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Our Mission Welcome to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, a welcoming and diverse community seeking to walk in the way of Jesus and to reveal Christ’s reconciling love in our city, nation, and world.

Pandemic Precautions Continue: Vaccination is required for everyone eligible. Windows are open. There are a few other recommendations. These recommendations are in the spirit of protecting the most vulnerable members of the congregation.

Distancing: Keeping a distance of six feet or more is one tool to help limit spread.

Masks: Masks are recommended to protect your neighbor. We ask that all members of the congregation respect others’ choices about masking.

Refrain from coming if you are sick: If you are experiencing any new symptoms, if you are currently testing for COVID, or recovering from COVID, we ask that you give yourself time before coming to church in person.

Communion: All are welcome to receive. When it comes time, please follow the directions of the ushers. Walk past the chalice bearer to return to your pew from the other side. If you would like to receive wine you may either “sip” or hand your wafer to the chalice bearer, who will “intinct” (dip) for you. If you would prefer not to receive, simply cross your arms across your chest and the minister will give you a blessing. Gluten free wafers are available, on request from the minister.

Donations: We welcome donations to support the work of Holy Communion, whether a payment on a pledge or simply an offering. You can also text GIVE to (833) 864-5384 or give any time on our website holycommunion.net/give

Wheelchair accessibility. Our entrances have auto-open buttons, and our elevator is ADA compliant. Both the downstairs restrooms and one of the upstairs restrooms are accessible.

Hearing Assistance: Hearing assistance devices are available from the welcome table. Just ask an usher.

Get Involved: If you begin by filling out a “Connect Card” in your pew, or at the Welcome Table, we’d be glad to keep you up to date with all that goes on here. You can also use the Connect Cards to update your information, request prayers, or to ask a question. Turn them in to the wooden offering box in the entryway.

The congregation is invited to say the words together in bold. If you are worshiping with us from home, to prepare for worship, you may want to place a candle or two in the place where you worship, to light during the opening prayer.

Welcome
A priest welcomes the congregation. If you are new to us, consider filling out our “get connected” form, let us get to know you better.

Entrance Hymn: Jesus, Love’s Sole-Begotten One Order of St. Helena

Opening Acclamation

The congregation is invited to rise in body or spirit as the clergy enter and reverence the altar.

Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.
And blessed be God’s reign, now and forever. Amen.

The Collect for Purity

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.

Song of Praise The Snow Lay on the Ground 1982 Hymnal #110

The Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

1st Lesson Please be seated. Isaiah 63:7-9

I will recount the Lord’s faithful acts;

I will sing the Lord’s praises,
because of all the Lord did for us,
for God’s great favor toward the house of Israel. God treated them compassionately
and with deep affection.

God said, “Truly, they are my people, children who won’t do what is wrong.” God became their savior.

During all their distress, God also was distressed, so a messenger who served him saved them.

In love and mercy God redeemed them,
lifting and carrying them throughout earlier times.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 148

1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
praise God in the heights.

2 Praise the Lord all you angels; *
sing praises, all you heavenly host.

3 Praise the Lord, sun and moon; *
sing praises, all you shining stars.

4 Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, *
sing praises, you waters above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord; *
who gave the command and they were created,
6 who made them stand fast for ever and ever, * who gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8 fire and hail, snow and fog, *
tempestuous wind, doing God’s will;
9 mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars;
10 wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and wingèd birds;
11 sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world;
12 young men and young women, *
old and young together.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
whose name only is exalted,
whose splendour is over earth and heaven.
14 The Lord has raised up strength for this people * and praise for all loyal servants,
the children of Israel, *
a people who are near to the Lord.
Hallelujah!

2nd Lesson Hebrews 2:10-18

It was appropriate for God, for whom and through whom everything exists, to use experiences of suffering to make perfect the pioneer of salvation. This salvation belongs to many sons and daughters whom he’s leading to glory. This is because the one who makes people holy and the people who are being made holy all come from one source. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters when he says,

I will publicly announce your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you in the middle of the assembly.

He also says,
I will rely on him.
And also,
Here I am with the children whom God has given to me.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. He set

free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death. Of course, he isn’t trying It was appropriate for God, for whom and through whom everything exists, to use experiences of suffering to make perfect the pioneer of salvation. This salvation belongs to many sons and daughters whom he’s leading to glory. This is because the one who makes people holy and the people who are being made holy all come from one source. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters when he says,

I will publicly announce your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you in the middle of the assembly.

He also says,
I will rely on him.
And also,
Here I am with the children whom God has given to me.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. He set

free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death. Of course, he isn’t trying

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Procession Please rise, in body or in spirit.

Angels We Have Heard on High Hymnal 1982 #96 verses 1 and 2 before the Gospel verses 3 and 4 after the Gospel

The Holy Gospel Matthew 2:13-23

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more.

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.

The Gospel of our Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon Please be seated at the invitation of the Preacher.

The Creed Please rise in body or in spirit.The Deacon asks the congregation:

Let affirm our hope in the light of Christ.

Do you believe and trust in God?

We believe in God, eternal, almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in Jesus the Christ?

