Theological Status: Critical Concern
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Thyatira
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Sermon Summary: This Christmas service celebrates the birth of Jesus and connects the manger to the cross, explaining that Christ came to redeem humanity. However, a closer look at the service's core rituals reveals a different understanding of how that redemption is applied, raising critical questions about the nature of faith, forgiveness, and how one approaches God.
Big Idea: Let our hearts be in a sense a new Bethlehem to make room for Him within us. [00:31:30 ▶️ 📄]
Pastoral Analysis: The homily itself is a gentle, topical reflection on the incarnation. However, it is delivered within a liturgical framework that is fundamentally at odds with the biblical gospel. The Eucharistic prayer explicitly claims to transform bread and wine into the physical body and blood of Christ for a 'pure sacrifice,' and prayers rely on the 'constant intercession' of saints. These elements constitute a denial of the sufficiency of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice and His unique role as the sole mediator, classifying the entire service as a proclamation of a different gospel.
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Thyatira — The service promotes teachings that functionally replace the sufficient, finished work of Christ with a system of ongoing ritual and mediated intercession.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The system presented is synergistic, relying on sacramental grace, human works, and the intercession of saints rather than justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. |
| Bibliology | ⚠️ WEAK | While Scripture is read, its authority is functionally subordinated to church tradition and ritual. The interpretation and application are governed by an extra-biblical theological system. |
| Hermeneutic | ❌ FAIL | The interpretation of Scripture is filtered through a framework that must support doctrines such as a continuing sacrifice and the intercession of saints, which are contrary to the plain teaching of the text. |
| Theology Proper | ⚠️ WEAK | While affirming the Trinity, the doctrine of God is compromised by functionally distributing the unique mediatorial role of the Son among deceased believers, thereby diminishing His singular sufficiency as High Priest. |
| Sacramentology | ❌ FAIL | The teaching of the Eucharist as a 'holy and living sacrifice' where bread and wine 'become the Body and Blood' of Christ is a repudiation of His finished work on the cross (Hebrews 10:12-14) and constitutes an unbiblical view of the ordinance. |
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
Primary Text: John 1:1-18 (Topical (Safe))
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 28 | Referenced: 4 | Alluded: 2
Passages Read Aloud:
Key References: Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 18:20
Christological Connection: Redemptive Trajectory: The sermon explicitly links the Nativity to the ultimate purpose of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, defining the birth as the necessary first step in paying the 'ransom' to redeem humanity from sin and reconcile them to the Father (00:23:45 ▶️ 📄-00:24:23 ▶️ 📄).
🧱 Sermon Outline
- The Purpose of the Incarnation (Redemption) [00:23:32 ▶️ 📄] : Christ was born to save, redeem what was lost through sin, and reconcile humanity to the Father, paying the ransom.
- The Four Mass Settings (Vigil, Night, Day) [00:25:02 ▶️ 📄] : Discussing the different Gospel readings: Genealogy (Vigil), Humble Birth/No Room at the Inn (Night), and John's spiritual view (Day).
- The Word Became Flesh (Pitching His Tent) [00:26:40 ▶️ 📄] : Focus on John 1:14, emphasizing Christ's continuous presence in Word, sacraments, priesthood, and community.
- Light Overcomes Darkness / Emmanuel [00:28:07 ▶️ 📄] : The light of Christ shines against the darkness of original sin. Emmanuel means God is with us in times of joy and sadness/loss.
- Christmas Joy and Responsibility [00:30:32 ▶️ 📄] : Joy should lead to Christian responsibility, faith, hope, and charity, and making room for Christ in our hearts.
💧 Sacraments & Ordinances
"graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ"
Fencing the Table (Communion):
- Believers Only Stated: ❌ No (Open Table Risk)
- Warning Against Unworthy Manner: ⚠️ None Detected
🗝️ Key Topics & Themes
- Nativity : The celebration of Christ's birth in time.
- Redemption : The act of saving humanity from sin, likened to paying a ransom.
- Incarnation : The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among humanity.
- Emmanuel : God's presence with humanity in all circumstances.
✅ Commendations
Homiletics | Clear Connection of Incarnation to Redemption
The speaker rightly connects the birth of Christ to His ultimate purpose: to 'save, to redeem what had been lost through sin' and to pay a 'ransom' (00:23:45 ▶️ 📄 - 00:24:23 ▶️ 📄). This correctly frames the nativity not as a sentimental story, but as the beginning of Christ's redemptive work.
Exegesis | Accurate Linguistic Insight
The explanation at 00:26:47 ▶️ 📄 that the phrase 'made his dwelling among us' (John 1:14) can be translated as 'pitched his tent among us' is an accurate and helpful exegetical point that enriches the understanding of the Incarnation.
Pastoral Tone | Gentle and Accessible Delivery
The speaker's tone is warm, gentle, and pastoral, creating a welcoming atmosphere for the congregation.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🔴 Doctrine of Continuing Sacrifice
Root Cause: Sacerdotalism: This view arises from a system where a special class of priests is believed to be necessary to mediate God's grace and re-present the sacrifice of Christ. It is a fundamental denial of the priesthood of all believers and of salvation by faith alone.
"Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of Your Son, His wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven... we offer You in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice." [00:46:52 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Hebrews 10:12, 14 states, 'But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' Christ's work is finished and unrepeatable.
🔴 Violation of Christ's Sole Mediatorship
Root Cause: Veneration of Saints: This practice evolved from honoring exemplary believers into a system of petitioning them for intercession, functionally creating a pantheon of lesser mediators that obscures the unique and sufficient role of Jesus Christ.
"...especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs... and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help." [00:47:30 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: 1 Timothy 2:5 says, 'For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.' Hebrews 7:25 adds that Christ 'is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.' His intercession is perfect and needs no assistance.
🟠 Synergistic Application
Root Cause: Semi-Pelagianism / Synergism: This is the doctrine that man is not spiritually dead but merely sick, and must cooperate with God's grace by an act of his own free will to initiate salvation. It denies the biblical doctrine of total depravity and God's monergistic work in regeneration.
"Let our hearts be in a sense a new Bethlehem to make room for Him within us." [00:31:30 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Ephesians 2:4-5 says, 'But God, who is rich in mercy... Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).' A dead person cannot 'make room'; they must be made alive by an external power.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:00:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[00:00:45] Let us pray.
