Dec 27th 2020 Service
Ante Communion
This morning, and for the foreseeable future, our Sunday worship offering will be what is commonly referred to as “Ante-Communion.”
Ante-Communion is the “Pro-anaphora;” “pro” meaning “before” and “anaphora” being the theological word for the 2nd half of our traditional service of Holy Eucharist or Holy Communion. In other words, it is a Eucharist service without the Great Thanksgiving at the altar and the receiving of communion by the people. Ante-Communion includes the first part of the Eucharist service up through the prayers of the people.
It has an ancient tradition in the Anglican/Episcopal church and is authorized for use on Sunday mornings by a priest who can’t have a congregation present.
Also, I want you to know that I, along with all of you, will not be celebrating nor receiving Holy Communion until we can all gather once again and celebrate together.
Pre-Prelude: Our Church Family
Prelude: Bring a Torch French Carol, arr. Ruby Shaw Hollis
The Holy Trinity Bell Choir
Hymn : #110 The snow lay on the ground Vs. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Venite adoremus
The Trinity Choir Boys, 1975 Court Dunn, Organist and Choirmaster
Opening Prayers and Collects
Hymn #96 Angels we have heard on high Verse 1 and 2
The Chancel Choir, recorded 12-24-19
From The Hebrew Scriptures Jennifer Seaver
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.
Psalm 147:13-21
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!
Sequence Hymn #109 The First Nowell The Chancel Choir, recorded 12-24-2019
The Gospel John 1:1-18
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 Homily The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry
The Nicene Creed & Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Prayers of the People Jennifer Seaver
Musical Offering: here is no rose from Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten
Cathy Stout, Julie May and Regina Pfohl, sopranos
There is no rose of such vertu As is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia.
For in this rose conteinéd was Heaven and earth in litel space, Res Miranda.
By that rose we may well see There be one God in persons three, Pares forma.
The aungels sungen the shepherds to: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth. Transeamus.
Postlude: In Dulci Jubilo J. S. Bach
