Christmas I
Lections: 1 Samuel 2:18-20; Psalm 148; Collossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
11:00am: Holy Eucharist/BAS
- Officiant: Reverend John Courage
- Homilist: Reverend Alfred Wareham
- Reader: Reverend Alfred Wareham, Charles Green
Hymns: 123 vs. 1 & 3; 482 vs. 1, 3, 6; 156 vs. 1, 2, 4, 6; 138 vs. 1 & 3
Table of Contents
Ministry & Mission at the Ascension
- Tax Receipts for 2021 Year: Just a reminder that if you would like your givings included on your 2021 tax receipt, you must have them dropped off to the church office no later than 12 noon on December 31, 2021. If you would like to drop them in the mail slot on the front step, they will be collected and counted by 12 noon on December 31. Givings received after this time will be included on the following year’s tax receipts. Thank you.
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Christmas Office Closure: The office will be closed during the Christmas holidays as follows:
- Closed: December 24 – December 30
- Open: December 31 from 9 – 12 (DEADLINE TO RECEIVE GIVINGS FOR 2021 TAX YEAR)
- Closed: Monday, January 3 in observance of New Year’s Day
- Open: The office will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
- Christmas Hamper Project: Thanks to all who donated to the Christmas Hamper Project this year. Hampers were delivered on Saturday, December 18 to 24 Families (67 people). Your kindness enabled these 24 families to have a Christmas meal. This is the true meaning of Christmas! Merry Christmas from the Hamper Team – Karen, Kathy, & Nickie
- Advent Packages/Help Needed: A huge thank you to all who have helped deliver the Advent packages thus far. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. However, we have approximately 50 packages not yet delivered. If you are able to help, please drop by the church to pick up some envelopes to deliver. Thank you once again.
- Christmas Memorials: If you are interested in honouring a loved one in remembrance in our Christmas Memorial Booklet, information will be accepted up to January 16, 2022. Please provide your name, envelope number and the name of the honoree. If you lit a bulb at our Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing, your loved one’s name has been added to the Memorial Booklet. Booklets will be available by January 30, 2022.
- Food Bank: We are collecting items for the food bank once again. We have a bin located in the main entrance of the church for those who would like to bring any items on Sunday, and we will also have a bin located at our side entrance for those who wish to drop their items at the church between 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday to Friday. Thank you so much.
- Church Envelope Numbers: Many of you have noticed that some of our church envelope numbers have changed. Over the past couple of years, we have reduced the number of envelopes as many numbers were not being used. This enabled us to save funds sorely needed elsewhere. If you had a number between 401 and 700, your number is changed effective January 1, 2022. Please ensure to use your new 2022 church envelopes and write your name on the envelopes so your givings can be correctly applied to your tax receipt. Thank you
- Pre-Authorized Givings: If you would like to set up pre-authorized givings, please contact the church office at 368-5693 for direction.
- Church Envelopes and Donations: Just a reminder to include your name, envelope number and amount of the giving on the envelope when you submit your donation. This will ensure you receive credit on your yearly tax receipts. Thank you.
- E-Transfer: What a great way to contribute to the parish for your weekly offering or special project! If you would like to use an alternate method of payment, please use the following email address: [email protected] and the password is church.
- CLB Take Out Lunch: Each week the CLB offers take out lunch specials on Friday. If you are interested in purchasing for your home or office group, please call 722-1737 to pre-order. Orders must be received by Thursday at 11 a.m. Free delivery for orders of five or more dinners.
- Services During the Week:
- January 2, 2022, Epiphany of the Lord: 11:00am - Holy Eucharist/BAS
Prayers of the People
Joining our voices with the heavenly host and Christians throughout time and space, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
You come to us in gatherings of your church across the globe. Today we remember the parishes of White Bay and Windsor-Bishop’s Falls and those worshiping in Central America. Unite us with those who celebrate your birth even when they are weighed down by grief, loss, poverty, hunger, or injustice. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You come to us in the diverse splendor of the universe. Grant us the humility to trust our place in the network of creation that we live in service to you and the natural world. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You come to us through relationships of many kinds: families, friendships, communities, and nations. Guide us in these relationships, that we recognize the Christ child in one another and show your love to those most vulnerable. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You come to us through people whom the world forgets. Poor shepherds and an imprisoned Paul announced your good news. Send your Spirit to all who are imprisoned, struggling with addiction, unwell, or in any need this day especially those on the Ascension Prayer Cycle. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You come to us in acts of justice and forgiveness. Open our hearts to forgive one another, without permitting injustice. Supply us with the wisdom to be clothed with love, binding all things together in perfect harmony. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
You come to us through those who have died yet live with you forever. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Rejoicing in your Word made flesh among us, we commend these prayers to you, confident of your grace and love made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Ascension Prayer Cycle: Aden, Alexa, Amelia, Amy, Angela, Ann, Annie, Aubrey, Audrey, Bertha, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Callum, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Claire, Clarence, Connie, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Derrick, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Douglas, Dulcie, Ed, Baby Edward, Edie, Edgar, Elaine, Emily, Erin, Evelyn, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, Gary, George, Gerald, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Ira, Jack, Janet, Jason, Jennifer, Jenny, John, Josephine, Joan, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie, Lori, Luke, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marion, Marylou, Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melvin, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Mona, Nancy, Oskar, Pam, Peter, Rachel, Randell, Rochelle, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Sadie, Sam, Sean, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie and Warwick.
Readings
Collect
O God, you have known us
from our mother’s womb.
You call us to follow you
through all our days
and seek us even when we wander.
Clothe us with your love,
so that we may grow in grace
and find favour in your sight;
through Jesus Christ. AMEN.
A Reading from the First Book of Samuel
Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord"; and then they would return to their home. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people. 1 SAMUEL 2:18-20, 26
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm
REFRAIN Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. R
Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He made them stand fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. R
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea-monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing his will; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds; R
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and maidens, old and young together. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name only is exalted, his splendour is over earth and heaven. R
He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. R PSALM 148
A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians
As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Reader: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour. LUKE 2:41-52
Reader: The Gospel of Christ
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Prayer over the Gifts
Good and loving God,
we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be a blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
Prayer after Communion
Radiant God,
with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal we have feasted on your grace. May your Word take flesh in us, so that we may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. AMEN.
Other Documents
Anglian Church of Canada One Licence #733242-A Book of Alternative Services The Taizé Community Book of Common Praise GIA Publications Wee Worship Book The Iona Community CCLI License # 1733318Resources for Chimes from the above sources