ST. ELIZABETH EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Eve of the NativityDecember 24h, 20188:00 PM Holy Eucharist

1005 SW 152nd Street; P.O. Box 66579Burien, WA 98166

206-243-6844

E-mail: info@stelizburien.comcastbiz.netWeb Address: http://www.stelizabethburien.org

www.facebook.com/St.ElizabethBurienFr. John’s email: john_forman@comcast.net

We’re grateful that you’ve come to worship with us. If you are unfamiliar with the ritual customs of the Episcopal Church, relax and let the congregation carry you. Please sign the guestbook in the entryway. The red book is the Book of Common Prayer and the blue book is the Hymnal (the “S” numbers are in the front of the hymnal). Children are welcome to join us in church. We have a table with quiet activities near the front of the nave for busy hands. Hearing devices and bibles are available upon request. The ushers are happy to help you find facilities.

Holy EucharistPrelude Prelude on "Coventry" by Craig A. Penfield

Joan Barnes, Organist, The Entrance Rite

(All rise as they are able.)

Bidding prayerEntrance Hymn Blue hymnal 83, O come all ye faithful

Opening Acclamation

Gloria in excelsis Hymnal S~277 (“S” numbers are near the front of the blue hymnal)

Liturgy of the WordCollect of the Day

First Reading Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96 Cantate Domino Red Book of Common Prayer, p. 725

Second Reading Titus 2:11-14

Gradual Hymn 94, While shepherds watched their flocks by night(All rise as they are able)

Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke.People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Holy Gospel Luke 2:1-20

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon Fr. John Forman

Silence and stillness

The Nicene Creed BCP p. 358

Prayers of the People Form II BCP p. 385(In the silences, please offer your own prayers, silently or aloud.)

Peace BCP p. 360

Liturgy of the Table(All rise as they are able)

Offertory Hymn 79, O little town of Bethlehem Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer B BCP p. 367

Sanctus Hymnal S130

Memorial AcclamationPriest chants: “Therefore, according to his command, O Father…”

Our Father BCP p.364

Agnus Dei Hymnal S164

The Invitation to Communion All are welcome. Jesus invited all to eat with him and so you

are welcome to his feast here.

Please come up the center aisle to the chancel steps and return by the side aisle. Please let an usher know if you need communion brought to your seat.

Hold out your hand to receive the bread and then eat. Guide the chalice to your mouth and drink. (Please do not dip the bread in the wine.)

If you need a gluten-free host, simply raise an index finger for the priest to see and one will be provided.

To receive a blessing instead of communion, simply cross your arms over your chest.

Post-communion Prayer BCP p. 366

The BlessingClosing Hymn 100, Joy to the world! the Lord is come

Dismissal BCP p. 366

Postlude Hymn 111, Silent night, holy night (Please sing if you wish!)

Serving us:Sandy Stonhouse, 1st LessonCynthia Volkmann, PsalmSharon Nelson, 2nd LessonCynthia Volkmann, IntercessorCynthia Volkmann, Tony Hettler, Chalice BearersAssociate Priest: Fr. Alwyn Hall, Fr. John FerguesonGreeter: Kathy HolloUshers: John Stonhouse, Sandy StonhouseAltar Guild: Patti McGowan, Barbara Zimmer

AnnouncementsFrom Fr. John: For Episcopalians, the Holy Eucharist is

one trustworthy means for encountering the transforming love and redemptive power of God. Our Prayer Book catechism says that the Eucharist “is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.” Through the Eucharist, God grants us forgiveness of our sins, strengthens our union with Christ and one another, and nourishes us with a foretaste of eternal life.

We invite you to sing and respond without worrying about “performing.” Rise and move as you are able. Let the silences in the liturgy “speak” to you as God’s primary language of silence and stillness. At the passing of the peace, a simple hand-shake is sufficient. It is intended to be an expression of a desire for unity with each other in Christ rather than a greeting, and while we do tend to go on a bit at St. Elizabeth, please do not feel pressured to “work the room.”

If you are a guest or visitor, we are grateful for your presence with us and invite you to return whenever you can!

Altar flowers:Dorothy Armstrong in memory of loved onesTom & Paula CrowleyThe Danysh FamilyJeanette Hoerdt in memory of beloved GeorgeAnn JulinMeg MacDonald in memory of Susan Meneghel on the 3rd anniversary of her deathPatti McGowan in memory of Roy & Bettie Milbrand, her parentsSusan Preusse in memory of Charles PreusseChris ScofieldCarolyn TerryOther gifts given anonymously

Cycles of PrayerDecember 24, 2017

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry; our Bishop Gregory Rickel

For Fr. John, our associate priests, Fr. Alwyn and Fr. John, the Vestry and Wardens.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Diocese of Lafia in Nigeria, and the Right Reverend Miller Maza.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for St. Stephen, Oak Harbor; Grace Church, Lopez Island.

In the Parish Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Murray Dow; Moses, Regina, Leek & Dut Dut; Maurene Edwards; Fr. John & Ginny Fergueson; Richard & Ariana Fiol.

We pray for our neighbors at Navos, for Neighborhood House, for Hospitality House, for the men of Riverton Place, and for the safety of those in military service, especially Tim Chamberlain, Ryan Clogston, Jamie Donahue, Nick Hanson, Blake Harris, Amanda Hettler, Paul Pfeifer, Ryan Quinn; and for their families.

We pray for those on our long-term list: Denise Alden, Leslie Bachman, Phyllis Baker, Verda Baldinger, Dee Bounds, Lita Carlson, Joe Collins, Eric Danielson, David DeNoma, John Easley, John Funkhouser, Sylvia Funkhouser, Solveig Harbers, Margaret Harrison, Angela Heigh, Brian Hettler, Linda Hisken, Wes Ingrum, Kacey Johnston, Chip Mattingly, Pat McLaughlin, Coralyn Monroe, Cliff Orcutt, Tim Owens, Tony Palatini, Phyllis Pan, Bob Pigg, Irene Postetter, Charlotte Roberts, Kali Ruhl, Sister Leslie, Fr. Mike Wright, Bob Streuble.

This Week at St. Elizabeth

If you have any questions about this schedule or would like to schedule a private conversation with Fr. John, please call the office at 206.243-6844, Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Eve of the Nativity 12-24Al-Anon in St. John Room, 7:00 p.m.Holy Eucharist, 8:00 p.m., Nave

Feast of the Nativity 12-25Holy Eucharist, 10:00 a.m., Nave

Wednesday 12-26Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr(Office closed)No Evening PrayerCODA in St. John Room, 7:30 p.m.NA in Parish Hall, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday 12-27 Feast of St. John, Apostle and Gospeler(Office closed)Men’s AA in St. John Room, 5:30 p.m.

Friday 12-28 Feast of the Holy Innocents(Office closed)Al-Anon in St. John Room, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 12-29Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury

First Sunday in Christmas (Feast of the Holy Family) 12-30Choir practice, 9:30 a.m., choir loftHoly Eucharist, 10:00 a.m.

“What we are all searching for is Someone to surrender to, something we can prefer to life itself. Well, here is the wonderful surprise: God is the only one we can surrender to without losing ourselves. The irony is that we find ourselves, and now in a whole new field of meaning...

“It is surely counterintuitive, but it is the promise that came into the world on Christmas Day, ‘full of grace and truth.’ Jesus is the gift totally given, free for the taking, once and for all, to everybody and all of creation…

“Henceforth humanity has the right to know that it is good to be human, good to live on this earth, good to have a body, because God in Jesus chose and said ‘yes’ to our humanity.”

~ Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM