St. Thomas of Canterbury Reformed Episcopal Church

St. Thomas of Canterbury
Reformed Episcopal Church
          The Anglican Church in North America

           The Order of Worship
                           for
   The Second Sunday After Christmas
and the Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury

         10:30 a.m. Ante-Communion

                    January 2, 2022

       Rector: The Ven. Canon James T. Payne, D.D.
     Sr. Assistant: The Rev. D. Lawrence Jones, M.Div.
          Curate: The Rev. John W. Clay, V, J.D.

                  www.stochouston.org

Ante-Communion
                    *Denotes Standing +Denotes Kneeling

Prelude               "Memories Of Christmas"             Bruce Carleton

Opening Prayer +

Processional Hymn* #20                             Divinum Mysterium

Opening Collect+                                                   PB 67

The Decalogue (Hymnal 701)+                                        PB 68

Collects for the Day+                                     PB 106 & Insert

Old Testament           Deuteronomy 30:1-10                Pew Bible 242

Psalm #103 *            Benedic, anima mea.                      PB 466

The Epistle                  Isaiah 61:1-3                        PB 106

Gradual Hymn* #28 (verse 1,2 before; 3,4 after)           Regent Square

The Gospel*                    Hebrews 7:11-28                     Insert

Nicene Creed *                                                    PB 71

Welcome & Parish Notices

Sermon Hymn* # 34                                 Puer Nobis Nascitur

Sermon                                       The Rev. Lawrence Jones

Offertory Sentences

Offertory        "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" Richard S. Willis

                                                    Anna Rosa, Soloist

Presentation of Tithes & Offerings*Doxology (#139) & America (#141 vs.4)

Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church+                     PB 74

The Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury Collect
O God, by whose grace and power thy Bishop Thomas triumphed
over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that
enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight we may with him
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, Amen.

Gospel Reading : Hebrews 7: 11-28
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for
under it the people received the law,) what further need was
there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec,
and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood
being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the
law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to
another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the
altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which
tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 who is made, not after
the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an
endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the
commandment going before for the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but
the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh
unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made
priest: 21 (for those priests were made without an oath; but this
with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not
repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec:) 22 by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they
were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 but

this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable
priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens; 27 who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer
up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this
he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh
men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath,
which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for
evermore.

Today’s Ministries

Celebrant                          The Ven. Canon James T. Payne
Sermon                                   The Rev. Lawrence Jones
Reader                                                 Bryan Foulk
Acolyte                                                Justin Foulk
Organist/Choirmaster                                Linda Hazelip
Usher                                           Bruce Woodcock
Altar Guild                                   Mopsie Thornborrow
Stream                                              Nathan Jones

ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY
                       A PARISH IN THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH (ACNA)
                       14007 South Freeway, Houston, Texas 77047
                       Tel. (713) 434-1117 (Office) (713) 433-8958 (Fax)
                        www. stochouston.org

                                   MISSION STATEMENT
St. Thomas of Canterbury Anglican Church, a parish of the Reformed Episcopal Church, is
inalterably committed to the Biblical doctrine, discipline and worship of the historic and
orthodox Anglican Way of Christianity, In our parish life, we are called upon to fulfill the Great
Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) through the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ and the
faithful administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Communion, Our witness to
the love of Christ begins within our parish family and extends outwardly to such good works
of charity, mercy and Christian education to which we are led by the Holy Spirit for the
edification of the people of God, the preservation of Biblical faith and morality, and the
building up of the Kingdom of Christ until His coming again.

                               ABOUT ANGLICAN WORSHIP
Our worship is not, of course, the only manner in which God may be praised, but it is an
ancient and beautiful way. Anglican worship has its roots in the early British or Celtic Church
of the first century. Our worship and theology are at once genuinely Catholic, Evangelical, and
Reformed. Anglicans have worshipped with the Book of Common Prayer since 1549, during the
Reformation. People who are unfamiliar with our forms of worship are often surprised to learn
that more Holy Scripture is read in our worship services than in any other church. Each Sunday
lessons are read from the Old and New Testaments and the Psalms. In fact, over 75% of the
Prayer Book consists of direct quotation from the Bible. Most of the rest is paraphrased from
scripture. Anglican's have no unique doctrine, and we believe that Holy Scripture 'contains all
things necessary for salvation'.

                              INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Per the by-laws of this parish, all visitors who are baptized Christians, who love the Lord, and
who are eligible to receive the Lord's Supper in their home church, are affectionately invited
to the Lord's Holy Table to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

                              MEMBERSHIP OR VISITATION
 Persons seeking to join the parish family or to discover more about the Anglican Way of
 Christianity should contact the Rector. If you desire to have the Rector call on you in your
 home, please let him know. He will be happy to visit with you.

To place someone on the Prayer List, please see the Rector, or write the information down
on a prayer request card (found in the pews) and place it in the Alms Basin at the offertory.