flyers in your pew or email Justine Kelly.
Canterbury Court
Episcopal Retirement Services is proud to offer rent-subsidized, affordable senior living
communities that provide a variety of options and services not often found in communities
for seniors with limited incomes. As part of ERS, Canterbury Court, an affordable housing
community in West Carrollton, is looking for volunteers to join it in its mission to enrich the
lives of its seniors. Contact Jim Rudd for more information.
CARE House
CARE House involves a partnership between Dayton Children’s Hospital, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Dayton Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s
Office and Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services- Children’s
Services Division. In addition to these founding partners, all law enforcement agencies
in Montgomery County partner with CARE House for their child abuse investigations. We
accept donations of individual snacks, small water bottles, stuffed animals (huggable
sized), and gift cards (gas, Walmart, fast food) and pass them on to CARE House.
Christian Formation Calendar (Sundays)
Senior High Youth classes — 9:30 a.m.
Junior High Youth classes — 10:10 a.m.
Nursery/Young Children classes — 10:30 a.m.
Adult Forum classes — 9:30 a.m.
Recycle this bulletin!
Share it with a friend. This is a great way to introduce our service to someone who
may be searching for a church home. It’s easy evangelism.
Sign up for Coffee Hour and/or Flowers and/or Candles
There are many blank spaces available for your name. Please sign up!
St. Arbuck’s Coffee Ministry
Join members of the church and surrounding community for conversation
on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. We meet through December
18 at the Kroger Starbucks on Woodman. Beginning January 8,
we begin meeting at the Starbucks Store on Indian Ripple Road (next
to the car wash).
********************************************
On-line Giving to St. Mark’s
To pay your pledge or donate for an event follow these instructions: Text
“LIONGIVING” to 73256 to give using your mobile device.
This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages,
text STOP.
If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP.
Standard text message and data rates may apply.
Policy – https://legal.acst.com/privacy-policy
Terms of Service – https://legal.acst.com/terms-service-use
OR: Use the camera app on your smartphone and hover over the
QR code below. Select the “browser” option and you can pay
your pledge or make a donation there.
Policy – https://legal.acst.com/privacy-policy
Terms of Service – https://legal.acst.com/terms-service-use
St. Mark’s is a parish in the Diocese of Southern Ohio,
which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Vestry
Libby Nicholson, Senior Warden
Kendall Rubino, Junior Warden
Jackie Hoskinson
Jim Rudd
Mary Sones
Patricia Tallman
Jenna Walch
Don Nancarrow, Treasurer
Dave Reuter, Recorder
————————————-
Our Mission Statement:
“We gather for worship, education and mutual support;
welcome all people; and serve the community in God’s name”.
A prayer for St. Mark’s in a time of transition:
O Lord, Father of life and change, of new and old: You gifted us with abilities to speak and listen, to hear and decide, to choose and know. We thank you for teaching us how to used these abilities, though we must at times remember to combine them with patience. Remind us to speak with kindness, to listen to understand, to hear all voices, to decide on what is just and true, to choose the path of peace, and to know we are not alone. Be with us in this time of transition, that it is as effective as it is unsettling, as comforting as it is confusing. And never leave our side on the journey ahead, as we strive for an unknown destination. In the name of your Son Jesus, who walks alongside us, we pray. Amen.
(written by Elizabeth Wagner-Weber)
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
456 Woodman Drive
Dayton, OH 45431
Email: st_marks@ameritech.net
Office Phone: 937-256-1082
Resources:
Website: https://stmarksdayton.org,
Facebook: St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Dayton OH
Instagram: St Mark’s Dayton
Licensing for music use and streaming:
One License – #A-740839: Annual license with podcasting;
B – 26 to 100 average weekend attendance.
To read a copy of the latest Vestry Minutes, click HERE.
(NOTE: Password Protected.)
For more announcements, click HERE.
Dave Reuter – Webmaster
webmaster@stmarksdayton.org
——————————–
