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At the end of this E-mail you will find announcements regarding the following:
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- Christmas Memorials 2021
- Sponsored Families for Christmas
- Winter Warmth Project Announcement
- CHOW Pantry Announcement
- Christ Church Amazon
- Fall 2021 Congregation Survey
- Sunday School Zoom Link
- Christ Church YouTube Link
- Christ Church Mask Requirements
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Please note the Church office will be closed December 24th - January 2nd.
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Third Sunday of Advent: Blue Christmas Service
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Sunday, December 12th 2021
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Voluntary Veni Emmanuel, from Advent: First Religious Suite Pietro A. Yon
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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THE GATHERING OF THE COMMUNITY
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Celebrant: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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People: And also with you.
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Celebrant: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing upon them, and the burden upon their shoulders, you have broken in pieces, 0 God, our Redeemer.
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People: God of mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves and for our families who live with painful thoughts and memories. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of your Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen.
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A Reading from the book of Zephaniah 3:14-20 Read by M. Quinn
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Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
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Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
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The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
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he has turned away your enemies.
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The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
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you shall fear disaster no more.
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On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
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do not let your hands grow weak.
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The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
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a warrior who gives victory;
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he will rejoice over you with gladness,
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he will renew you in his love;
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he will exult over you with loud singing
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I will remove disaster from you,
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so that you will not bear reproach for it.
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I will deal with all your oppressors at that time.
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and I will change their shame into praise
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and renown in all the earth.
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At that time I will bring you home,
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at the time when I gather you;
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for I will make you renowned and praised
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among all the peoples of the earth,
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when I restore your fortunes
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before your eyes, says the Lord.
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Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
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Hymnal 679 (Canticle 9) Surely It Is God Who Saves Me THOMAS MERTON
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A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew (11:28-30 )
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Read by The Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert
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‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
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Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, O come, great Lord of might,
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who to your tribes on Sinai's height
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in ancient times did give the law
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in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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THE LITURGY OF REMEMBRANCE
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Lighting of Three Advent Candles
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First Candle: (Choir 1 B. Snyder)
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Leader: The first candle we light to remember those persons whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember their name, their voice, their face, the memory that binds them to us in this season. We hold them before God, giving thanks for their lives in ours.
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Please take a moment to remember those who have died. I invite you to name them, aloud or in the silence of your hearts….
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All: Lord, each of us takes our loved one by the hand and leads them to you, the God of love, Here we present them to you. Accept our love and thanksgiving as we entrust them to your loving care. We want our loved ones to be free at home with you. We ask that you save a place for us beside them. We ask that you fill us with motivation and energy in the days ahead when we feel like giving up; remind us often of our true homeland when we are caught up in the desolation of the journey. Help us to find joy in the people, events and the beauty of nature which surrounds us. Thank you for the gift each of these people has been in our lives. We want to believe that we will celebrate the treasure of love with them again, when we are all in your presence forever. May this truth sustain us in the days to come. Take our sad and aching hearts and comfort us. Comfort us, for we only feel hollowness and emptiness. God of sorrowing, draw near! Amen.
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
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unto your own and rescue them!
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From depths of hell your people save,
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and give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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Second Candle: (Choir 2 The Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert)
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Leader: The second candle we light is to redeem the pain of loss; the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs with the security they bring, the loss of health in ourselves or in family members, the loss of joy and peace in our lives from the stresses which surround us, the loss and loneliness we experience when our loved ones do not share our faith. As we gather up the pain of the past we offer it to you, 0 God, asking that into our open hands you will place the gift of peace.
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Please take a moment to remember the losses. I invite you to name them, aloud or in the silence of your hearts….
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All: God of mystery, we turn our hearts to you. We come before you in need of peace, grateful for the mystery of life and ever keenly aware of your promises of guidance and protection. We want to place our trust in you, but our hearts grow fearful and anxious. We forget so easily that you will be with us in all that we experience. Teach us to be patient with the transformation of our lives and to be open to the changes which we are now going through. Amen.
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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Third Candle: (Choir 3 S. Sarzynski)
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Leader: The third candle we light for those who experience a loss of direction in their lives. God of the Exodus, you led Moses and your people through the wilderness to a new land. Hear our prayer. We want so much to have a sense of direction, to know where we are and where we ought to be headed. But the darkness and the questions stay. You ask us to be full of faith, to believe deep within that you are our signpost, that you are our wisdom and our guide, and to trust in your presence. Your words to us are clear: “Do not fear, I go before you.”
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All: God of our depths, we cry out to you to be our guide. Help us to have a strong sense of inner direction and grant that we may have the reassurance of knowing that we are on the right path. Take our lives and use them according to your will. Take all that is lost in us and bring it home with you. Amen.
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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Prayers of the People Lead by M. Quinn
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Leader: In the spirit of this season let us now confidently ask our God for all the good things we need: For ourselves as we participate in this Christmas as special people coping with our many different losses. God, hear our prayer.
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People: And in your mercy, answer.
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Leader: For our families and friends, that they may continue to help and support us. God, hear our prayer.
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People: And in your mercy, answer.
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Leader: For any person we have loved who has died, for all the losses we know in our lives, that all may be redeemed by your Easter promise. God, hear our prayer.
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People: And in your mercy, answer.
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Leader: For our family and friends, that you may bless them with love, peace, and joy. God, hear our prayer.
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People: And in your mercy, answer.
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Leader: For peace throughout the world as proclaimed by the Christmas Angels on that faraway hillside. God, hear our prayer
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People: And in your mercy, answer
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Leader: For greater understanding of the lessons of love and acceptance as taught by Jesus your Christ. God, hear our prayer.
