The First Sunday After Christmas: Messiah - St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church
The First Sunday After Christmas: Messiah - St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church
The First Sunday After Christmas: Messiah - St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church
Opening Acclamation
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets
are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that
we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Collect
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading 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
Refrain: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2 The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
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3 He heals the brokenhearted *
and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars *
and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
make music to our God upon the harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds *
and prepares rain for the earth;
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
in those who await his gracious favor.]
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.
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21 He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments.
Hallelujah!
Live among us, O Word made flesh, and reconcile this community to your light.
What has come into being in Christ was life, and the life was the light of all people.
May your people sing a new song for your marvelous work, as we pray in faith for ___.
Hear our gratitude for your glory manifest among us, especially for ___ .
Receive those who have died as heirs of eternal life, especially ___.
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What has come into being in Christ was life, and the life was the light of all people.
Loving and gracious Creator, from the beginning you have brightened our darkness with the
light of your life: Let your vindication shine out like the dawn, and your salvation like a
burning torch, that your Word made flesh may bring grace upon grace to all the earth, in the
power of your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Peace
The Lord’s Prayer
The Blessing
May you receive the true light which enlightens everyone, for you are children of God,
born of God.
May you testify to the Word made flesh, living among us, full grace and truth.
May the Spirit give you life, the life that is the light which shines in the darkness and
cannot be overcome.
And the blessing of our glorious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and
enlighten you, now and forever. Amen.
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Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare
him room, and heaven and nature sing.
Perhaps like me, you’ve sung this hymn for years in church, at home with your family,
gathered with friends and neighbours. Perhaps you’ve sung it to yourself in your car, on
a walk, or quietly in the dark of night.
Joy to the world!
While we may not feel joyful this year as the pandemic of disease continues to bring
sickness and death, when fear and mistrust – a darkness – threatens to overcome the
light, we, as followers of Jesus Christ, must bear joy to this aching world. We must
shine light into the darkness – Joy to the world!
Like much in our lives, proclaiming joy is difficult work – also good and essential work
– especially now. Though we mourn that which is lost in our lives, our families, and our
communities – Joy to the world!
While we strive to pull up the twisted and thorny vines of hatred and bigotry and anger
– Joy to the world!
Through streaming tears and gritted teeth – Joy to the world! – because God is breaking
into our lives and into this world anew.
While this is a strange year, the ministry He gives us remains the same. We will prepare
him room in our hearts by taking on the ministry Jesus demands of us: feed those who
are hungry; welcome the stranger; clothe those who are naked; heal those who are sick;
visit the prisoner. Love God. Love your neighbour. Sing joy into this old world. Prepare
him room.
Saint Luke writes of the first Christmas, “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn.” There, in the simplest bed, in the cool of the night, in a trough, in
bands of cloth, lies the One for whom no room was made. And yet strangely, there lies
the One whom not even the universe can contain.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come. In your hearts, in your homes, in your lives,
prepare him room.
God love you; God bless you; and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.
SPECIAL INTENTIONS
Please pray for those in distress of body, mind or spirit: Marzelle, Laura,
Dianne, Renee, Sarah, Florence, Ted, Van, Mary Hope, Shirley W.,
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Covid-19 patients, Our Nation, Jean Anthony, Jacob Blake Jr., Louis Jordan.
Darryl Fleming, Adrian, Pansy, George D., George and Matthias, and Trinity families
December Birthdays: Derrick Watkins – 2 * Rev. Juan Reed – 14 * Carolyn Cooper - 17
Rev. Mary Tororeiy – 18 * Dolores Williams Wright -22 * Jacqueline Faniel – 23
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday Service at 10 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81276874031?pwd=S2xSVTJ4T0t1RWdFUjV5NSt1MFZ5UT09
Phone: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 812 7687 4031
Passcode: 902663
.DIOCESAN NEWS
A NEW DAY!!!
On December 12th, The Rev. Canon Paula E. Clark was elected to be the thirteenth
bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. She will be the first Black person and the
first woman to hold the position. Clark, who currently serves as canon to the ordinary and
chief of staff in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, was chosen unanimously on the
fourth ballot in an election conducted on Zoom from a slate originally composed of four
candidates. She received 229 clergy votes and 284 lay votes
Clark, who is scheduled to be consecrated on April 24, will succeed Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee,
who is retiring on December 31, as bishop of a diocese that includes 122 congregations and
more than 31,000 members in northern, central and southwestern Illinois. Under the canons
of the Episcopal Church, the diocese’s Standing Committee will serve as its ecclesiastical
authority during the interim.
SERVICE HYMNS
Siyahamba, ekukanyen' kwenkos', 3 Christ, by highest heav'n adored.
Siyahamba, ekukanyen' kwenkos', Jesus, the light of the world.
Siyahamba, ekukanyen' kwenkos', Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen' kwenkos', Jesus, the light of the world. [Refrain] 8
Siyahamba, siyahamba, oh,
4 Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace.
Siyahamba ekukanyen' kwenkos'.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Siyahamba, siyahamba, oh,
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Siyahamba ekukanyen' kwenkos'.
Jesus, the light of the world. [Refrain]
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MESSIAH-ST. BARTHOLOMEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH
8255 S. DANTE AVENUE
CHICAGO, IL 60619
(773) 721-3232
Email: messiahstbarth@comcast.net
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