Propers and Announcements for the First Sunday after Christmas: December 28th, 2025
Feast of the Holy Innocents
- Rector’s Ramblings: A Fond Farewell
- Propers (Collects and Lessons) for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, with hymns.
- Link to “Watch this Sunday’s live-stream” on our parish website.
- Parish Announcements for the week of December 28th, 2025.
Rector’s Ramblings: A Fond Farewell
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
When I accepted the call to Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines, in 2021, I made a promise to God and myself: that I would stay for a minimum of three years, or until I had reason to believe that God was calling me elsewhere. That three year mark was met last November (2024), which happened to be the 20th anniversary of the Founding of Christ Church Anglican. The year since has included a number of indications which have led me to the inescapable conclusion that God was and is, in fact, calling me elsewhere.
Precisely where, He has not yet revealed, though there are some glimmerings. But elsewhere, indeed. So after considerable prayer and many heart-wrenching ponderings, and discussions with both the lay leadership of this parish as reflected in its Vestry, and with our Bishop, the decision has been made that this coming Sunday, the First after Christmas, will be my last as Rector of Christ Church Anglican.
This is not a determination which brings me great joy, and there are things which I wish could have worked out differently; but sometimes it is necessary for one door to be closed before another can be opened.
So while I leave you with no little regret, I also move forward into the future with considerable anticipation, and expectant curiosity to discover what God has in store for me, and for my beloved wife, Amanda. It has been our joy and pleasure to have served God and you, both as individuals and, since our marriage in June, together; and we hope that that service has helped to lead you at least a little closer to God in Christ, and to a greater appreciation of our Anglican tradition.
Because of course, we do not serve God and one another in a vacuum: even churches that are not as liturgically-oriented as we are nonetheless have customs and traditions, just as families and nations have customs and traditions; and those who abandon them are like trees cut off from their roots: much more likely to whither and die than to bring forth flowers and fruit. So I, and we, hope and pray that Christ Church may continue along the old paths, where the way is good, and where there is rest for one’s soul (Jeremiah 6:16).
It may be that a new and different priest may be able to help this parish to grow and prosper in a way which, by God’s Providence, I was not; and again, I hope and pray it may be so. Please know that Christ Church Anglican and its people will remain in my prayers, moving into the future. And I ask your prayers for me, and for my dear wife Amanda, as we seek to discern the path which God has laid before our feet, even if we cannot yet see it clearly; and that we may have both the wisdom and discernment to perceive it, and the strength and courage to walk upon it.
And so I wish you farewell, and Godspeed! The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Faithfully yours in service to our Lord Jesus Christ,
Fr. Tom Harbold
The Collect for the Holy Innocents.
O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Christmas Collect.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily, throughout the Octave.
For the Epistle. Revelation 24:1.
I LOOKED, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 2. 13.
THE angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, an be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he maw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, amid slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Hymns:
Processional Hymn: “O come, all ye faithful” – #12
Gradual Hymn: “Blessed are the pure in heart,” v. 1 & 2 – #418
[The Gospel.]
Gradual Hymn: “Blessed are the pure in heart,” v. 3 & 4 – #418
Sermon Hymn: “When Christ was born in Bethlehem” – #112
Communion Hymn: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” – #197
Recessional Hymn: “The snow lay on the ground” – #41
The upcoming YouTube live-stream will always be found at “Watch this Sunday’s live-stream,” also accessible from the menu bar at the top of the website home page. If we are not doing a live-stream for any reason, there will be a link to a past Sunday service to aid in your worship if you aren’t able to be with us in person.
If a live-stream of a Sunday service is accomplished, the audio of that Sunday’s sermon will usually be posted sometime Sunday evening on the media page on our website.
If you are visiting us: Welcome to Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines! Thank you for being with us. We are very pleased to have you join us for the service, and hope that your worship here is a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and if you wish, share your email or other contact information with us. And may God bless you!
Qualified Charitable Distributions: As the end of the year approaches, this may apply to some of our members:
“A Qualified Charitable Distribution is a way for individuals age 70½ or older to donate directly from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity, which can satisfy Required Minimum Distributions and reduce taxable income. QCDs are not reported as taxable income, meaning they provide an upfront tax exclusion and do not require itemizing deduction. The QCD must be completed by December 31st of the current calendar year” [source: Google AI].
Should you desire to make a year-end donation to Christ Church Anglican for 2025, please see Austin Chestnut, our Senior Warden and Treasurer, for details. Many thanks!