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Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2009
St. Matt's Exterior 1
hymnal
This Week at St. Matthew's 
 

Chapel Stained Glass & CandlesThis Week's Collect
 
O most merciful Father, we humbly thank thee for all thy gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For life and health and safety, for power to work and leisure to rest, for all that is beautiful in creation and in the lives of men, we praise and magnify thy holy Name.  But above all we thank Thee for our spiritual mercies in christ Jesus our Lore, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings For This Week
lectionary
 

Micah 5:2-4

Psalm 80:1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-49

 
 
Hymns For This Week
hymnal 
PROCESSIONAL # 56
O Come, O Come Emmanuel  
Vs.1,6,7,8
 
SEQUENCE # 265
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
 
COMMUNION # 267
Praise to the Lord this Day
(tune, St. Thomas)
 
RECESSIONAL # 66
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
 
 
Service Music For This Week
 
hymnal
"O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven:  Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

 
This week, the opening voluntary will be Wiegenleid by one of the finest romantic American composers, Edward MacDowell written in 1886.  It was actually a cradle song written for his wife who lost their only child in childbirth.  What a fitting composition for us this Advent season. We will never comprehend the travail of childbirth unless we experience it personally.
 
The Son of Mary was born in great humility and in this Adent season we review the details of that astonishing birth to the degree that they have become almost commonplace to most of us.
 
I am often profoundly moved by a particuar composition to reexamine and re-evaluate some of the most surprising things. This elegant piano solo is truly one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever heard. I hope that those of us who share it together this coming Sunday will be reminded to go deeper in our consciousness and feel something new and fresh to bring to this season. 
 
A re-birth of our sensibilities and spirituality- and perhaps a depth of understanding that bringing a Savior into the world was the most painful experience his mother could ever imagine.
 
Rick
 
Talents Project hymnal

For all those who are doing a talent fund raising project please email the church office this week so that we can help publicize your event or product.


 


The Sounds of St. Matthew's 
Organ Pipes 

You can listen to a few clips of last week's service online by clicking one of the following links:
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents
The Readings
The Hymns
The Service Music
Talents Project
Sounds of St. Matt's
Holiday Schedule
Music Details
hymnal
Sounds of
St. Matthew's
You can listen to clips from last Sunday's service by clicking on this link:
 Worship Music Clips
 
 
 
hymnal
 
Holiday Schedule
December 19, 2009
10 am - Noon
Wrap gifts for the homebound
 
December 20, 2009
Hanging of the Green
 (after Holy Eucharist)
 
December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve Service
6:30 pm
 Featuring Children's Christmas Pageant
 
 
hands on keyboard
 Service Music
For more details about this week's service music click on this link:  
Worship Music This Week At St. Matt's
 
 
st matthew's window
St. Matthew's Worship Ministries
Rev. Linda Kelly, Rector -  Rick Land & Russ Tapp, Musicians
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church  727 W. Browning, Pampa, TX  79065