The Lessons Appointed for use on
The Fourth Sunday of Advent   
Year C 
RCL
 
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two 
Ten o'clock in the morning 

December 20, 2015 
 
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Visitation c. 1491
Artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio (b. 1449 Firenze  d. 1494 Firenze)
Tempera on wood  172 x 165 cm
Muse du Louvre Paris

THE COLLECT FOR SUNDAY
December 20, 2015
 
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
WORSHIP NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday's worship will feature as the Ministry of the Word our annual Children's Christmas Pageant, in which our children tell in music and their own words the story of Jesus' birth and our own joyous response at Christmas. For me, this moment each year marks the true beginning of Christmas, and it prepares me better than anything else for the openness and joy that worship together on Christmas Eve will bring. I hope that as many of you as are able will be present this Sunday to prepare yourselves for Christ's coming.

For those of you who are parents of young children, please bring them and let them be a part of the pageant, even if they have not "prepared" or been to rehearsals or learned all the songs. They will still be able to participate fully, and their presence will increase everyone's joy. We will begin "dressing" - with wings and halos for angels and robes and ropes for shepherds, and stars for everyone-at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapter House.

Then, on Christmas Eve, please bring them again. Nothing else will equal the memories they will make of the candlelight and the music and the telling of the Christmas story in our worship together in the early evening at Christ Church. The Sunday pageant will prepare them for this experience, and this experience will prepare them for Christmas Day, now and always.

Our nursery will be staffed with extra workers on Christmas Eve, beginning at 4:00, for the youngest ones who may not be able to enjoy the whole service that evening.

Our children appear in an Advent video prepared in recent weeks by the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Below, you will find a link to that video, in which you will also hear a message from our bishop before and after the video. Watch carefully for the Cathedral children; they are holding signs on which they have written what they hope for this Christmas season. I think their hopes will inspire you.

My hope this Christmas is that each of you will know joy in the presence of friends and family and that you will find the face of the Christ in all you meet. May your Christmas be blessed and bright.



 
The Very Reverend Beverly Findley Gibson
Ph.D., Dean and Rector, Christ Church Cathedral 
  
 
MUSIC NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY

The Fourth Sunday of Advent features one of the most anticipated events of the year - our annual Children's Christmas Pageant! The Cathedral Children will help our Dean tell the story of Christmas with song, congregational hymns, and impromptu dialogue. Make sure your children are at the church and ready to go by 9:30 A. M. so we have time to get them ready for the pageant.
 
This Sunday also features the last Advent pieces of the year. We will sing The angel Gabriel, O come, O come, Emmanuel, and Come, thou long expected Jesus during the liturgy (in addition to the all-out Christmas carols of the pageant). The choir will offer an anthem previously presented at our Lessons and Carols service on Advent II, Who At My Door is Standing? This piece, by K. Lee Scott (b. 1950) has its melody from an English folk song pared with lyrics by Mary Slade (1826-1882), a Massachusetts minister's wife. Interestingly, she wrote quite a few compelling texts for hymns, bearing witness to the power of creativity and spirituality to transcend a largely immobile life.  K. Lee Scott, on the other hand, is a beloved composer of church music who has been published in eight hymnals and whose music can be found in choral libraries all over the United States. Scott holds degrees from The University of Alabama and has taught there and at UA Birmingham and at Samford University. Scott's music is endearing and pleasing to hear, but the words truly bring Sunday's anthem to life. Verse one is printed below. This text, coupled with the English folk melody and Scott's masterful arranging, will hopefully speak to you as Advent draws to a close.
 
Who at my door is standing, there patiently drawing near,
who entrance is demanding? Whose is the voice I hear?
Sweetly the tones are falling: "Now open the door for me!
If thou wilt heed my calling, I will abide with thee."
 
The organ prelude and postlude both feature music by English composer, John Ireland (1879-1962). The prelude, Sursum Corda, basically translates as "lift up your hearts," and will provide a lush, English Romantic background to our pre-service thoughts and prayers. The postlude, Alla Marcia, is the quintessential Victorian-era English march. John Ireland was a well known composer, but not famous to the general public. He composed in many genres of classical music, but is perhaps best remembered for his choral and organ music. After a blissfully Baroque-heavy Advent here at the Cathedral, John Ireland's verdant harmonies should sound refreshing for Advent IV.
 
Finally, remember to come early for our Christmas Eve service this year. The choirs and musicians of Christ Church will begin prelude music at 4:15 P. M. with the Festival Eucharist to follow at 5:00 P. M. I can assure you our prelude and service music will be beautiful. If you can't come Christmas Eve, remember that we offer a 10:00 A. M. morning Eucharist on Christmas Day featuring carols, organ music, and an offertory solo. Happy Advent and merry Christmas from your music ministry!
 



