The Second Sunday after Christmas January 3, 2021
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The Second Sunday after Christmas
January 3, 2021
One Morse Road | Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776
www.st-elizabeths.org | office@st-elizabeths.org | 978-443-6035
Welcome to St. Elizabeth’s!
Thank you for choosing to worship at St. E’s today! If the church can be of support to you during
this difficult time, or if you are new and have questions, please let us know. Your clergy are availa-
ble to serve you; and our work together as the church, continues.
If you are new to St. E’s, we would love to hear from you!
Contact, office@st-elizabeths.org and we will be delighted to be in touch with you.
An Order for Morning Prayer & Worship
Opening Hymn Angels from the realms of glory vv.1-3 H, 93 Choir
Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye, who sang creation’s story,
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with you is now residing;
yonder shines the infant Light:
Refrain
Sages, leave your contemplations;
brighter visions beam afar:
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Refrain
The Opening Sentence & Collect for Purity
Officiant Blessed be God: Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter.
People And blessed be God’s reign, now and forever. Amen.
Officiant 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria S-278, Choir
2Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Music: William Mathias
Copyright: ©1976 Oxford University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726006. All rights reserved
The Collect of the Day
Officiant O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the
dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him
who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who
lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson Jeremiah 31:7-14
Reader A reading from the Prophet Jeremiah
Thus says the LORD:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
"Save, O LORD, your people,
the remnant of Israel."
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
3among them the blind and the lame, those with child and
those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the LORD.
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 84:1-9a
(said responsively by half verse)
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts!
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
42 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young;
by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell in your house!
they will always be praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you!
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs,
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6 They will climb from height to height,
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
7 LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
hearken, O God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defender, O God;
and look upon the face of your Anointed.
9 For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room,
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Second Reading Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a
Reader A reading from letter to the Ephesians
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in
Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in
love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to
the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely be-
stowed on us in the Beloved. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you
as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to
know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is
5the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance
among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who
believe.
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People.
People Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn Love came down at Christmas H, 84 Instrumental
The Gospel Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Officiant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream
and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain
there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt,
and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spo-
ken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Is-
rael, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up,
took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard
that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to
go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Gali-
lee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spo-
ken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
Officiant The Good News, the Gospel of Christ.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Ed Cardoza,
Missioner for Property Stewardship
for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
You are invited into a moment of reflection and contemplation after the sermon and before the Creed.
6The Nicene Creed
People We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God,
Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers
Reader Following every petition, the congregation is invited to reply with:
“Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!”
God be with you.
People And also with you.
Reader Let us pray.
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed by thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
7on 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
O God, on this holy night, we celebrate your birth among us as a human child.
We celebrate alongside Mary and Joseph, who through their everyday work of parent-
ing became part of your story of salvation.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
On the first Christmas, there was no room in the inn.
Protect with your love those in our community who have no home tonight,
who are living under bridges, in abandoned buildings or in hostels.
We pray especially for homeless families with babies,
who bear the fragility of new life in hard and anxious times.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
The Messiah came with the sign of a star shining in the night.
Bring light to those who are suffering from sickness, who endure pain in mind or
body, especially those people who are spending Christmas in the hospitals in our com-
munity.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
Jesus was born in a stable, surrounded by the animals, and became our Savior.
Bring healing and peace to our relationship with the earth.
Renew our sense of the holy, and give us wisdom to treat the world with care.
Embolden us to love the world and respect the dignity of every human being.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
The angels came with a message of good news in a troubled time.
We need your good news in the troubled and strained parts of our lives.
We need your good news in our war-filled world.
We pray for the Holy Land and the turmoil that remains.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
8We pray for all those on our parish prayer list, including: Mandy, Derek, Mary,
Annette, Laura, Carol, Robert, Connie, Mark, Brenda, Kathy, Meg, David, Andrew,
Marion, Karen, Joe, Art, Cheryl, Catherine, Jim, Jane, Ruth, Sara, and Zachary
and all those we name in our hearts.
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!
The shepherds were commissioned to spread tidings of great joy,
a joy that can reach even those sitting in the shadow of death.
At this holiday time, we remember those we love who have died.
We know that in your grace they too are part of this choir of praise.
We join our voices with them and with the hosts of heaven,
in praising you now and forever.
We sang, we sing, we will sing again together,
Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born! Amen.
Officiant Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask, help us to
ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare
not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The General Thanksgiving
Altogether, saying
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your
goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by
our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your ser
vice, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
9As we are unable to gather in person for Communion, please use this time of
special music for prayer and meditation as we commune in our hearts.
