First Sunday after the Epiphany January 8, 2023
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. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar 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
Gloria in Excelsis page 324
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with thy spirit. Celebrant Let us pray.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan didst proclaim him thy beloved Son and anoint him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
The First Reading Acts 10:34-43
Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
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 Rev. Bradley Varnell, Canon Missioner for Community Life and Young Adult Ministry
The Nicene Creed page 326
The Prayers of the People Form VI, page 392
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 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 go forth in the name of Christ. People Thanks be to God.
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
The Old Testament Isaiah 42:1-9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
The Epistle Acts 10:34-43
Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Gospel Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Barbara Puffer Speir.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Scott Cawley by his family. The flowers in the floor vases are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Donald McDonald by his children.
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
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.
We Three Kings Cake Sunday Funday • All ages are invited to celebrate the season of Epiphany with king cakes and a reading of Home by Another Way: A Christmas Story by Barbara Brown Taylor. Join us this morning at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
Epiphany Evensong • Christ Church Cathedral invites you to a choral evensong featuring the Cathedral Choir to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany this evening, January 8, at 5 p.m. in place of The Well. This special service will begin with an organ recital by Jeong-Suk Bae at 4:15 p.m. To learn more or to watch online, please visit: www. christchurchcathedral.org/epiphanyevensong
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 January 13-15. Registration and details available online at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/parishretreat
Bible Studies • An array of Bible studies begin in January and February. Learn about your options at and how to participate at: www.christchurchcathedral. org/biblestudies
How to Bible • Have you ever started to read the Bible but quit somewhere in Numbers? Ever wonder what is going on in the Sunday readings? This sixweek course is an introduction to scripture. Absolutely no prior knowledge required, and there is nothing that you “should” know. An excellent follow up class to The Anglican Way. Led by The Rev. Becky Zartman. Sundays, January 15 thru February 19 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. in Sanders Hall.
Annual Parish Meeting • The parish meeting takes place each year. It includes the annual financial report of the church, the year-in-review of the parish and the election of new vestry members, officers of the parish, and council delegates. January 22 at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall.
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. Visit the cloister table between services or contact Wick Rowland, wickr@mac.com for details and registration information, or visit: www.christchurchcathedral.org/cabaret
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 Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, 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 Lucy Chambers, Bookstore Manager
1117 Texas Avenue • Houston, Texas 77002 • 713-222-2593 christchurchcathedral.org
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.
