The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 18, 2022 8 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 Holy Eucharist: Rite One
The Rev. John Pitts, Assisting Priest Celebrant
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
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 page 324 Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.
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.
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 General Confession page 331
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.
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer II, page 340
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with thy spirit. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them up unto the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. People It is meet and right so to do.
Sanctus and Benedictus
Celebrant and People
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 341
The Holy Gospel Matthew 1:18–25
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
You do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Holy Communion. Communion is received either kneeling or standing 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; ask at the altar rail.
Prayer
after Communion page 339
The Blessing
The Dismissal
Celebrant Let us bless the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
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.
The Gospel Matthew 1:18–25
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.
Christmas Services
Gran Posada and Sancocho Supper, Sunday, Dec. 18
6 p.m. In-Person, Reynolds Hall
The Longest Night, Wednesday, December 21
5 p.m. Sign up in advance to attend online via Zoom
6 p.m. In-Person
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24
4 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo, (Pageant)
6 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in Spanish, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
8 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
11 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
1 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in Spanish, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
WATCH LIVE AT WWW.CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG/CHRISTMAS
Welcome Sunday, December 18, 2022
Announcements
TODAY
Welcome • If you are new or visiting Christ Church Cathedral, we are honored to have you worshipping with us. Please make yourself at home, and let us know how we can be helpful. Also, please fill out one of the welcome cards in the pews, and drop it in an offering plate or give it to a clergy person or usher. Call, visit, or email (info@christchurchcathedral. org) anytime. You are always welcome here.
Charlie Brown Christmas • Grab your security blankets and join Linus and your Cathedral family for our annual screening of A Charlie Brown Christmas. This event is for children of all ages, and children at heart. Join us this morning at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
Gran Posada • This evening we welcome you for a warming and enlightening Sancocho Supper. We’ll break bread together and enjoy sancocho, a traditional Dominican soup, as Jasminne Mendez, Dominican-American poet, playwright, translator and award-winning author of several books for children and adults, shares her work. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. in Reynolds Hall.
The Longest Night • Not just for those in mourning, The Longest Night services on December 21 are for those who are struggling in dark days to find meaning and joy. This contemplative prayer service provides a space for reflection on loss and hope. 5 p.m. via Zoom and 6 p.m. in person. Details at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/longestnight
Parish Retreat • Come to a relaxing weekend retreat at Camp Allen in the piney words just north of Houston. Reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and renew your relationship with God. All are welcome to join. The retreat takes place Jan. 13-15. Registration and details available online at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/parishretreat
Las Posadas • Members from all congregations gather in people’s homes across Houston to commemorate the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. Join us each night December 16–23 from 7 until 9 p.m. Contact Sylvia Garcia for details at: sgarcia@christchurchcathedral.org
Cathedral Choir Cabaret • The Cabaret is an evening of fabulous entertainment with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and singing by your choir. It will be held January 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall with proceeds supporting the travel scholarship fund. The Cathedral Choir will be taking our song and voices to Ireland in July 2023 and would appreciate any donations to the Cabaret Silent Auction. Contact Wick Rowland, wickr@ mac.com with questions or donations. Additional details and registration for the event are available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/cabaret
Looking for Children’s Ministry • Follow Agnus to the Jones Building where you can find Sunday School at 10 a.m. for ages 2 years – 5th grade, as well as childcare for infants (6 weeks – 5 years), or the Huffington Playground. Have questions? Contact KariAnn Lessner at kalessner@christchurchcathedral.org
Make Your 2023 EMC Pledge • There’s still time to make your annual pledge. We invite you to join us as we renew our commitment to our beloved Cathedral in time, talent, and treasure. To submit your pledge, simply drop a pledge card into the offering plate or visit www.christchurchcathedral.org/pledge to pledge online. If you have questions, contact Minister for Stewardship Karen Kraycirik at kkraycirik@christchurchcathedral.org or 713-590-3338.
For more information about these and other events at the Cathedral, visit www.christchurchcathedral.org.
After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332
The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan
The Rt. Rev. Kai Ryan, Bishop Suffragan
The Rt. Rev. Hector Monterroso, Assistant Bishop The Very Rev. Gary Jones, Interim Dean The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar The Rev. Simón Bautista Betances, Canon Missioner for Latino Ministries and Outreach
The Rev. Becky Zartman, Canon Missioner for Evangelism and Formation
The Rev. Bradley Varnell, Canon Missioner for Community Life and Young Adult Ministry
The Rev. Edward L. Stein, Assisting Priest Robert L. Simpson, Canon for Music Daryl Robinson, Cathedral Organist Matthew R. Dion, Organ Scholar Lucy Chambers, Bookstore Manager
1117 Texas Avenue • Houston, Texas 77002 • 713-222-2593 christchurchcathedral.org
Weekday Services
Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m., Monday-Friday on Zoom Evening Prayer, 6 p.m., Monday- Friday on Zoom Oración del mediodía, Mediodía, lunes y jueves en Facebook Contemplative Prayer, 11:15 a.m., Mondays in Mellinger Room Holy Eucharist, Noon, Wednesdays in Golding Chapel Bilingual Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m., Wednesdays in Golding Chapel Links available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/weekdayservices
Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.