 
 
Christopher Powell
Organist and Choir Master
 
MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY

Celebrant and Preacher
Dean Gibson

Assisting
Canon Wagner

Intercessor
Ginny Behlen

Chalice Bearers
Ron Snider, David Broome

Oblationers
 Allison Gamble, Will Gamble

Crucifers
Rose Elliot, Walt Hamil

Acolytes
Lawson Hamil, Sadie Ladd, Virginia Ladd,
 Leland Moore, Jordan Chow

Baby Jesus
Wyatt Zarzour

Mary
Kate Watkins

Joseph
 Talmadge Hines

Altar Guild
Perrin Drew, Barbara Archer, Harriet Jean Boughton,
Shannon Harris, Lissa Watkins, Barry Weeks

Flower Guild
 Sage Bolt, Lucy Brady

Ushers
Bob Forster, Cart Blackwell, Kennon Drew,
 Douglas Kearley, Alec Armbrecht

Hospitality Team
 Tiny Spottswood, Susan Crowson, Janet Rich Pittman,
Paula Watkins, Mary Jane Cobb, Cathy Taylor, Carol Rodgers

CATHEDRAL NOTES

CHRISTMAS EVE
CONCERT PRELUDE AND FESTIVAL EUCHARIST
Thursday, December 24
4:15 p.m.
PRELUDE MUSIC
5:00 p.m.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST, RITE II
Come early for our Christmas Eve service to hear beautiful Christmas carols, anthems, solos, and instrumental pieces. This intimate, yet grand, Cathedral service for the Nativity of the Lord is a wonderful Christmas tradition.
Nursery care will begin at 4:00 p.m.


CHRISTMAS DAY
HOLY EUCHARIST
Friday, December 25
10:00 a.m.
Join us for a serene morning service full of congregational carols,
including solos by Katherine E. Powell, soprano.



CATHEDRAL OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS
Our offices will be closed Wednesday, December 23 through Friday, January 1.
Dean Gibson will be on call for Pastoral Emergencies.
Financial Secretary Brenda Stanton will be checking telephone messages and emails for end of the year financial needs.


DONATING STOCK SHARES
If you are donating stock shares to fulfill your pledge, please alert the Financial Secretary, Brenda Stanton, at bstanton@christchurchcathedralmobile.org to assure
that you receive credit for your gift.

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THE CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES
  COOKBOOK
CATHEDRAL PRAYERS


O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


We Pray For:

WE PRAY FOR:
Members:
Brink Brinkley, Butch Trawick, Alice Carwie, Katherine Deaton, Hank Cobb, Jordan Moore, Sonny Burchfield, The Rev. Ellis Wilkins

Friends & Family:
Peggy Naughton, Gary Davis, Harrison Leff, Michael Cameron, Nancy & Don Cameron, Rob & Amy Archer Ellis, Joyce Lee, Davis Nelson, Michael Sumrall, Gwen Cook, Alfred Showers, Jim Elia, Anne Brown, Mark Brown, Harriett Lillich, Dave Carlyn Block, Rachel McClanahan, Tom Cunningham, Norma Beazley, Curtis Bullock, Valerie Boatman, Ann Jones, Hank Wozniek, Lisa Thompson, Stella Phillips, James Thomas, Ted Fraiche, Mark Miles, Tot Swanson, Art Swanson, Hayden Jenkins,
Maggie Jenkins, Carolyn Pryor, Merle Findley, Louise Douglas, Shirley & Dunlap Peeples, Steve Harris, Marian Macpherson Currie, Kit & Roger Geil and the Geil family, Angel & Larry Torres, Kathy Boucvalt, Bill Stevens, Ginger Simpson, Karen Sentilles, Lila Fisk, Tracey Johnson, Joe Lowrey, Temple Webber, Betty Browder, Allan Tucker, Kathy Sanders, Clarise Waters, Glenn Hill, Leslie Ellis Sharbel, Marian Hall, Homer Kemp, Jane Behlen, Dan Jones, Carolyn Graham, Ralph Neal, Mark
Mason, Anita Stead, Tim Fulton, Bennett Stenger, Gladys Crowson, Billy Yost, Noel Fell, the Ward Family, Sybil Willis Rodgers, Hap Myers, Jr., Paul Vickers, Sr., George Robison, Georgia Dominick, Robin Wade, Randy Moore, Rick Nichols, Kate Heddrich, Julie Brinson, Ceaser Bryant, Moana Karstater, Icy Lee Neel, Frances Robison, Emily Hubbard, Mike Dowers, Jason Lockwood, Ainsely McNeely, Pat Fisher, Bubba Murray, Bernice Vickers, Jerry Collins, Grady McMillan, Bobby Moss, Kerry Goode, The Rev. John Rees, Chris Schnieder, Liz Charbonnet Talmadge, John Day Peake, Jr., A. J. Villars, Kay Koffler, Dorothy Fulton, Tay Morrissette, Robert L. Hatcher, Bob Williams, Dino Frangos, Mary Katzman, Raymond Faircloth, Jennifer Strong, David Keniston, Zaidee Galloney, Maggie Behlen, Evelyn and Bill McGeHee

For Those Serving in the Military:
Brian Caselton, Louis Coggin, Jonathan Duralde, Tyler Gamble, Sam Garcia, Darrien Gibson, Parker Hollinghead, Kelley Hood, Brian Hudson, Abby Hutchins, Randy Johnson, Ron Lansong, Jean-Michael Lemieux, Chris Marslender, Zack Miller, Todd & Jordana Mouthaan, Keith Moss, Michael Nassar, Jerry Olin, Brian Pennell, Josh Power, Daniel White-Spunner Reed, Susan Reniewicz, Evan Sizemore, John Snyder, Conner Thigpen, Ryan Anthony Thomas, Ryan Walker, The Rev. Bowen Woodruff, Tom Pearce, Colton Ulmer

Anglican Cycle of Prayer:
The Episcopal Diocese of Yewa, Nigeria

Cathedral Cycle of Prayer:
Immanuel Episcopal Church, Bay Minette; the ministry
of Sara Phillips, Pastoral Leader of St. Mary's, Coden

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer:
The Church in Ghana and Nigeria, and Saint Paul
Missionary Baptist Church, Mobile

Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer:
Gulf County Jail, Port St. Joe, Florida


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