Hymn Let all mortal flesh keep silence H, 324 G. Johnson
As we are unable to gather in person for Communion, please use this time of special music for prayer and
meditation as we commune in our hearts.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
10Officiant Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make
our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-
beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you
will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and
in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
The Blessing
Officiant Christ, who by the incarnation gathered into one things earthly and
heavenly, fill you with peace and goodwill and make you partakers of the
divine nature; and may the blessing of our all loving God: the Eternal
Majesty, the Incarnate Word, and the ever-abiding Spirit be with you, and
all those you love, this day and always. Amen.
The Dismissal
Deacon Go in peace, with joy, to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.
People Thanks be to God! Alleluia. Alleluia.
Closing Hymn Angels we have heard on high vv. 1-4 H, 96 Choir
Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their brave delight.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
11Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
See him in a manger laid
whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while we raise our hearts in love.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Thanks to all who turned in their Stewardship pledge cards. If you have not already turned
in your card, or of your children have not turned in their pledge cards, please send them to
the office as soon as you are able. Cards can be sent to your home, and they are available on
our website as well. Remember, it takes all of us giving of our time, talent, and treasure.
2021 Dollars Pledged Dollar Pledge Goal % of $ goal
$323,725 $415,000 78%
2021 Pledges Received Pledge Units Goal % of pledge goal
62 95 65%
Thank you to all of those who turned in your pledge cards.
While we are getting closer, we still need more help to achieve our goals.
2021 Stewardship Campaign Goal for Time Pledged: 1,000 hours
(~10 hours per family per year)
2021 Stewardship Campaign Goal: $415,000
• Total pledged to 2021 Stewardship Campaign goal: $323,725
Total number of families that pledged to the 2020 Campaign: 85
Total number of families that pledged so far to the 2021 Campaign: 62 (goal: 95)
12In Christ,
Matt Chafe & Kurt Graham
Stewardship Co-Chairs
Announcements
Annual Reports are due to the Office by January 13.
Please send them of Office@st-elizabeths.org.
Did God invent the coronavirus?" A young parishioner wants to know, and in the latest Hope
Driven episode, Andrew answers beautifully in a way we can all learn.
Over the holiday, catch up on episodes on our Buzzsprout website or subscribe in Apple Podcasts,
Spotify or Google Podcasts.
Hear what brought us to St. E's and why we stay. Listen to read-alouds, including "The Night Be-
fore Christmas." And get ready for more as welcome the New Year.
The best part? We want to feature YOUR voice! Ask a fellow parishioner to join in a conversation.
Share your knowledge on a timely topic. Record a child asking Andrew a question (or telling a
joke!). Mary Knox Miller would love to hear from you. Reach out to her directly: maryknoxmil-
ler@gmail.com
St. E´s Book Group Meeting on Jan. 17, 2021
13This month the St. E’s book group is reading "The Red Address Book" by Sofia Lundberg. We will
meet to discuss it via Zoom at 11:30 AM on Sunday, January 17. Everyone is welcome to join,
whether you have read the book or not. Questions? Contact Win Treese at treese@acm.org.
Rev. Andrew wants to meet you!
Andrew is packing up his camp chair, his mask and sanitizer, a full travel mug of coffee, and com-
ing to a driveway near you! He can bring a cheerful visit, communion, or prayer, or all the above.
Just let him know what you’d like. Meetings will need to be outdoors, or on an open porch, but not
inside a home. Alternately, meetings can happen at church in the garden, too. To schedule a Drive-
way Visit with Andrew, email him at: Andrew@st-elizabeths.org.
The Leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Bishop & The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan
Thank you to all of today’s service participants!
Officiant The Rev. Lauren Lukason, Curate
Preacher The Rev. Ed Cardoza
Missioner for Property Stewardship
for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Assisting The Rev. Andrew Suitter Bentley
Reader Kerry Ressler-Craig
Musicians B. Bewick Brown,
St. E’s Choir (Graham Daley,
Carol Davies, Caroline Davies, Jane Graham,
Georgie Johnson, Sara Kilkenny, John
Knobel, Chris Lowery, , Nancy Morgan,
Linda Trail, Kathy Trogolo)
Production Team Paul Grous
Bulletin Production Peg Scarlata
The Staff and Vestry Leadership of
St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
Staff
The Rev. Andrew Suitter-Bentley, Rector
The Rev. Lauren Lukason, Curate
14Peg Scarlata, Parish Administrator
Vestry
Nancy Kimble & Andrew Heier
Co-Wardens, wardens@st-elizabeths.org
Vestry Members at Large:
Emily Chafe, Jackson Ciccarello, Mary Grace Hennessy, Ed Kenealy,
Bonnie Powell Kuta, Walter Morgan, Nancy Marshall,
Lucie St. George, Andy Sugg, Kiersten Varner, Mark Namchuk
Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE
LICENSE wiyth licenense #A-726006. Al rights reserved.
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