Grace Episcopal Church

Christmas Eve

8PM Holy Eucharist

December 24, 2023

1314 Spring Street Saint Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-4157

[email protected] / www.grace-episcopal.org

Prelude

A Prelude on Greensleeves Arr. by Charles Callahan

Grant Showley, flute

A Virgin Unspotted Arr. by Ovid Young

Joe Pesch, tenor, Ted von Pohle, baritone, Elle Wheeler, pianist.

A Christmas Prelude Arr. by Charles Callahan

Grant Showley

Opening Hymn

Come All Ye Faithful v. 1-5 1982 Hymnal #83

Blessed are you, Holy and Living One.

You come to your people and set them free.

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 your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn of Praise

**Angels We Have Heard on High v. 1-4 1982 Hymnal #96**

The Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

The Lessons

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness–
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God

Psalm 96

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.
2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.
6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the Lord honor and power.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.
10 Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the Lord when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth.
13 He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth.

Titus 2:11-14

A Reading from the letter to Titus.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God

Gospel Song

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 1982 Hymnal #87

The Gospel Luke 2:1-20

Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.

People Glory to You, Lord Christ.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see– I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to You, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

Sung to the tune of Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

We believe in God almighty,

author of all things that be,

Maker of the earth and heavens,

Keeper of the sky and sea.

We believe in God’s son, Jesus,

now for us both Lord and Christ,

of the Spirit and of Mary

born to bring abundant life.

We believe that Jesus suffered,

scourged and scorned and crucified;

taken from the cross, was buried—

True Life there had truly died.

We believe that on the third day

Christ was raised up from the grave,

then ascended to God’s right hand.

He will come to judge and save.

We believe in God’s own Spirit,

bonding all the saints within

One church, catholic and holy,

where forgiveness frees from sin;

in the body’s resurrection,

for the breaking of death’s chain

gives the life that’s everlasting.

This the faith that we have claimed.

Litany Of The Incarnation

O God, the ruler of ages eternal, You are without beginning or end:

Yet you choose to be born an infant in time. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the invisible, You are the One whom nobody has seen or can see: Yet you assume the face of the son of Mary. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God the all-powerful, You hold the mountains in the palm of your hand: Yet you let yourself be wrapped in swaddling clothes. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the eternal glory, Innumerable angels acclaim you endlessly: Yet you choose to be rocked to sleep by the songs of the daughter of David. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the universal provider, you feed every creature: Yet you choose to hunger for the milk of your mother. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the infinite, Heaven and earth cannot contain you: Yet you rest in the arms of Mary. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the perfect joy, You are the source of happiness of heaven and earth; Yet you cry like a little child. Praise to you, O Lord.

O God, the eternal Word, You are the light of all created intelligence: Yet you are laid in a manger and cannot even speak. Praise to you, O Lord.

You are the God of a thousand faces, Yet nothing can reveal you completely except the face of the child of Bethlehem. We pray to you, Oh Lord: Continue in our lives the mystery of Christmas. Let your Son become flesh in us So that we may be for all our brothers and sisters The revelation of your ever-present love. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

Announcements, Birthdays, Anniversaries Offertory

Offertory Music

O Holy Night Arr. by Masa Fukuda

Kiernan Upton Albright treble

Doxology

Sung to the tune of All Creatures of Our God and King.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Holy Communion

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to God.

Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God of all of Creation

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth.

Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus

Angels, From the Realms of Glory v. 1, 4 1982 Hymnal #93

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets;

and above all in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. For in these last days you sent Jesus to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In Christ, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In Christ, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Savior Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper Jesus took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

We remember Christ’s death,

We proclaim Christ’s resurrection,

We await Christ’s coming in glory;

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Savior of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant.

Unite us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through whom we are acceptable to you, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with the blessèd Virgin Mary, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Savior, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Jesus, Lamb of God 1982 Hymnal #S164

Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Fraction Anthem

What Child is This? 1982 Hymnal #115

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Music At Communion

In the Bleak Midwinter Arr. by Craig Courtney

Joe Pesch, and Ted von Pohle

Communion Hymn

Silent Night 1982 Hymnal #111

Light your candles from the person next to you; the lit candle should be kept upright so as not to drip wax. Thank you.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

(for those not receiving communion)

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

If you have special prayer requests, our Intercessors are available to pray for you at any time. You may send prayer requests to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Our intercessors are ready to pray with you for whatever needs you have in this time.

Post-Communion Prayer

Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and broughtus home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace and opened the gate of glory. May we whoshare Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us so we and all your children shall be freeand the whole earth live to praise your name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Eucharistic Visitors

In the name of this congregation, I send you forth bearing these holy gifts that those to whom you go may share with usin the com- munion of Christ’s body and blood. We who are many are one body; because we all share one bread, one cup.

Christmas Eve 8pm