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of all, the Only Begotten One; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived and loved among us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; who descended to the dead, and on the third day rose again; Jesus, Our Savior, ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the loving God, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic and apostolic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

Please rise in body or in spirit. The Leader and People pray responsively.

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God. Silence.

Accept O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week, especially___. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We thank you for the blessings of family and friends, and for the loving care that surrounds us on every side. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For all who have died in the hope of resurrection and for all the departed, Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Presider
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

The Peace
Please rise in body or in spirit.

The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

You are invited to greet those around you by saying “Peace be with you” or simply “Peace.”

Welcome & Announcements:

Announcements are shared. You may be seated.

See Announcements

Offering We welcome donations to support the work of Holy Communion, whether a payment on a pledge or simply an offering. Plates will be passed. You can also give on our website or by texting GiveHoCO to (833) 864-5384

Offertory Hymn: Love Came Down at Christmas 1982 Hymnal #84

Eucharistic Prayer

The second part of the liturgy moves to the Table. As we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, we gather in a way Christians have for millennia. Please rise in body or in spirit.

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your Hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

The presider offers thanks to God for the grace and mercy made available to us in Christ.

In response all sing:

The presider gives thanks to God for Christ’s redeeming work, and remembers Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. The people are invited to respond to the words:

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The presider concludes with prayer for the Holy Spirit to sanctify the bread and wine, and the gathered congregation.

The Eucharistic prayer concludes with a plea for the coming of God’s reign.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray in the way Christ taught us, and in the language of our hearts.

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo,
santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino,
hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.

Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos
a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación
y líbranos del mal.

Porque tuyo es el reino,
tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria,
ahora y por siempre. Amén

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 kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Administration of the Sacrament

All are welcome to receive. When it comes time, we will make our way by row starting at the side closest to the windows and then process toward the communion minister. If you would like to receive wine you may either “sip” or hand your wafer to the chalice bearer, who will “intinct” (dip) for you. If you would prefer not to receive, simply cross your arms across your chest and the minister will give you a blessing. Gluten free wafers are available, on request from the minister.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

This prayer of Spiritual Communion is offered in the online bulletin for those who cannot join us in person. It was written by parishioner Bob Lewis.

Gracious and Loving God, on this day we are not able to gather around your table to celebrate your presence in the sacrament of bread and wine. We are not able to share your peace with one another.

Nevertheless, we lift up our hearts, we join with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven as we proclaim you holy and receive you into our hearts by faith.

Strengthen our love for you. Help us offer our sacrifice with all your faithful people, that we may restore health and wholeness to one another and to all your creation. Give us patience and hope as we long for the day when we can gather and break bread together again. Through Christ our Savior. Amen.

Hymns During Communion

You are welcome to join in singing the communion hymns.

Unto Us a Boy is Born 1982 Hymnal #98

Twas in the Moon of Wintertime 1982 Hymnal #114

Post Communion Prayer

God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing

Please rise in body or in spirit as the presider proclaims the final blessing.

May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of blessing and set you free from all sin; and the blessing of God the holy and undivided Trinity be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Concluding Hymn:

Joy to the World The Hymnal 1982 #100

Dismissal

Our worship has ended, our service in the world continues.
The Deacon dismisses the congregation:

Let us go forth in the name of Christ

Thanks be to God.

Service Leaders
Preacher &Presider: The Rev. Julie Graham
Deacon: The Rev. Chester Hines
Lector: Michael Salsich
Crucifer: William Kelly
Chalice Bearers: Joe Adams and Janice Nihill
Ushers Bob Lowes and Paul Mensah
Producer Tyler Schwarz

Special gifts made to support the Christmas Greens and Music:

In thanksgiving for my church family and for many precious memories given by Helen Burton

The many blessings received this year despite challenges and difficulties. And most importantly the joy of gathering to sing and worship together. Building the Blessed Community. AMDG.

Given by Andrew Carpentier

In honor of the Holy Communion Choir

In memory of Henry Cummings given by Nancy Cummings

In honor of Barbara Ottolini given by Sondra Ellis

In thanksgiving for Holy Communion given by Julie Graham

In honor of the Parish Guild

In thanksgiving for the people of Holy Communion given by Ellis, Mike, and Silas

In honor of G. Arthur Padmore

For Bryant Payne and a lifetime of memories given by Karen Willard, and Brooklyn Payne

In honor of Honor of The Rev Christian Kehl and Gloria Kehl given by Babs Kehl-Fairchild

In honor of Leonard and Betty Walz given by Rudy Walz

Music reprinted and broadcast with permission by OneLicense # A-704988

The Scripture Translation is the Common English Bible, used by permission.

Liturgical Changes for Christmas

White frontal color and matching vestments: The altar is covered with a white frontal, and the clergy wear white vestments. White is an ancient liturgical color that symbolizes celebration and Christ’s Presence

Lighting of the Advent Wreath and Christmas Candle: The Christmas Candle is in the center of the Advent Wreath, recalling the period of waiting and preparation that led up to Christmas.

Thanksgiving at Prayers of the People. This season we emphasize prayers of thanksgiving over prayers of penitence or petition.