[00:01:37] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:01:58] Amen.
[00:03:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Good morning.
[00:03:24] We welcome any visitors who join us for worship today as we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord.
[00:03:32] Today we will be taking up a second collection to support our assessment for retired priests.
[00:03:39] Anything beyond our assessment will be applied to facility maintenance.
[00:03:45] Please be generous.
[00:03:47] Please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode.
[00:03:52] Our presider for this Mass is Father Mark Lawler.
[00:03:56] Our gathering hymn is number 439 in the Gather Book, O Come All Ye Faithful.
[00:04:06] We will be singing verses one and four.
[00:04:09] Everyone please stand and join in singing.
[00:04:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
[00:04:47] Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
[00:04:53] O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
[00:05:19] Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.
[00:05:40] Word of our Father, now in flesh appearing,
[00:05:44] O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord
[00:06:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Intentions for this morning's Mass for the eternal peace of Margaret Shinoni and also the eternal peace of Donald Schaffer.
[00:06:28] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:06:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Amen.
[00:06:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[00:06:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:06:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Brothers and sisters, with joy at this celebration today, first we enter into these sacred mysteries humbly, acknowledging our faults and failures while trusting in God's mercy and peace.
[00:06:56] Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary.
[00:07:01] Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord Jesus, you are our light and our salvation.
[00:07:09] Christ, have mercy.
[00:07:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Christ, have mercy.
[00:07:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
You plead for us at the right hand of the Father.
[00:07:16] Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
[00:07:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Glory to God in the highest, and our help is to people of good faith.
[00:07:52] We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you.
[00:07:54] We give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty God.
[00:08:09] Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son,
[00:08:14] Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father You take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us
[00:08:30] You take away the sins of the world.
[00:08:53] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Please heed our prayer.
[00:08:54] You are seated at the right hand of the Father.
[00:08:55] Have mercy on us.
[00:08:55] For You alone are the Holy One.
[00:08:56] You alone are the Great Lord.
[00:08:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The Lord is the Most High, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.
[00:09:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:09:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us pray.
[00:09:28] O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray,
[00:09:45] that we may share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God forever and ever.
[00:10:01] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:10:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
[00:10:34] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, your God is king.
[00:10:58] Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly before their eyes the Lord restoring Zion.
[00:11:12] Break out together in song, O Rooms of Jerusalem, for the Lord comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem.
[00:11:25] The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations.
[00:11:32] All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our Lord.
[00:11:40] The Word of the Lord.
[00:11:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Thanks be to God.
[00:12:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God
[00:12:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The end of the earth has seen the saving power of God.
[00:12:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds.
[00:12:57] His right hand has won victory for
[00:13:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
All the ends of the earth has seen a saving power of God
[00:13:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
The Lord has made His salvation known In the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice He has remembered His kindness and His faithfulness To earth, the house of Israel
[00:13:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The earth hath seen the taming power of God All the ends of the earth have seen
[00:14:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
The salvation by our God Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands Break into song, sing praise All the ends of the earth Have seen the saving power
[00:14:42] Sing praise to the Lord with a harp With a harp and melodious song With trumpets and the sound of the horn Sing joyfully before the King, the Lord
[00:15:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
All the world has seen the Saviour come
[00:15:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews, brothers and sisters.
[00:15:46] In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
[00:15:54] In these days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things, and through whom he created the universe.
[00:16:03] Who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word?
[00:16:13] When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels, as the name he had inherited is more excellent than theirs.
[00:16:28] For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my son, this day I have begotten you?
[00:16:36] Or again, I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
[00:16:42] And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all the angels of God worship him.
[00:16:53] The word of the Lord.
[00:16:55] Thanks be to God.
[00:17:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
[00:17:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
A holy day has dawned upon us.
[00:17:44] Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
[00:17:49] For today a great light has come upon the earth.
[00:18:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Alleluia!
[00:18:04] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Alleluia!
[00:18:06] Alleluia!
[00:18:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[00:18:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:18:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.
[00:18:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Glory to you, O Lord.
[00:18:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[00:18:33] He was in the beginning with God.
[00:18:36] All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
[00:18:46] What came about, what came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race.
[00:18:54] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[00:19:01] A man named John was sent from God.
[00:19:04] He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
[00:19:10] He was not the light.
[00:19:12] who came to testify to the light, the true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
[00:19:18] He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
[00:19:25] He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
[00:19:31] But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God.
[00:19:37] To those who believe in his name,
[00:19:40] who were born not by natural generation, nor by human choice, nor by a man's decision, but of God.
[00:19:50] And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
[00:19:56] And we saw His glory, the glory as of God's only Son, full of grace and truth.
[00:20:04] John testified to Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said,
[00:20:10] The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.
[00:20:18] From his fullness we have all received.
[00:20:22] Grace in place of grace.
[00:20:25] Because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
[00:20:33] No one has ever seen God, the only Son,
[00:20:37] God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed Him.
[00:20:43] The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:20:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:20:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
It is certainly a beautiful Christmas morning and it is
[00:21:05] Delight for me as pastor to see all of you gathered here.
[00:21:09] And certainly it seems like there's little space in the pews so people can spread out a little bit more.
[00:21:16] We had a little different story at 4 p.m. yesterday.
[00:21:19] I think the parking lot was full at about 3.30 in anticipation of the Mass and people were trying to park anywhere as usually happens.
[00:21:31] One of the counters told me, he said, Father, we've already counted 1,600 people for the church.
[00:21:39] Of course, many of them were standing or out in the plaza, and I never heard the count, but the chapel and the family room were full as well.
[00:21:48] So quite a big crowd.
[00:21:50] It was a very popular time on Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. Kind of reminded me of something one of the old funeral directors told me when I first came here eight years ago.
[00:22:02] He was a native of Mooresville and he told me, he said, I can remember when there were five families in that parish.
[00:22:09] I thought to myself, well, there's more than five families in the parish now.
[00:22:13] And the parish has been growing probably ever since there was five families just in the last year or so.
[00:22:20] Several hundred families have registered here.
[00:22:24] It is a sense of great celebration beginning on Christmas Eve and one of the things I was thinking about years ago was of the time zones throughout the world and not just the continents but the islands and the oceans and things like that.
