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Celebrant |
The Rev. Dr. John Agbaje |
Lectors |
Elizabeth Wagner |
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Music Director |
Donna Larsen |
|
Gary Welch |
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Soloist |
Laura Leach |
Tech |
Katherine Wagner |
Welcome!
We hope that you will join fully in this time of
prayer, song, and renewal,
and that you will be blessed by the One
who has sent his Son this night as the perfect Christmas gift!
Prelude
Five Carols
Hymn 102 in The Hymnal 1982
“Once in Royal David’s City”
Irby
1 Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
2 He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.
3 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing round,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
where his saints his throne surround:
Christ, revealed to faithful eye,
set at God’s right hand on high.
Celebrant The word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
All And we beheld his glory.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Most merciful and loving God, you have made this day holy by the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, and by the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Grant that we your people may enter with joy into the celebration of this day, and may also rejoice for ever as your adopted sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Celebrant Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
All Glory to God for ever and ever.
Hymn 96 in The Hymnal 1982
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
Gloria
1 Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their brave delight.
Refrain Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Refrain
3 Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 2:1-20
All Glory to you, Lord Christ.
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.
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.
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
So this is Christmas
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
The rich and the poor ones
John Lennon – So This Is Christmas Lyrics
In this world of sin Christ was born for us. Born to share God’s love and bring us peace. Even though Christmas is very commercialized today, but we must focus on the God’s love in sending his Son to us. Christmas is not about shopping or sales. It is about love.
At Christmas, God showed mercy on all of us. He came to lift us up from sin.
Christmas reminds us that salvation comes only from Jesus.
We are to ask Jesus to descend to us tonight. We are to ask the Baby born in Bethlehem to cast out sins and enter into our hearts.
With Christ’s birth we have the blessed assurance that God hears our cry. Not only to help us individually but also to help our world. He comes to bring us the blessings God the Father has planned for us and the Blessing God the Son holds in His hand to brighten our life.
Through Christ the glory of God will shine. He is our Savior who has brought us peace and joy.
As He enters our hearts we are to receive him happily. We are encouraged to let our hearts awake and thank God for the gift of Baby Jesus who is our everlasting King. Christmas reminds us of how humble Jesus was. One who was with God when this world was created. One who was of one substance and nature as of God came down to be like you and like me.
To affirm His lowliness further, and in spite of Christ’s majesty, His birth was in a manger and the shepherds were the first He revealed Himself to.
Our call is to adore him praise him and pay homage to him as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Let us all go out and tell it to everyone that Christmas is about the love of God for each of us and for our world.
Amen.
Meditation
“Sussex Carol”
Ralph Vaughn Williams
The Nicene Creed
(BCP p. 358)
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
worshipped 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
Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest;
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our glory is to stand before the world as your own sons and daughters. May the simple beauty of Jesus’ birth summon us always to love what is most deeply human, and to see your Word made Flesh reflected in those whose lives we touch. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you
Hymn 111 in The Hymnal 1982
“Silent Night”
Stille Nacht
1 Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
3 Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant 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 sins,
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant May God, who in the Word made flesh joined heaven to earth and earth to heaven, give you his peace and favor.
All Amen.
Celebrant And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.
All Amen
Hymn 100 in The Hymnal 1982
“Joy to the World”
Antioch
1 Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven,
and nature sing.
2 Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
let us our songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills
and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Dismissal
The congregation is dismissed.
Celebrant Let us bless the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Postlude
“Angels We Have Heard On High”
Todd Kendall
Christmas Flowers
Fred & Phyllis Berta In Memory of their sisters, Karyl Danford and Kathleen Kovach; and beloved friend Paul Stover.
Larry & Joy Brown In Thanksgiving for their blessings
Hayward Jones In Memory of Betsy Jones
Libby Nicholson In Memory of those whose lives were lost due to the
coronavirus in 2020
In Thanksgiving for healthcare workers who have worked
tirelessly to combat the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and who
have cared for our loved ones who have suffered alone and in
isolation because of it.
Ann & Howard Phillips In Memory of Jim Garwood
Dave & Janet Reuter In Memory of our parents
In Thanksgiving for our family and our parish leadership
Elizabeth Wagner In Memory of Daniel L. Babcock
Mike & Katherine Wagner In Memory of Bill, Bettie, Jim, & Ed Veazey;
Bob & Betty Wagner
In Thanksgiving for Michael & Colleen, Elizabeth & Sean
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To read a copy of the December 17 Vestry Minutes, click HERE
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St. Mark’s Vestry
Senior Warden: Gary Welch
Junior Warden: Katherine Wagner
Treasurer: Don Nancarrow
Secretary: Dave Reuter
Vestry Members:
Carol Nancarrow, Tracey Swartz
Susan Kendall
Kendall Rubino, Jenna Walch
St. Mark’s Staff
Transitional Priest in Charge The Rev. Dr. John Agbaje
Parish Administrator Katherine Wagner
Music Director Donna Larsen
Sexton Douglas Plummer
Webmaster Dave Reuter
Look for us…
On the web: www.StMarksDayton.org
Facebook: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio
Instagram: stmarksdayton
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