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People: And in your mercy, answer.
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Lighting of Individual Candles
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Leader: Each of us comes bearing our own hurts, sorrows, broken places. I want to invite each of you to offer your personal wound to the God who loves each of us deeply and wants to carry our pain. God waits patiently, gently calling out: “Give me your pain, come to me… all who labor and are heavy laden, I will refresh you!”
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I invite each of you to come forward and light a candle. As you light the candle, remember that it is God who lights a candle in our darkness and holds us close until we are able to shine.
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Leader: These lights in their brightness are only symbols, but as they burn and finally go out, we remember that suffering passes, though memory remains forever.
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Offertory Mary Did you know?” Mark Lowry (b. 1958)
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Doxology (Sung to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel) Hymnal 380 v. 3
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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
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praise him, all creatures here below;
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praise him above, ye heavenly host:
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praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
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Emmanuel will come to thee O Israel.
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Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
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People: And also with you.
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Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
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People: We lift them to the Lord.
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Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
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People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
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Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
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It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. 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:
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Celebrant and People: Hymnal S130
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Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
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heaven and earth are full of your glory.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
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The people stand or kneel.
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Then the Celebrant continues
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Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world. On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord 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 he 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."
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Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
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We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray.
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As we conclude our worship, we embrace and claim the darkness that is present both in the world and in our own lives. As people who are familiar with the darkness, we also know that we gather to be illumined by the light of the Christ Child this Christmas season. May the Christ Child, born in a lowly stable, himself an outcast and marginal, bring light, comfort, peace, and joy this holiday season.
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Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel,*
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O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
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Deacon: May the hope of the Christ Child sustain us through this darkness.
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People: That together we may shine again. Amen.
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Voluntary Improvisation on VENI EMMANUEL
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* Note: The hymn “O come, O come, Emmanuel” is a song of people in darkness longing for God’s light. It is not calling us to rejoice in the worldly form of the word, but calling our spirits and souls to reflect the true hope and joy that only God can give.
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Announcements
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Sponsored Families for Christmas
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Here is the list of families/children (total of 5 children) that RTS Middle School at Susquehanna Valley Central School District s looking for help in getting holiday gifts.
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We will need the gifts brought to Christ Church by Sunday December 12th so they can be picked up and brought to the school.
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Please DO NOT wrap the gifts - they should be in a gift bag or box so that they can be wrapped by the RTS guidance counselors. If donors would like to include a gift receipt that is helpful as well.
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The RTS Middle School appreciates the help Christ Church has given our school community in the past and is hoping that they will be able to continue their charitable support of local kids who are in need this holiday season.
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Each list has the child's age and likes listed with the item requested. Each child has about 4-5 items requested.
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If a donor would prefer to donate money towards the purchase of a gift, this would be very helpful as the Student Council officers or guidance counselor will be shopping for missing items after all the gifts are collected.
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Thank you again from RTS Middle School.
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Family A - Child #1 (Boy Age 12)
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Men's Winter Boots Size 8 Men's
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He likes the Giants Football team and the colors purple and yellow.
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Family A - Child #2 (Girl Age 5)
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Family D - Child #1 (Boy age 11)
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Shoes 9 Men's - Needs Boots
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Family D - Child #2 (Girl age 6)
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Shoe Size 2 Kids - Needs Boots
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Shoe Size 2 Kids - Need Sneakers
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Girls Underwear Size 8 Girls
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Girls Socks - Shoe Size 2 Kids
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Likes books, frozen, and barbies.
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Family D - Child #3 (Boy age 15)
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Men's Shirts, Sweatshirts, and Long Sleeve Shirts - Size XL
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Men's Pants (Jeans) 34/36
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Men's Athletic Pants - Size XL
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Men's Shoes - Size 13 Men's
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Music Gift Cards for Android Phone
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Please let the office know what you plan to purchase before hand so we can try to eliminate overlapping gifts. Thank you!
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Our annual Winter Warmth project begun! Donations of hats, scarves, gloves, thick socks, and/or umbrellas can be left in the back of the church after worship service or at the church during the church’s office hours.
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During the holiday season we service CHOW clients and walk-ins. Please consider donating holiday dinner foods, such as stuffing, instant potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, etc.., or your families personal favorite treats during the next two months for local families in need.
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Please consider purchasing a replacement floor tile for CHOW for $10. There is a donation jar in the back of the Sanctuary now through January.
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When you're shopping on Amazon this holiday season, go to smile.amazon.com and list "Christ Church Binghamton" as your charity of choice. The Church will receive .5 % of your purchase!
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Over $500 has been given to Christ Church from your Amazon purchases since its program began. THANK YOU for designating Christ Church to receive these proceeds. Every little bit helps.
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Soon you should hear from a church member via phone or email. Our Vestry once again is reaching out to be in touch with our parishioners to check in, confirm contact information, and to ask a few questions which will help our parish discern priorities and ministries in the year and years ahead. We look forward to connecting.
Feel free to fill out the survey any time at: https://www.christepiscopalbing.com/fall-2021-congregation-survey/.
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Sunday School Information
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Registration Link: Click Here!
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Meeting ID: 851 7341 8446
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Christ Church YouTube Link
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Christ Church Mask Requirements
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Each parish of the Diocese of Central New York has local discretion in establishing COVID-19 response guidelines within the restrictions established by New York State and in line with recommendations from the CDC.
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The CDC’s COVID-19 Data Tracker indicates that Broome County is at “High” levels of community transmission.
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Per CDC guidance, individuals attending indoor public worship in these counties should wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status.
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Thank you all for your tender care for one another in this challenging time.
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