[00:22:41] that like we're here at 10 a.m. somewhere else they're celebrating Midnight Mass you know the whole it's like a chorus of praise of the hymns the masses the prayers the devotions kind of a continuous time of devotion and glory to God and we are in a sense united here not just on this hill but
[00:23:06] With our brothers and sisters throughout the church, throughout the world, different cultures, different languages, but we are united in faith, especially on great days such as Christmas and Easter where for a great purpose, you know, in our population for these masses is
[00:23:28] and more than twice the normal Sunday so it just gives us an impression that there are a lot of faithful people here in this community we celebrate how the divine Son of God was born in time according to the Father's plan and he was born to save to redeem what had been lost through sin
[00:23:54] Reconcile humanity to the Father.
[00:24:00] Remember when I was studying, the word redemption has kind of the same root as the word ransom.
[00:24:11] And we can, I think many people can understand the kind of a bad thing that happens when someone's kidnapped.
[00:24:18] And the kidnappers may ask, okay, this is the ransom.
[00:24:21] You pay this amount.
[00:24:23] and the person will be set free well there's a certain connection there that through the sacrifice of Calvary the ransom has been paid we have been reconciled redeemed to the Father and again it's our responsibility then to live in the light of that redemption to appreciate the sacrifice of our Lord
[00:24:50] But before his passion and death on Calvary, first he was born in time.
[00:24:57] And so that's what we're celebrating throughout the world.
[00:25:02] There's actually four different mass settings for Christmas.
[00:25:08] We have the Vigil Mass, which is Christmas Eve, and in the Vigil Mass we have the Gospel of the Genealogy.
[00:25:17] There's a message there that Jesus is born of a family.
[00:25:21] You know, He just didn't appear on a mountain somewhere, but He was born in His long
[00:25:27] genealogy and pretty pretty much every name in that genealogy there's a story behind that and perhaps like some of our own families there's there's saints and sinners even in the genealogy of our Lord but they're all honored to be part of that genealogy the mass at night
[00:25:46] We had last night the Gospel passage is the common thing we all tend to think about that we have here in the Nativity set, no room at the inn.
[00:25:58] The Lord was born in very
[00:26:00] Humble conditions among animals, among the shepherds.
[00:26:04] Very humble.
[00:26:05] The king of kings was not born in a palace.
[00:26:09] Born in very humble conditions and no room in the inn.
[00:26:13] I was in Bethlehem years ago on a pilgrimage.
[00:26:17] It could have been something like a cave or just like a like a cove of some kind.
[00:26:24] But it was a very humble condition for the Holy Family.
[00:26:29] And for the Mass during the day, we have the Gospel of John, which is kind of a very spiritual view of our Lord's coming in time.
[00:26:40] The Apostle wrote, the Word became flesh,
[00:26:47] and made his dwelling among us.
[00:26:50] I remember when I was studying the Gospel of Saint John that a more accurate translation would be he made his dwelling among us or he pitched his tent among us and as a former backpacker what a beautiful image you know if you've ever set up a tent
[00:27:11] That can be your shelter from the elements for the night.
[00:27:16] And the Lord pitched His tent among us.
[00:27:20] You know, His presence.
[00:27:21] And the presence continues certainly in His Word, in His sacraments, in His priesthood, and in the gathered community where two or three gather in His name.
[00:27:31] He is among us.
[00:27:34] And the different readings for the different celebrations at Christmas, they all have a great significance.
[00:27:42] A child has been born to us, a son given, and they shall call him Wonder Counselor, God Hero, Father Forever, and Prince of Peace from the prophecy of Isaiah.
[00:28:00] Beautiful imagery for us in the sense of fulfillment.
[00:28:07] Even today, the reading, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
[00:28:14] From the time of original sin, disobedience to God, there was a certain sense of a cloud over humanity.
[00:28:23] I mean, there were righteous people, but there was a certain cloud in need of a Redeemer.
[00:28:29] And so the vision I have is that the Lord's birth in the little town of Bethlehem, there was kind of a joining of heaven and earth and the light as we have in this reading today.
[00:28:42] The light shined and the darkness has not overcome it.
[00:28:47] The darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ.
[00:28:55] The reading, we had the revelation to Saint Joseph, he will be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.
[00:29:05] We can look at that, I think, certainly in our times of family gatherings,
[00:29:10] I know we have many people visiting families, maybe from college, from other states, neighbors, godparents, all these types of things, grandparents, together.
[00:29:22] Times of joy, Immanuel God is with us.
[00:29:26] Also in times of sadness, of hardship, of loss, we've had a
[00:29:32] Hundreds of families registered in the parish in the last couple of years, but also we've had quite a number of deaths of parishioners as well, of family members, and again, there's an empty place at Christmas, and certainly we acknowledge the sadness and the loss, and also the sense of Emmanuel.
[00:29:54] God is with us in these times as well, and for us to persevere
[00:30:01] One of the songs the choir led yesterday before the Vigil Mass, Go Tell It on the Mountain.
[00:30:08] Remind me of my youth, we used to sing that song in a whole sense of sharing the good news.
[00:30:15] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings glad tidings.
[00:30:23] And glad tidings, another way to say glad tidings is the gospel.
[00:30:28] The good news of our Lord.
[00:30:32] I think from the sense of Christmas joy and it certainly is a joyful time we certainly see this among children especially last night and today we see the joy of children and it helps us a little older to remember that whole sense of joy and wonder yesterday seeing the
[00:30:51] Children come up to take a good look at the Nativity set, the joy on their face.
[00:30:58] The Christmas joy should lead us to Christian responsibility.
[00:31:04] A sense of faith, hope, and charity leading us along that way.
[00:31:12] In the Gospel, when our Lord entered the world, we know that there was no room for Him at the inn.
[00:31:22] A reminder for us to make room in our homes, in our families,
[00:31:27] In our hearts make room for the Lord.
[00:31:30] Let our hearts be in a sense a new Bethlehem to make room for Him within us.
[00:31:38] And from one of the Christmas cards I received, this beautiful expression here, the spirit of Christmas is peace.
[00:31:53] The gladness of Christmas is hope.
[00:31:57] and the heart of Christmas is love.
