December 24, 2020 December 25, 2020

The Nativity of the Lord/Christmas

We warmly welcome all who have come to celebrate this glorious feast.

We welcome the stranger, the traveler and guest!

We welcome our students home from college for a good winter's rest!

We welcome parishioners who moved far away but join us as friends & guests!

We welcome all who have not been active of late in their Catholic faith; and hope they will find new hope and inspiration this Christmas

to come back again and again!

We welcome our faithful parishioners- joyful and true. May the Lord bless you for all you do!

Welcome to all!

May our gathering gladden our hearts and deepen our bonds. We, after all, are one People of God redeemed by Christ!

May we walk and live by Christ’s light together.

Pastor, Rev. Irinel Racos

All music reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE, License #A-700637. All rights reserved.

Vocal and Instrumental Christmas Music Festival

Christmas Eve at 8:00p.m.

followed by Christmas Eve Mass at 9:00p.m.

Will There Be Room? - Mark Patterson

Comfort Ye My People – G.F.Handel

Silent Night, Holy Night – arrangement for Organ by Robert Hebble

The Angel Gabriel, Basque Carol - arranged by Malcolm Archer

Gloria in Excelsis Deo - Taize

O Little Town of Bethlehem – Congregation, followed by the arrangement for Organ by Robert Hebble

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR HYMN “O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM”

Minuet Noel – arranged by Jean Anne Shafferman

Mary, Did You Know? – Mark Lowry/Buddy Greene

Away in a Manger – Congregation, followed by an arrangement for Organ by Robert Hebble

Welcome to Our World – Chris Rice

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J. S. Bach

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – Congregation, followed by an arrangement for Organ by Robert Hebble

Gesu Bambino – Pietro A. Yon

Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern (When the Morning Star Rises) - J. L. Krebs

Do You Hear What I Hear? – Noel Regney/Gloria Shayne

Canon in D-Major – J. Pachelbel

Fantasia on Adeste Fideles for Organ – Geoffrey Shaw

CANTORS

Dan Curry

Margaret Mesecher

Rebecca Overton

Kara Vertucci

Organist & Director of Music

Virgil Barkauskas

I confess to almighty God

and to you my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, All strike their breast as they say:

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary, ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Priest: May almighty God…everlasting life.

Assembly: Amen.

First Reading At the end of the reading… Lector: The Word of the Lord. Assembly: Thanks be to God!

Responsorial Psalm

PSALM 95

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. Second Reading At the end of the reading… Lector: The Word of the Lord. Assembly: Thanks be to God!

The Gospel

Deacon/Priest: The Lord be with you. Assembly: And with your spirit. Deacon/Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to. . . Assembly: + Glory to you, Lord!

After the Gospel

Deacon/Priest: The Gospel of the Lord. Assembly: Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ!

Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

(All bow at the following words up to and including and became man.)

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day

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.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful)

The Homily

4:00p.m. Christmas Eve Mass

9:00a.m. & 11:30a.m. Christmas Day Masses

9:00p.m. Christmas Eve Mass

O HOLY NIGHT

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born; O night, O holy night, O night Divine! Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever, His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Invitation to Prayer

Priest: Pray, that ... acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

Assembly: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,

for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Preface Dialogue

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Assembly: And with your spirit.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

Assembly: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Assembly: It is right and just.

Sign of Peace

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Assembly: And with your spirit.

Invitation to Communion

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of

the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Assembly: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Song of Praise after Communion

POSTLUDE: Toccata on Angels We Have Heard On High by Page C. Long

Concluding Rites

Priest: The Lord be with you. Assembly: And with your spirit.

Priest/Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended.

or Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

or Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Assembly: Thanks be to God.