The First Sunday after Christmas
29 December 2024
The Holy Eucharist – Rite II
(Note: H=Blue Hymnal / BCP=Red Book of Common Prayer)
The Word of God
Procession Hymn H 450
Acclamation BCP 355
Gloria H S280
Salutation and Collect BCP 325
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 for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson – 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.
The Response – Psalm 147:13-21
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
he has blessed your children within you.
He has established peace on your borders; *
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; *
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
who can stand against his cold?
He sends forth his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob, *
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments.
Hallelujah!
The Second Lesson – Galations 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Sequence Hymn H 632
The Gospel – John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Sermon The Rev. Nancy Gill
The Nicene Creed BCP 358
The Prayers of the People
After each petition,
Layreader: O living God,
People: glory and praise to you.
For the Universal Church, its members, and its mission:
For Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Poulson, our Diocesan Bishop; Nancy, our Vicar; the members of our Bishop’s Committee
For the Claremore Ministerial Alliance
For the Northeast Oklahoma Clericus
For St. Paul’s, its mission, ministry, and people
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer for St. James’, Oklahoma City
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer for The Episcopal Church
For the nation and all in authority:
For Joe, our President, and the Congress; Donald, the President-elect, Kevin, our Governor and the Legislature; Debbie our Mayor and the City Counsel; and the judicial system
For our service men and women around the world and all those in harm’s way, especially Connor, John, Josh, Steven, and Cooper
For this community:
For all students, teachers, & administrators, especially Christina, Hannah, Zach, Cara, and Shelby
For all public safety officers, especially Dale and Michael
For those who have asked for or are in need of our prayers:
For Ani/ Chris/ Mike/ Brian/ Mark H/ Ron H/ Rose/ Brady/ Zachary/ Donna/ Vernon/ Corey/ Janie/ Rick/ Lillian/ Carol Sue/ Erin/ Mike/ Don/ Pauline/ Doris/ Stephen/ Jim/ Tjode/ Traci/ Rusti/ Joyce L/ Justin/ Robert/ Lenny
For those who have died:
The Confession of Sin BCP 331
The Peace BCP 360
The Holy Communion
The Offertory – Every 3rd Sunday, all undesignated offerings in the offering plate go to the ministry fund (formerly the discretionary fund).
Offertory Hymn H 437
Doxology
(“Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen”)
Eucharistic Prayer B BCP 367
Sanctus H S125
Fraction Anthem BCP 364
The Invitation to Communion
All people are welcome to receive Communion at Saint Paul’s. This is the table, not of the Church, but of God. It is here for those who love God and who want to love God more. So, come, you who have much faith, and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who are new. Come, because it is our Lord who invites us. It is God’s will that those who want him should meet him here.
Post-communion Prayer BCP 366
Blessing
Procession Hymn H 631