[00:32:23] One of the instructions for the Christmas Masses is that during the
[00:32:27] Proclamation of the Creed that all may genuflect at the words of the Incarnation.
[00:32:35] That's if you're physically able.
[00:32:38] I've had a few people tell me, Father, if I get down, I might not be able to get back up.
[00:32:43] So if you're able to genuflect, that's fine.
[00:32:50] I believe in one God, the Father Almighty.
[00:32:53] The Maker of heaven and earth, of all things, visible and invisible.
[00:32:59] I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages,
[00:33:07] God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
[00:33:16] Through him all things were made.
[00:33:19] For us men, for our salvation, he came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
[00:33:30] For our sake he was crucified, the Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
[00:33:47] He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
[00:33:54] 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.
[00:34:08] I believe in one holy Catholic apostolic Church.
[00:34:12] 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.
[00:34:22] Amen.
[00:34:25] In hope we pray for the needs of the Church and the world.
[00:34:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For the Holy Father and the bishops who assist him in their life, teaching, preaching, and pastoral care will proclaim the saving fact of the Incarnation to everyone throughout the world.
[00:35:06] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For our President and all elected officials, that they will have the strength and courage to lead our nation in the ways of enduring righteousness and freedom.
[00:35:25] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For lasting peace throughout the world, that the celebration remembering the coming of the Prince of Peace
[00:35:38] will put an end to all enmity and division and unify the peoples of the world.
[00:35:47] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For greater respect for all human life, for the forgotten, the poor, and the abused, that they will experience in a powerful way the tenderness and compassion born for us this Christmas day.
[00:36:09] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:36:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
that all Christians will be serious in responding to the universal call to holiness by living their faith with unfailing fervor and steadfastness.
[00:36:27] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord hear our prayer.
[00:36:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For families, that the grace of this Christmas will draw family members together in fresh expressions of love and belonging that will last for a lifetime.
[00:36:46] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:36:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For all those who have died, especially those of the past year from our families and parish,
[00:36:58] that the Lord will bring them to the fullness of joy in eternal life.
[00:37:04] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For those preparing for the sacraments of initiation and for vocations of service and devotion in the life of the Church, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For all intentions we bring to you now,
[00:37:27] In the silence of our hearts.
[00:37:33] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:39] Eternal and gracious God, we lift up these prayers to you from our hearts.
[00:37:44] We pray that you grant them through Christ our Lord.
[00:37:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our operatory hymn is number 463 in your gather hymnal, We Three Kings of Orient Are, number 463.
[00:38:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:38:30] Amen.
[00:38:30] Star of wonder, star of night, soaring royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still cross-stealing, light and still, thy perfect light.
[00:38:51] The King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing ever For us all to reign
[00:39:10] The one who's star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Firstward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
[00:39:28] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:39:47] Star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
[00:40:12] Fur is mine, it's bitter perfume, Bleeds a life of gathering moon,
[00:40:14] Star of wonder, star of light Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, silver-seeding Guide us to thy perfect light
[00:40:43] Alleluia, sound behold Him arise, King of God and sacrifice, Alleluia, alleluia, come through the earth and sky
[00:41:04] Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.
[00:41:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Make acceptable, O Lord, our oblation on this solemn day when you manifested the reconciliation that makes us wholly pleasing in your sight and inaugurated for us the fullness of divine worship through Christ our Lord.
[00:42:04] The Lord be with you.
[00:42:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:42:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lift up your hearts.
[00:42:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
We lift them up to the Lord.
[00:42:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
[00:42:15] It is right and just.
[00:42:15] It is truly right and just.
[00:42:18] Our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks.
[00:42:24] Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
[00:42:29] For on the feast of this all-filled mystery,
[00:42:34] Though invisible in his own divine nature he has appeared visibly in ours and begotten before all ages he has begun to exist in time so that raising up in himself all that was cast down he might restore unity to all creation and call straying humanity back to the heavenly kingdom and so
[00:43:02] With all the angels we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim.
[00:43:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts.
[00:43:27] Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
[00:43:30] Hosanna!
[00:43:48] Hosanna in the highest!
[00:43:49] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna!
[00:43:50] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Hosanna in the highest!
[00:44:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
You are indeed holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.
[00:44:32] Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you, by the same Spirit, graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.
[00:44:53] For on the night he was betrayed,
[00:44:55] He himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.
[00:45:29] In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying, take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal
[00:45:51] Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:45:57] Do this in memory of me.
[00:46:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
The mystery of faith.
[00:46:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Save us, Savior of the world, born by your cross and resurrection,
[00:46:44] You have set us free
[00:46:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of Your Son, His wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, and as we look forward to His Second Coming, we offer You in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
[00:47:11] Look, we pray, upon the oblation of Your Church,
[00:47:14] and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with His Holy Spirit may become one body
[00:47:30] One Spirit in Christ, may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, with Saint Therese and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence
[00:47:57] We rely for unfailing help.
[00:48:00] May this sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.
[00:48:11] Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant Leo, our pope, and Michael, our bishop, the order of bishops, all the clergy,
[00:48:24] and the entire people you have gained for your own.
[00:48:29] Listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you.
[00:48:35] In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children
[00:48:42] scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through Christ our Lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good
[00:49:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Through Him and with Him and in Him O God, Almighty Father In the unity of the Holy Spirit All glory and honor is Yours Forever and ever
[00:49:37] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen!
[00:49:41] Amen!
[00:49:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Amen!
[00:49:50] At the Savior's command, informed by divine teaching, we dare to say,
[00:49:57] Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
[00:50:14] As we forgive the trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
[00:50:23] Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil.
[00:50:26] Graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
[00:50:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
[00:50:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
[00:51:08] Amen.
[00:51:08] The peace of the Lord be with you always.
[00:51:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:51:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
[00:51:43] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Recompense, Recompense.
[00:51:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:17] Have mercy on us.
[00:52:17] Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Have mercy
[00:52:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:37] Do not hold me fast but speak.
[00:52:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
[00:53:04] Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
[00:53:11] Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
[00:53:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The body of Christ.
[00:54:04] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
The body of Christ.
[00:54:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
What's this?
[00:54:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I'm sorry.
[00:54:48] That's okay.
[00:54:49] What's that on the back?
[00:54:52] Oh, thanks.
