News and Announcements:
Sun Dec 4 Early Service –
Celebration Service –
Parish Meeting –
Traditional Service –
Celtic Service –
with Celtic Concert & Reception to follow
Mon Dec 5 Bible Study –
Tues Dec 6 Daughters of the King meeting –
Wed Dec 7 Bible Study
Mid Week Eucharist
Celebration Band
Thur Dec 8 Choir practice
Brownie Troop Meeting
Sat Dec 10 CEC Christmas Parade/Fish Fry/Bake Sale
Art Exhibition 11:00am
Sun Dec 11 Early Service –
Celebration Service –
Traditional Service –
CELTIC EVENSONG SERVICE FOLLOWED BY CELTIC CONCERT AND RECEPTION
Sunday, December 4 at 6:00 pm, Christ Church will offer a Celtic Evensong service which will commemorate St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, whose feast day is a few days before the December 4th date.
The service will include the lighting of candles for prayer and the opportunity for the laying on of hands in healing. This is our third Celtic service which, no doubt, will continue to touch our hearts and souls as we behold the beauty around us and absorb the spoken word and music unique to such an experience.
CELTIC CONCERT TO FOLLOW SERVICE
Join us on our Journey…….
This Advent, Christ Church is embarking on a special journey here in our community. While all of Smithfield participates in the annual Christmas Parade it is our hope to highlight our presence here and share our beautiful historic church with others. On the 10th we invite you to join in and ‘walk’ with us as we celebrate this holy season of preparation. Many of our Christ Church family will be helping out at numerous events around town this day. So come along too and ‘join us on our journey’!
It is the last day to order poinsettias for Christmas. The cost for each plant will be $15.50. All orders must be turned in by December 4th, so that the total order may be placed on December 7th
*Order forms can be found in our Church Hall under the poinsettia poster.***Completed forms can be placed in Judy Cutler’s box.
Look for more news on the Advent Soup Community Night coming!
We’ll gather here at Church for soup and to share some of our own stories about Christmas past.
December 12 (Monday) from 6-8
Reading December 4 2011
Reader: A reading from Isaiah [40:1-11] Isaiah foretells the end of the exile of God's people in Babylon
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
People: Open our ears to hear your Word.
"Comfort, oh comfort my people,"
says your God.
"Speak softly and tenderly toJerusalem
but also make it very clear
That she has served her sentence,
that her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
She's been punished enough and more than enough,
and now it's over and done with."
says your God.
"Speak softly and tenderly to
but also make it very clear
That she has served her sentence,
that her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
She's been punished enough and more than enough,
and now it's over and done with."
Thunder in the desert!
"Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
clear out the rocks.
Then God's bright glory will shine
and everyone will see it.
Yes. Just as God has said."
"Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
clear out the rocks.
Then God's bright glory will shine
and everyone will see it.
Yes. Just as God has said."
A voice says, "Shout!"
I said, "What shall I shout?"
I said, "What shall I shout?"
"These people are nothing but grass,
their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
if God so much as puffs on them
Aren't these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
but our God's Word stands firm and forever."
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
but our God's Word stands firm and forever."
Climb a high mountain, Zion
You're the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud,Jerusalem
You're the preacher of good news.
Speak loud and clear. Don't be timid!
Tell the cities ofJudah
"Look! Your God!"
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
You're the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud,
You're the preacher of good news.
Speak loud and clear. Don't be timid!
Tell the cities of
"Look! Your God!"
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
People: Open our ears to hear your Word.
+The First Lesson: Isaiah foretells the end of the exile of God's people in Babylon
A Reading
Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
A voice says, "Cry out!"
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah
"Here is your God!"
See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm 85:1-2,8-13 Page 708, BCP
You have been gracious to your land, O LORD, *
you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
and blotted out all their sins.
and blotted out all their sins.
I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
+The Second Lesson: If the Lord appears to be delaying his coming, it is only to give his people time for repentance. By leading lives of holiness, Christians can ensure their readiness.
Paul gives thanks for the faith and love which are demonstrated by disciples in Ephesus
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
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