St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Welcomes You
In the name of Jesus Christ,
welcome to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church,
an open and affirming congregation
in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
You are welcome here
if you are married or single, for we will partner with you;
· if you are a parent or a child of one, for we are all family together;
· if you know what you believe or have no idea what you believe, for we are one in our longing for deeper knowledge of God;
· if you are from this place or a stranger from far away, for we were all once strangers ourselves;
· If you are straight or gay, black or white, rich or poor . . .
No matter who you are, we welcome you, praying that you will find here what you seek. In fact, we pray that you will find here the love that is Christ’s law – love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things – knowing that God’s love is bigger than anything we can ask or imagine.
All people – adults and children – who are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ are welcome to receive Communion.
Moreover, we invite you to share freely with us in all aspects of worship. Everything you need for today’s service is included in this booklet, with the exception of hymns. Hymns are listed in this leaflet and above the pulpit and can be found in the blue Hymnal 1982.
Additional information can be found on the back page of this leaflet.
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
545 South East Avenue (708) 386-5613 Oak Park IL 60304
www.stchristophersoakpark.org
The Very Rev. J. Paris Coffey, Rector
Mr. L. Richard Sobak, Organist and Choirmaster
The People of St. Christopher’s, the Ministers
December 19
Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite I
Page numbers refer to the red Book of Common Prayer in the pew and hymn numbers to the blue Hymnal 1982. An * indicates when to stand
*Opening Sentences The Book of Common Prayer, page 323
*Kyrie eleison page 324
*Collect of the Day
Hebrew Reading (page 4 of this leaflet)
Psalm (page 5 of this leaflet)
New Testament Reading (page 5 of this leaflet)
*Gospel Reading (page 6 of this leaflet)
Sermon The Very Rev. Paris Coffey
*Nicene Creed (page 7 of this leaflet)
Prayers of the People The People kneel or stand, if able. page 328
Today’s specific intercessions begin on page 13 of this leaflet.
*Exchange of Peace page 331
The loose plate offering each Sunday is designated for the Rector’s Discretionary Fund for outreach needs. To specify an outreach gift, please use the envelope in your pew and mark accordingly.
*The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer I page 333
Lord’s Prayer page 336
*Breaking of the Bread and Communion page 338
*Prayer after Communion, Blessing and Dismissal page 339
Serving today:
Chalice Bearer: Holly Burt Acolyte: Holly Burt
Usher/Greeter: Ed Mampre Lector: John Ramsey
Altar Guild: Debbie Graves, Ellen Robinson
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite II
As the time for worship draws near, the people gathered are invited to observe time for silent reflection. Please silence cell phones & pagers.
Prelude
LITURGY OF THE WORD
All stand, if able, and join in the following hymn in the Hymnal 1982.
Opening Hymn #56 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni Emmanuel
Presider Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen
Lighting of the Advent Wreath By the Schoenmeyer Family:
Joel, Ruth and Sophie
Ruth We light the candle of hope, announcing that God’s light is coming into the world.
A family member lights a purple candle.
Joel We light the candle ofpeace, proclaiming that God’s promises will be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ –
Prince of Peace.
A family member lights a purple candle.
Sophie We light the candle of joy, celebrating that God’s saving power is coming into the world.
A family member lights the pink candle.
Ruth We light the candle of love, praying that the Spirit of God’s love – revealedin the Childborn in Bethlehem – will shine through us, bringing light into the shadowy places of this world.
A family member lights a purple candle
All God of hope, peace, joy and love:
Guide our path through gloom of night;
Bear within us Wisdom’s glory;
Come to us, O Christ the Light.
Kyrie eleison Healey Willan
Hymn #S91 from The Hymnal 1982, used with permission of Church Publishing
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
PresiderLet us pray.
All Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The People sit for the readings and psalm.
Reading from Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted."
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Gregorian Chant
Please note that you are to sing two pitches on the italicized words,
and four pitches on all final syllables of the last phrase.
1 Cantor
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading / Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned up/on the cherubim.
2 All
In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, / and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and / come to help us.
3 Cantor
Restore us, / O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, / and we shall be saved.
4 All
O / LORD God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the / prayers of your people?
5 Cantor
You have fed them with the / bread of tears; *
you have given them / bowls of tears to drink.
6 All
You have made us the derision / of our neighbors, *
and our enemies / laugh us to scorn.
7 Cantor
Restore us, / O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, / and we shall be saved.
16 All
Let your hand be upon the man of / your right hand, *
the son of man you have made / so strong for yourself.
17 Cantor
And so will we never turn a/way from you; *
give us life, that we may / call upon your Name.
18 All
Restore us, / O LORD God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, / and we shall be saved.
Reading from the New Testament: Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
All stand, if able, to sing the sequence hymn on the following page, turning to face the Gospeller for the reading of the Gospel.
Sequence Hymn “Prepare the way of the Lord” Taizé
The cantor sings the verses and all sing repeat the refrain below:
The Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Reader The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Response Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Reader The Gospel of the Lord.
Response Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon The Very Rev. Paris Coffey
Nicene Creed Said by all, standing, if able.
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.
Prayers of the People The response is, “Come, O Lord, and save us.”
Leader As we wait with pregnant expectation for the coming of Jesus, let us offer prayers to God who sends his Son in the womb of a virgin.
For the peace of the world, and for our unity in Christ.
Come, O Lord, and save us.
For Katharine our Presiding Bishop, Jeffrey and Victor our Bishops, Paris
our rector, Richard our organist/choirmaster, our members, staff and
visitors; and for all the holy people of God. Come, O Lord, and save us.
For the church throughout the world and the faithful in every place.
Come, O Lord, and save us.
For Barack our President, Patrick our governor, for the leaders of all nations, and all in authority. Come, O Lord, and save us.
For justice, peace and freedom among peoples of the earth – especially, O God of glory, who wants us to serve you in freedom and in peace – for guidance for the people of south Sudan as they vote for their future, praying that no matter what they decide, all Sudanese will be safe in their country, Come, O Lord, and save us.
For the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison; for travelers, the sick and suffering, and all in need, including those we now name . . .
You are encouraged to offer aloud your own intercessions.
. . . and for ourselves, our families, companions, and all those we love.
Come, O Lord, and save us.
For the dying and the dead, including those we now name . . .
You are encouraged to offer aloud your own prayers for the departed.
. . . and for all who rest in Christ. Come, O Lord, and save us.
For our deliverance from all addiction, affliction, strife, and need.
Come, O Lord, and save us.
For all the blessings of this life, including the birthdays this week of Elise Lessing (12/25); for the anniversary of Jennifer & Butch Roder (12/24); and for other blessings we now name . . .
You are encouraged to offer aloud your own thanksgivings.
. . . for these and other prayers of our hearts offered to God, we join our voices with the Blessed Virgin Mary and with all the saints and angels of God, offering ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ. To you, O Lord our God.
All Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver, desire of all nations
and savior of all peoples: come and save us, O Lord our
God. Glory to you for ever. Amen.
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
All (kneeling, if able)
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.