[00:55:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[00:55:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our first communion hymn is number 76 in your Breaking Bread book, Bread of Life, number 76, and we're going to sing the Christmas verses.
[00:56:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Bread of life, home of the world, Jesus Christ, your brother,
[00:56:17] Lead us now, give us life, lead us to one another.
[00:56:35] A child is born to us, a son is given to us.
[00:56:42] In our midst Christ our Lord and God comes to son who serves.
[00:56:45] Jesus Christ, our Father, feed us now, give us life, lead us to God our Father.
[00:57:04] With our own eyes we see, with our own ears we hear, The salvation of all the world, God's incarnate Word.
[00:57:24] Bread of life, hope of the world, Jesus Christ, our brother, feed us now.
[00:57:32] Give us life.
[00:57:37] You are our hope of all, our promise and our call Radiant light in our darkness Truth to set us free Bread of life, hope of the world Jesus Christ, our brother
[00:58:06] Feed us now, give us life, lead us to one another.
[00:58:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our next communion hymn is 446 in your gather hymnal, O Little Town of Bethlehem, number 446.
[00:58:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep Thy silent stars so bright
[00:59:13] Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
[00:59:43] While mortals sleep, the angels weep, their heart a-wondering of All morning stars together proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King and peace to all on earth
[01:00:12] How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
[01:00:22] So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His hand.
[01:00:34] No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin
[01:00:40] Where these souls will receive instead the dear Christ entered in O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
[01:01:00] Cast out all sins and enter in, be born in us today.
[01:01:11] We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell.
[01:01:20] O come to us, abide in us, our Lord Emmanuel.
[01:01:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our next communion hymn is 448 and gather away in a manger number 448.
[01:01:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
A way in a manger, no crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet bed The stars in the sky looked down when he lay The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
[01:02:30] I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh
[01:02:59] Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay.
[01:03:23] Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
[01:03:24] Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and bid us for heaven to live with Thee.
[01:03:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Amen.
[01:04:13] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[01:04:46] Let us pray.
[01:04:58] Let us pray.
[01:05:20] Let's pray.
[01:06:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us pray.
[01:06:27] Grant, O merciful God, that just as the Savior of the world born this day is the author of divine generation for us, so may he be the giver even of immortality who lives and reigns forever and ever.
[01:06:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[01:06:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
On behalf of the priests, deacons, and staff of St. Therese, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
[01:07:00] The parish offices will be closed through Sunday, December 28.
[01:07:05] Office hours will resume on Monday, December 29.
[01:07:10] Please check the bulletin for more information about what's happening here at St. Therese.
[01:07:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[01:07:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And with thy spirit.
[01:07:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
May Almighty God bless you, Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit.
[01:07:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Amen.
[01:07:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Go in peace.
[01:07:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Thanks be to God.
[01:07:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Our concluding hymn is number 424, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
[01:07:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Hark!
[01:07:52] the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!
[01:07:59] Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem
[01:08:29] Christ the highest heaven adored Christ the everlasting born
[01:08:52] Late in time behold him come Offspring of the Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as then with us to dwell
[01:09:18] Jesus our Emmanuel Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King
Let us pray.
[00:00:45] Let us pray.
[00:01:37] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:01:58] Amen.
[00:03:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Good morning.
[00:03:24] We welcome any visitors who join us for worship today as we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord.
[00:03:32] Today we will be taking up a second collection to support our assessment for retired priests.
[00:03:39] Anything beyond our assessment will be applied to facility maintenance.
[00:03:45] Please be generous.
[00:03:47] Please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode.
[00:03:52] Our presider for this Mass is Father Mark Lawler.
[00:03:56] Our gathering hymn is number 439 in the Gather Book, O Come All Ye Faithful.
[00:04:06] We will be singing verses one and four.
[00:04:09] Everyone please stand and join in singing.
[00:04:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
[00:04:47] Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
[00:04:53] O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
[00:05:19] Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.
[00:05:40] Word of our Father, now in flesh appearing,
[00:05:44] O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord
[00:06:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Intentions for this morning's Mass for the eternal peace of Margaret Shinoni and also the eternal peace of Donald Schaffer.
[00:06:28] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:06:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Amen.
[00:06:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[00:06:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:06:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Brothers and sisters, with joy at this celebration today, first we enter into these sacred mysteries humbly, acknowledging our faults and failures while trusting in God's mercy and peace.
[00:06:56] Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God and Son of Mary.
[00:07:01] Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord Jesus, you are our light and our salvation.
[00:07:09] Christ, have mercy.
[00:07:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Christ, have mercy.
[00:07:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
You plead for us at the right hand of the Father.
[00:07:16] Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord, have mercy.
[00:07:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
[00:07:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Glory to God in the highest, and our help is to people of good faith.
[00:07:52] We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you.
[00:07:54] We give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty God.
[00:08:09] Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son,
[00:08:14] Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father You take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us
[00:08:30] You take away the sins of the world.
[00:08:53] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Please heed our prayer.
[00:08:54] You are seated at the right hand of the Father.
[00:08:55] Have mercy on us.
[00:08:55] For You alone are the Holy One.
[00:08:56] You alone are the Great Lord.
[00:08:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The Lord is the Most High, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.
[00:09:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:09:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us pray.
[00:09:28] O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray,
[00:09:45] that we may share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God forever and ever.
[00:10:01] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:10:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
[00:10:34] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, your God is king.
[00:10:58] Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly before their eyes the Lord restoring Zion.
[00:11:12] Break out together in song, O Rooms of Jerusalem, for the Lord comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem.
[00:11:25] The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations.
[00:11:32] All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our Lord.
[00:11:40] The Word of the Lord.
[00:11:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Thanks be to God.
[00:12:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God
[00:12:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The end of the earth has seen the saving power of God.
[00:12:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds.
[00:12:57] His right hand has won victory for
[00:13:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
All the ends of the earth has seen a saving power of God
[00:13:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
The Lord has made His salvation known In the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice He has remembered His kindness and His faithfulness To earth, the house of Israel
[00:13:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The earth hath seen the taming power of God All the ends of the earth have seen
[00:14:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
The salvation by our God Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands Break into song, sing praise All the ends of the earth Have seen the saving power
[00:14:42] Sing praise to the Lord with a harp With a harp and melodious song With trumpets and the sound of the horn Sing joyfully before the King, the Lord
[00:15:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
All the world has seen the Saviour come
[00:15:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews, brothers and sisters.
