The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 18, 2022 11 a.m.
We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship. To learn more about the ministries we share in this place, you are invited to fill in one of the welcome cards found in the pew rack.
The Cathedral is equipped with a hearing loop for assisted listening via telecoil.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite One
The Rev. Bradley Varnell, Canon Missioner for Community Life and Young Adult Ministry Celebrant
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral! Masks are available at all welcome tables, and the south transept (to the right) usually has room for those desiring physical distancing. We are glad you are here!
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
Opening Voluntary Prelude on Veni, Emmanuel Leo Sowerby (1895-1968)
Choral Introit Tone VII V. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. R. Let the earth open up and bring forth a Saviour.
Hymn 56 (verses 1-6)
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
The Word of God
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. BCP page 323 People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity and the Summary page 323 Trisagion S 102 Alexander Archangelsky (1846–1924)
The Trisagion is sung three times, first by the cantor and then twice by the congregation and choir.
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with thy spirit. Celebrant Let us pray. We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Isaiah 7:10–16
Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 80:1-7, 16 -18 Simplified Anglican chant
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a / flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the / cherubim. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Man/asseh, * stir up your strength and come to / help us.
Restore us, O God of / hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be / saved.
O L ORD God of / hosts, * how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your / people?
You have fed them with the bread of / tears; * you have given them bowls of / tears to drink. You have made us the derision of our / neighbors, * and our enemies laugh us to / scorn.
Restore us, O God of / hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be / saved. Let your hand be upon the man of your / right hand, * the son of man you have made so strong for your/self. And so will we never turn a/way from you; * give us life, that we may call upon your / Name.
Restore us, O L ORD God of / hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be / saved.
The Second Reading Romans 1:1–7 Hymn 66 Stuttgart Alleluia Tone II
V. Alleluia. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. R. And His name shall be called Emmanuel. Alleluia.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 1:18–25
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory be to thee, O Lord.
After the Gospel reading, the Deacon says The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise be to thee, O Christ.
The Sermon
The Very Rev. Gary Jones, Interim Dean
The Nicene Creed page 326
The Prayers of the People Form II, page 385
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And with thy spirit.
The People greet one another in the name of the Lord, after which the people are seated for brief announcements.
The Holy Communion
Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
At the Offertory
Anthem
Basque Carol; arr. Malcolm Archer (b.1952)
The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; “All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favoured lady.” Gloria!
“For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honour thee, thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favoured lady.” Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head. “To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said. “My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.” Most highly favoured lady; Gloria!
Of her, Immanuel the Christ was born in Bethl’em, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say, “Most highly favoured lady.” Gloria!
–The Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924)
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340 Sursum Corda S 112
Sanctus and Benedictus Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612)
Missa Super Dixit Maria
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 341
Fraction Anthem
Alleluia. Christ our Passover … Agnus Dei
Missa Super Dixit Maria
Hans Leo Hassler
The Prayer of Humble Access page 337 We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand and the Wine either by drinking from the cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.
At the Administration Anthem Hans Leo Hassler Dixit Maria ad angelum: Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Mary said to the angel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me, according to your word.”
— Luke 1:38
Prayer after Communion page 339
The Blessing
Hymn 74 Valet will ich dir geben The Dismissal Deacon Let us bless the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Closing Voluntary Toccata on Veni, Emmanuel Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941)
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
The Old Testament Isaiah 7:10–16 Again 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.”
The Epistle
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.
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.
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Clyde Barrington Holloway.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Robert C. and Madie M. Richter by Bob Richter Jr. The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Cherry Gulledge by her children and grandchildren.
