The First Sunday after Christmas Day (Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity): 29 December 2024
Contents:
- Propers (Collect and Lessons) for the First Sunday after Christmas Day, with Hymns.
- Link to the Parish website, whereon is found the YouTube live-stream of our 10:30 a.m. (EDT) service.
- Parish Announcements for the week of December 29th, 2024.
- Rector’s Mini-Ramblings: The Martyrs of Christmastide
Propers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day.
The Book of Common Prayer 1928.
The 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.
The Epistle: Philippians. iv. 4.
NOW I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all under standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The Gospel: St. Matthew i. 18.
THE birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Hymns:
Note: Clicking the link will take you to a YouTube rendition of the hymn in question – especially helpful if it is one that is less familiar to you!
Processional Hymn: “Angels from the realms of glory” 28
Sermon Hymn: “In the bleak midwinter” 44
Communion Hymn: “The first Noel” 30
Advent being over, and Christmastide here, the Gloria returns!
Recessional Hymn: “Angels we have heard on high” 42
- Note: There are slight differences in wording between this rendition and the version appearing in the Hymnal 1940.
The service of Holy Communion, 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, is broadcast weekly via YouTube and on our website:
Watch this Sunday’s live-stream!
Our new website is live and may be found at cca-nc.org. This website should simplify and streamline our information-sharing quite a bit, including the fact that our most current YouTube live-stream will always be found at “Watch this Sunday’s live-stream,” accessible from the menu-bar at the top of the page.
The website is also a place to check our “Current operating status” – in other words, whether or not the church is open for services, in case of inclement weather (or unusual episodes like the sabotage of transformers a few years ago). If in doubt, check us out! Other options include Meet Our Clergy, Who We Are, Services and Office Hours, and How to find us.
All of these links can also be found by scrolling down the main page, as can also sections on “Find Your Place” – ministries of the parish, which you may wish to join – “Recent Media,” both video and audio, and “Recent Posts” on our nascent blog page. The goal is for this to become a “one-stop shop” for information about Christ Church Anglican.
If you have any questions or issues, please contact our media team at [email protected]. And if you wish to volunteer for our media team, please contact our IT/AV/Social media specialist, John Fesq, at [email protected].
Announcements for the Week of Sunday, December 29th, 2024
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 provide appropriate contact information. Include your email address in order to be placed on our parish email list: you won’t be bombarded with mail, but it’s a good way to keep in touch. And may God bless you!
New Members Classes: We have several people who have been regular recent attendees and have expressed an interest in formally joining our parish and jurisdiction (the Diocese of the Holy Cross, Anglican Catholic Church). New member classes will begin on Sunday, January 12, 2025 (First Sunday after the Epiphany, and will continued through and including Sunday, February 9th (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany), unless otherwise announced. Classes will run from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock in the morning, prior to our 10:30 service. If you are interested in attending, and in joining our church, please let Father Tom know as soon as possible! Which leads to…
The Bishop’s Visitation: The Right Reverend Paul C. Hewett, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Holy Cross, will be conducting his annual visitation of our parish on Sunday, March 9th, which happens to be the First Sunday in Lent. He will, at that time, confirm (for those who have not previously been confirmed by a Bishop in apostolic succession) or receive (for those who have, but are coming into our ecclesiastical jurisdiction for the first time) those who are desirous and have been prepared to become part of the ACC, our Diocese, and our parish. Again, if that describes you, please let me know as soon as possible, so that we can sign you up for the new member classes. Many thanks! – Fr. Tom
Christ Church Anglican’s Choir is always looking for new members! Please contact Amanda at our church contact page for further information. You are also welcome to join the choir for practice even if you are a bit shy and would prefer not to sing in the choir itself, but would like to learn or practice our hymns and service music, and sing from your usual spot in the congregation!
It is said that “who sings, prays twice” – and encouraging congregational singing is an important part of church music. To that end, you will have noticed that we are including YouTube links to our hymns, now, for those who would like to prepare before arriving at the service on Sunday!
Rector’s Mini-Ramblings:
The Martyrs of Christmastide.
It cuts against the grain of our contemporary sensibilities – and certainly with the feelings of Gemütlichkeit and Hygge which our secular society inculturates us to believe should be characteristic of the Christmas season – that our church calendar includes the commemorations of multiple martyrs in the days immediately following Christmas. With the exception of the Holy Innocents – the children of Bethlehem slain by Herod’s soldiers in his failed attempt to catch and kill the infant Messiah in the sweep – they just don’t seem to “fit.”
Why, in a season dedicated to celebrating the Incarnation of God’s divine creative Word in the person of Jesus, the child of Bethlehem, are we concerning ourselves with the death of His martyrs?
The “For All the Saints” blog explains:
“Christmas is the yearly expectation of redemption and the proclamation of the consummation. Three feasts days came to be closely associated with Christmas: St Stephen, St John, and Holy Innocents. The ancient association of these martyr’s* days [and the later medieval addition in the West of the feast day of St Thomas of Canterbury] reinforces the eschatological understanding of the celebration of Christmas.
“The birth of Jesus is more than a commemoration of his birthday. His birth into this world prefigures the birth into the next world of his martyrs, who follow in his train. The birth of Christ is a judgment on the persecution and rejection of God and his Word, and means joy for those who remain faithful and steadfast even in the face of great persecution. These are days of judgment as well as joy…
“In the Western Church, St Stephen’s Day is the first of a succession of three festivals immediately following Christmas – St Stephen, St John, the Holy Innocents – that associate the three “heavenly birthdays” with the birthday of Christ: as he was born into this world from heaven, so they were born from this world into heaven.”
— from the New Book of Festivals & Commemorations, Philip H. Pfatteicher (Fortress Press, 2008)
And they also serve as a reminder of the cost of discipleship. Indeed, this Sunday is the 29th of December, the commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury in the early reign of King Henry II of England, who was slain at the altar of that cathedral for his dedicated support of the rights and prerogatives belonging to the Church, against Royal usurpation. The path of our Christian faith is not always, and sometimes it seems, is not often, an easy one. Yet we know that our Lord is with us, and that His strength is sufficient for us, even when our own may fail.
Let us rejoice in this yearly reminder that we worship a God who loved us enough to become Incarnate for us in human flesh, to walk the earth with us, and to live and die as one of us, though without sin. And that therefore He knows our human limitations and weaknesses from the inside out, and looks upon them with compassion. And that is indeed, as the glorious Christmas hymn puts it, “tidings of comfort and joy!”
Wishing you all a joyful and blessed Christmastide!
Faithfully,
Fr. Tom
* St John the Evangelist (the Theologian), while he did not suffer martyrdom by death, suffered a form of martyrdom by his exile to the island of Patmos during the reign of the emperor Diocletian.