[00:15:46] In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
[00:15:54] In these days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things, and through whom he created the universe.
[00:16:03] Who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word?
[00:16:13] When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels, as the name he had inherited is more excellent than theirs.
[00:16:28] For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my son, this day I have begotten you?
[00:16:36] Or again, I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
[00:16:42] And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all the angels of God worship him.
[00:16:53] The word of the Lord.
[00:16:55] Thanks be to God.
[00:17:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
[00:17:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
A holy day has dawned upon us.
[00:17:44] Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
[00:17:49] For today a great light has come upon the earth.
[00:18:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Alleluia!
[00:18:04] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Alleluia!
[00:18:06] Alleluia!
[00:18:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[00:18:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:18:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.
[00:18:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Glory to you, O Lord.
[00:18:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[00:18:33] He was in the beginning with God.
[00:18:36] All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
[00:18:46] What came about, what came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race.
[00:18:54] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[00:19:01] A man named John was sent from God.
[00:19:04] He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
[00:19:10] He was not the light.
[00:19:12] who came to testify to the light, the true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
[00:19:18] He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
[00:19:25] He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
[00:19:31] But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God.
[00:19:37] To those who believe in his name,
[00:19:40] who were born not by natural generation, nor by human choice, nor by a man's decision, but of God.
[00:19:50] And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
[00:19:56] And we saw His glory, the glory as of God's only Son, full of grace and truth.
[00:20:04] John testified to Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said,
[00:20:10] The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.
[00:20:18] From his fullness we have all received.
[00:20:22] Grace in place of grace.
[00:20:25] Because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
[00:20:33] No one has ever seen God, the only Son,
[00:20:37] God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed Him.
[00:20:43] The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:20:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:20:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
It is certainly a beautiful Christmas morning and it is
[00:21:05] Delight for me as pastor to see all of you gathered here.
[00:21:09] And certainly it seems like there's little space in the pews so people can spread out a little bit more.
[00:21:16] We had a little different story at 4 p.m. yesterday.
[00:21:19] I think the parking lot was full at about 3.30 in anticipation of the Mass and people were trying to park anywhere as usually happens.
[00:21:31] One of the counters told me, he said, Father, we've already counted 1,600 people for the church.
[00:21:39] Of course, many of them were standing or out in the plaza, and I never heard the count, but the chapel and the family room were full as well.
[00:21:48] So quite a big crowd.
[00:21:50] It was a very popular time on Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. Kind of reminded me of something one of the old funeral directors told me when I first came here eight years ago.
[00:22:02] He was a native of Mooresville and he told me, he said, I can remember when there were five families in that parish.
[00:22:09] I thought to myself, well, there's more than five families in the parish now.
[00:22:13] And the parish has been growing probably ever since there was five families just in the last year or so.
[00:22:20] Several hundred families have registered here.
[00:22:24] It is a sense of great celebration beginning on Christmas Eve and one of the things I was thinking about years ago was of the time zones throughout the world and not just the continents but the islands and the oceans and things like that.
[00:22:41] that like we're here at 10 a.m. somewhere else they're celebrating Midnight Mass you know the whole it's like a chorus of praise of the hymns the masses the prayers the devotions kind of a continuous time of devotion and glory to God and we are in a sense united here not just on this hill but
[00:23:06] With our brothers and sisters throughout the church, throughout the world, different cultures, different languages, but we are united in faith, especially on great days such as Christmas and Easter where for a great purpose, you know, in our population for these masses is
[00:23:28] and more than twice the normal Sunday so it just gives us an impression that there are a lot of faithful people here in this community we celebrate how the divine Son of God was born in time according to the Father's plan and he was born to save to redeem what had been lost through sin
[00:23:54] Reconcile humanity to the Father.
[00:24:00] Remember when I was studying, the word redemption has kind of the same root as the word ransom.
[00:24:11] And we can, I think many people can understand the kind of a bad thing that happens when someone's kidnapped.
[00:24:18] And the kidnappers may ask, okay, this is the ransom.
[00:24:21] You pay this amount.
[00:24:23] and the person will be set free well there's a certain connection there that through the sacrifice of Calvary the ransom has been paid we have been reconciled redeemed to the Father and again it's our responsibility then to live in the light of that redemption to appreciate the sacrifice of our Lord
[00:24:50] But before his passion and death on Calvary, first he was born in time.
[00:24:57] And so that's what we're celebrating throughout the world.
[00:25:02] There's actually four different mass settings for Christmas.
[00:25:08] We have the Vigil Mass, which is Christmas Eve, and in the Vigil Mass we have the Gospel of the Genealogy.
[00:25:17] There's a message there that Jesus is born of a family.
[00:25:21] You know, He just didn't appear on a mountain somewhere, but He was born in His long
[00:25:27] genealogy and pretty pretty much every name in that genealogy there's a story behind that and perhaps like some of our own families there's there's saints and sinners even in the genealogy of our Lord but they're all honored to be part of that genealogy the mass at night
[00:25:46] We had last night the Gospel passage is the common thing we all tend to think about that we have here in the Nativity set, no room at the inn.
[00:25:58] The Lord was born in very
[00:26:00] Humble conditions among animals, among the shepherds.
[00:26:04] Very humble.
[00:26:05] The king of kings was not born in a palace.
[00:26:09] Born in very humble conditions and no room in the inn.
[00:26:13] I was in Bethlehem years ago on a pilgrimage.
[00:26:17] It could have been something like a cave or just like a like a cove of some kind.
[00:26:24] But it was a very humble condition for the Holy Family.
[00:26:29] And for the Mass during the day, we have the Gospel of John, which is kind of a very spiritual view of our Lord's coming in time.
[00:26:40] The Apostle wrote, the Word became flesh,
[00:26:47] and made his dwelling among us.
[00:26:50] I remember when I was studying the Gospel of Saint John that a more accurate translation would be he made his dwelling among us or he pitched his tent among us and as a former backpacker what a beautiful image you know if you've ever set up a tent
[00:27:11] That can be your shelter from the elements for the night.
[00:27:16] And the Lord pitched His tent among us.
[00:27:20] You know, His presence.
