Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
January 29, 2023
8:00 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. Bradley Varnell, Canon Missioner for Community Life and Young Adult Ministry 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.
Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and in our time grant us thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
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. Becky Zartman, Canon Missioner for Evangelism and Formation
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 Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.” “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
The Epistle 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Fontaine Carrington Weems.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of her parents Mary John and Ralph Spence by Judy Tate.
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, miércoles y viernes 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
Welcome
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Announcements
TODAY
Beyond “Bellhops of History*” – Unpacking and Reanimating the Treasures of Christian Tradition • Join Interim Dean Gary Jones for a four-part Dean’s Hour series about how signs and sacraments are sources of power and portals to a deeper life that is only dimly intuited or altogether ignored in our over-busy, hyper-rational, and materialistic society. Sundays January 29; February 5, 12, and 19, at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. *Thanks to Pittman McGehee, The Invisible Church, for this image.
How to Bible • This six-week course is an introduction to scripture led by Canon Becky Zartman. Sundays, through Feb 19 beginning at 6:15 in Sanders Hall. No registration - just show up!
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
Cathedral Book Club • A different book is discussed the first Wednesday of the month. On Wednesday February 1 our book will be Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship, by Catherine Raven. Everyone is welcome to attend and join the discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. Contact Louise Langford at llangford@christchurchcathedral.org to learn how to participate.
Pastoral Care Lunch & Care • Volunteers will gather for a light lunch, a brief discussion on building a culture of care, and work on cards to send to members who need to hear we remember and love them. New volunteers are welcome! February 5, 12:20-2 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. Questions? Contact Claire Soard at: csoard@christchurchcathedral.org
Seed Group • Our Seed Group is an excellent way for middle school youth to connect for fellowship and bible study. We will meet during the season of lent for fun and small group discussion that takes a deep dive into questions about faith. Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m., beginning February 21. Contact Marcia Quintanilla with questions at: mquintanilla@christchurchcathedral.org
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 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
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral!
We are blessed by your presence. If you are new to the Cathedral, please fill out the WELCOME card in your pew and put it in the offering plate or give it to an usher. Or feel free to contact the Cathedral offices at 713-222-2593 and let the receptionist know that you would like to learn more about our community.
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.
