| a weekly e-newsletter from Saint Martin's Church |
December 28, 2017
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This Week
at
St. Martin's
Rite I
Quiet Worship
8 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
9:00 a.m.
Rite II Lessons
& Carols
10 a.m.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Office is closed.
Tuesday
Worship Planning Meeting
5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Staff Meeting
10 a.m.
Holy Eucharist service
12:15 p.m.
Bible Study
7 p.m.
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Greeting
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
~ Matthew 2:1-2
In Matthew's Gospel, right after Jesus' birth we are taken to the story of the visiting "Magi" (3 Wise men). No one knows exactly who or what these figures were, as there is evidence of Magi (followers of Zoroaster) as far back as the 8c. BCE in Persia and as far away as China. What we do know is that there probably weren't 3 of them (the bible never says) and they weren't necessarily men. In the ancient world all we know for sure is that the Magi were concerned with astrology/astronomy (hard to know which) and magic (could refer to alchemy, medicine, or pulling cobras out of a hat). What we do know is the writer(s) of Matthew wanted to immediately move the local story of Jesus' birth to global, even cosmic proportions. As the Magi follow the light of the star, so we in the Church follow the light toward Epiphany- the revealing of Jesus' light to all people of the world. So in this continued season of Christmas (12 Days!) and on into Epiphany, as we walk toward the light with the Magi look around and see where God's light is piercing the darkness and offering new life and perspectives around you. And bring back a report!
Peace & blessings,
Chris+
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THIS Sunday!
This Sunday, December 31st at 10 a.m., St. Martin's Church will hold its annual Holy Eucharist Christmas service of Lessons and Carols. Several scripture passages will be read that tell the story of God's plan for the salvation of mankind as revealed in His Word. The story begins in the Book of Genesis and concludes with the Word made flesh in the first chapter of John. The readings will be followed by a carol that reflects the lesson's message. Please join us for this special service that hopefully will enrich your spirit with good tidings of great joy!
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Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow.
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Please pick up your 2018 Offering envelopes available in the Gurley Room. If envelopes were inadvertently not assigned to you, please contact the church office.
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Hurricane Relief
$1/Week Challenge Success
During this challenge we raised $503.50! With this collection, we now have sent $1,153.50 to the Diocese of Texas and Episcopal Relief & Development. Thank you to all who contributed!
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The Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez will visit St. Martin's Church on Sunday, January 21st, 2018. He will preside over one combined service at 10 a.m. for the Confirmation of Julia Nigro, Josh Penny, and Elizabeth Pettit.
Please save the date and plan on attending this special occasion!
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Upcoming Events
Lessons & Carols
THIS Sunday, 12/31, 10 a.m. - No Sunday School. Nursery is open.
Worship Planning Meeting
Tuesday, 1/2, 5:30 p.m.
Staff Meeting
Wednesday, 1/3, 10 a.m.
Parish Breakfast
Sunday, 1/7, 8:30 a.m. in Bolingbroke
Vestry Meeting
Monday, 1/15
Bishop's Visit & Confirmation
Sunday, 1/21, 10 a.m. Service (only one service for the day)
Annual Meeting
Sunday, 1/28, 11:15 a.m.
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Read and Ponder
this Week's Scriptures
The scripture readings for this Sunday are:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 147
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
John 1:1-18
The Collect
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Old Testament
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
The Response
Psalm 147
1 Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God upon the harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth;
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds and for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, in those who await his gracious favor.
13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you.
15 He has established peace on your borders; he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends out his command to the earth, and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; who can stand against his cold?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21 He has not done so to any other nation; to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah!
The Epistle
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
The Gospel
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
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| Saint Martin's Episcopal Church of Radnor
400 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087 (610) 688-4830 |
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