[00:27:21] And the presence continues certainly in His Word, in His sacraments, in His priesthood, and in the gathered community where two or three gather in His name.
[00:27:31] He is among us.
[00:27:34] And the different readings for the different celebrations at Christmas, they all have a great significance.
[00:27:42] A child has been born to us, a son given, and they shall call him Wonder Counselor, God Hero, Father Forever, and Prince of Peace from the prophecy of Isaiah.
[00:28:00] Beautiful imagery for us in the sense of fulfillment.
[00:28:07] Even today, the reading, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
[00:28:14] From the time of original sin, disobedience to God, there was a certain sense of a cloud over humanity.
[00:28:23] I mean, there were righteous people, but there was a certain cloud in need of a Redeemer.
[00:28:29] And so the vision I have is that the Lord's birth in the little town of Bethlehem, there was kind of a joining of heaven and earth and the light as we have in this reading today.
[00:28:42] The light shined and the darkness has not overcome it.
[00:28:47] The darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ.
[00:28:55] The reading, we had the revelation to Saint Joseph, he will be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.
[00:29:05] We can look at that, I think, certainly in our times of family gatherings,
[00:29:10] I know we have many people visiting families, maybe from college, from other states, neighbors, godparents, all these types of things, grandparents, together.
[00:29:22] Times of joy, Immanuel God is with us.
[00:29:26] Also in times of sadness, of hardship, of loss, we've had a
[00:29:32] Hundreds of families registered in the parish in the last couple of years, but also we've had quite a number of deaths of parishioners as well, of family members, and again, there's an empty place at Christmas, and certainly we acknowledge the sadness and the loss, and also the sense of Emmanuel.
[00:29:54] God is with us in these times as well, and for us to persevere
[00:30:01] One of the songs the choir led yesterday before the Vigil Mass, Go Tell It on the Mountain.
[00:30:08] Remind me of my youth, we used to sing that song in a whole sense of sharing the good news.
[00:30:15] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings glad tidings.
[00:30:23] And glad tidings, another way to say glad tidings is the gospel.
[00:30:28] The good news of our Lord.
[00:30:32] I think from the sense of Christmas joy and it certainly is a joyful time we certainly see this among children especially last night and today we see the joy of children and it helps us a little older to remember that whole sense of joy and wonder yesterday seeing the
[00:30:51] Children come up to take a good look at the Nativity set, the joy on their face.
[00:30:58] The Christmas joy should lead us to Christian responsibility.
[00:31:04] A sense of faith, hope, and charity leading us along that way.
[00:31:12] In the Gospel, when our Lord entered the world, we know that there was no room for Him at the inn.
[00:31:22] A reminder for us to make room in our homes, in our families,
[00:31:27] In our hearts make room for the Lord.
[00:31:30] Let our hearts be in a sense a new Bethlehem to make room for Him within us.
[00:31:38] And from one of the Christmas cards I received, this beautiful expression here, the spirit of Christmas is peace.
[00:31:53] The gladness of Christmas is hope.
[00:31:57] and the heart of Christmas is love.
[00:32:23] One of the instructions for the Christmas Masses is that during the
[00:32:27] Proclamation of the Creed that all may genuflect at the words of the Incarnation.
[00:32:35] That's if you're physically able.
[00:32:38] I've had a few people tell me, Father, if I get down, I might not be able to get back up.
[00:32:43] So if you're able to genuflect, that's fine.
[00:32:50] I believe in one God, the Father Almighty.
[00:32:53] The Maker of heaven and earth, of all things, visible and invisible.
[00:32:59] I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages,
[00:33:07] God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
[00:33:16] Through him all things were made.
[00:33:19] For us men, for our salvation, he came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
[00:33:30] For our sake he was crucified, the Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
[00:33:47] He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
[00:33:54] 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.
[00:34:08] I believe in one holy Catholic apostolic Church.
[00:34:12] 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.
[00:34:22] Amen.
[00:34:25] In hope we pray for the needs of the Church and the world.
[00:34:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For the Holy Father and the bishops who assist him in their life, teaching, preaching, and pastoral care will proclaim the saving fact of the Incarnation to everyone throughout the world.
[00:35:06] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For our President and all elected officials, that they will have the strength and courage to lead our nation in the ways of enduring righteousness and freedom.
[00:35:25] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For lasting peace throughout the world, that the celebration remembering the coming of the Prince of Peace
[00:35:38] will put an end to all enmity and division and unify the peoples of the world.
[00:35:47] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:35:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:35:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For greater respect for all human life, for the forgotten, the poor, and the abused, that they will experience in a powerful way the tenderness and compassion born for us this Christmas day.
[00:36:09] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:36:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
that all Christians will be serious in responding to the universal call to holiness by living their faith with unfailing fervor and steadfastness.
[00:36:27] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord hear our prayer.
[00:36:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For families, that the grace of this Christmas will draw family members together in fresh expressions of love and belonging that will last for a lifetime.
[00:36:46] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:36:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:36:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For all those who have died, especially those of the past year from our families and parish,
[00:36:58] that the Lord will bring them to the fullness of joy in eternal life.
[00:37:04] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For those preparing for the sacraments of initiation and for vocations of service and devotion in the life of the Church, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
For all intentions we bring to you now,
[00:37:27] In the silence of our hearts.
[00:37:33] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:39] Eternal and gracious God, we lift up these prayers to you from our hearts.
[00:37:44] We pray that you grant them through Christ our Lord.
[00:37:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our operatory hymn is number 463 in your gather hymnal, We Three Kings of Orient Are, number 463.
[00:38:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:38:30] Amen.
[00:38:30] Star of wonder, star of night, soaring royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still cross-stealing, light and still, thy perfect light.
[00:38:51] The King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing ever For us all to reign
[00:39:10] The one who's star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Firstward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
[00:39:28] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:39:47] Star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
[00:40:12] Fur is mine, it's bitter perfume, Bleeds a life of gathering moon,
[00:40:14] Star of wonder, star of light Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, silver-seeding Guide us to thy perfect light
[00:40:43] Alleluia, sound behold Him arise, King of God and sacrifice, Alleluia, alleluia, come through the earth and sky
[00:41:04] Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.
