December 22, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Please join us for our Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist, Thursday, December 24, at 3:30 pm and 10:30 pm. For information on our Christmas season services, please click here. This edition of the All Saints Weekly provides information on the readings for Christmas Eve and the first Sunday after Christmas.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

The reading from Isaiah is a beautiful proclamation of the birth of the Messiah: "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. (Isaiah 9:2-7)

Psalm 96 is a joyous song praising God: "Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the whole earth. Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; he is more to be feared than all gods … Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him.

The reading from Titus speaks of the grace manifested in the birth of Christ: "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. (Titus 2:11-14)

The Gospel from Luke tells the story of the birth of the Christ child: "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 him in the inn." (Luke 2:1-20)

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

The reading from Isaiah proclaims the prophet's hope that God will redeem the people of Israel: "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 … 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." (Isaiah 61:10-62:3)

Psalm 147 sings the praises of God: "Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom. The LORD lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God upon the harp."

The reading from Galatians speaks the Messiah's birth: '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." (Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7)

The Gospel of John asserts that Jesus is the eternal Word of God who became one of us as an act of God's love for the human race: "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 ... 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 ... 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. (John 1:1-18)

Please join us for the Holy Eucharist on Christmas Eve at 3:30 pm and 10:30 pm and on the first Sunday after Christmas at 10:30 am.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

Christmas Eve 2009
Thursday, December 24, at 3:30 pm — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Thursday, December 24, at 10:30 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

The First Sunday after Christmas
Sunday, December 27, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. Moses Sowale

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