[00:41:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Make acceptable, O Lord, our oblation on this solemn day when you manifested the reconciliation that makes us wholly pleasing in your sight and inaugurated for us the fullness of divine worship through Christ our Lord.
[00:42:04] The Lord be with you.
[00:42:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:42:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lift up your hearts.
[00:42:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
We lift them up to the Lord.
[00:42:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
[00:42:15] It is right and just.
[00:42:15] It is truly right and just.
[00:42:18] Our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks.
[00:42:24] Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
[00:42:29] For on the feast of this all-filled mystery,
[00:42:34] Though invisible in his own divine nature he has appeared visibly in ours and begotten before all ages he has begun to exist in time so that raising up in himself all that was cast down he might restore unity to all creation and call straying humanity back to the heavenly kingdom and so
[00:43:02] With all the angels we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim.
[00:43:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts.
[00:43:27] Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
[00:43:30] Hosanna!
[00:43:48] Hosanna in the highest!
[00:43:49] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna!
[00:43:50] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Hosanna in the highest!
[00:44:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
You are indeed holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.
[00:44:32] Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you, by the same Spirit, graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.
[00:44:53] For on the night he was betrayed,
[00:44:55] He himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.
[00:45:29] In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying, take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal
[00:45:51] Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:45:57] Do this in memory of me.
[00:46:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
The mystery of faith.
[00:46:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Save us, Savior of the world, born by your cross and resurrection,
[00:46:44] You have set us free
[00:46:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of Your Son, His wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, and as we look forward to His Second Coming, we offer You in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
[00:47:11] Look, we pray, upon the oblation of Your Church,
[00:47:14] and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with His Holy Spirit may become one body
[00:47:30] One Spirit in Christ, may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, with Saint Therese and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence
[00:47:57] We rely for unfailing help.
[00:48:00] May this sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.
[00:48:11] Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant Leo, our pope, and Michael, our bishop, the order of bishops, all the clergy,
[00:48:24] and the entire people you have gained for your own.
[00:48:29] Listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you.
[00:48:35] In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children
[00:48:42] scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through Christ our Lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good
[00:49:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Through Him and with Him and in Him O God, Almighty Father In the unity of the Holy Spirit All glory and honor is Yours Forever and ever
[00:49:37] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen!
[00:49:41] Amen!
[00:49:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Amen!
[00:49:50] At the Savior's command, informed by divine teaching, we dare to say,
[00:49:57] Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
[00:50:14] As we forgive the trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
[00:50:23] Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil.
[00:50:26] Graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
[00:50:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
[00:50:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
[00:51:08] Amen.
[00:51:08] The peace of the Lord be with you always.
[00:51:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
And with your spirit.
[00:51:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
[00:51:43] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Recompense, Recompense.
[00:51:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:17] Have mercy on us.
[00:52:17] Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:18] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Have mercy
[00:52:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
God, you take away the sins of the world.
[00:52:37] Do not hold me fast but speak.
[00:52:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
[00:53:04] Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
[00:53:11] Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
[00:53:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The body of Christ.
[00:54:04] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
The body of Christ.
[00:54:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
What's this?
[00:54:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I'm sorry.
[00:54:48] That's okay.
[00:54:49] What's that on the back?
[00:54:52] Oh, thanks.
[00:55:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[00:55:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our first communion hymn is number 76 in your Breaking Bread book, Bread of Life, number 76, and we're going to sing the Christmas verses.
[00:56:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Bread of life, home of the world, Jesus Christ, your brother,
[00:56:17] Lead us now, give us life, lead us to one another.
[00:56:35] A child is born to us, a son is given to us.
[00:56:42] In our midst Christ our Lord and God comes to son who serves.
[00:56:45] Jesus Christ, our Father, feed us now, give us life, lead us to God our Father.
[00:57:04] With our own eyes we see, with our own ears we hear, The salvation of all the world, God's incarnate Word.
[00:57:24] Bread of life, hope of the world, Jesus Christ, our brother, feed us now.
[00:57:32] Give us life.
[00:57:37] You are our hope of all, our promise and our call Radiant light in our darkness Truth to set us free Bread of life, hope of the world Jesus Christ, our brother
[00:58:06] Feed us now, give us life, lead us to one another.
[00:58:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our next communion hymn is 446 in your gather hymnal, O Little Town of Bethlehem, number 446.
[00:58:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep Thy silent stars so bright
[00:59:13] Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
[00:59:43] While mortals sleep, the angels weep, their heart a-wondering of All morning stars together proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King and peace to all on earth
[01:00:12] How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
[01:00:22] So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His hand.
[01:00:34] No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin
[01:00:40] Where these souls will receive instead the dear Christ entered in O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
[01:01:00] Cast out all sins and enter in, be born in us today.
[01:01:11] We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell.
[01:01:20] O come to us, abide in us, our Lord Emmanuel.
[01:01:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Our next communion hymn is 448 and gather away in a manger number 448.
[01:01:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
A way in a manger, no crib for a bed The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet bed The stars in the sky looked down when he lay The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
[01:02:30] I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh
[01:02:59] Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay.
[01:03:23] Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
[01:03:24] Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and bid us for heaven to live with Thee.
[01:03:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Amen.
[01:04:13] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[01:04:46] Let us pray.
[01:04:58] Let us pray.
[01:05:20] Let's pray.
[01:06:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let us pray.
[01:06:27] Grant, O merciful God, that just as the Savior of the world born this day is the author of divine generation for us, so may he be the giver even of immortality who lives and reigns forever and ever.
[01:06:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[01:06:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
On behalf of the priests, deacons, and staff of St. Therese, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
[01:07:00] The parish offices will be closed through Sunday, December 28.
[01:07:05] Office hours will resume on Monday, December 29.
[01:07:10] Please check the bulletin for more information about what's happening here at St. Therese.
[01:07:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord be with you.
[01:07:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And with thy spirit.
[01:07:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
May Almighty God bless you, Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit.
[01:07:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Amen.
[01:07:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Go in peace.
[01:07:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Thanks be to God.
[01:07:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Our concluding hymn is number 424, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
[01:07:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Hark!
[01:07:52] the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!
[01:07:59] Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem
[01:08:29] Christ the highest heaven adored Christ the everlasting born
[01:08:52] Late in time behold him come Offspring of the Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as then with us to dwell
[01:09:18] Jesus our Emmanuel Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King
