ST. PAUL'S E-PISTLE Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - December 24 - 25, 2019

7:00pm - Christmas Eve Service 10:30pm - Carol Singing 11:00pm - Midnight Mass READINGS : Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Psalm 96

Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel (Washington DC: National Gallery, 1308/1311), tempera on single panel.

HYMNS BOTH SERVICES Processional Hymn : O Come all Ye Faithful (#83) Gospel Hymn:   Angels from the Realms of Glory (#93) Offertory Hymn:   O Little Town of Bethlehem (#78) Communion Hymns:   Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming (#81)     Recessional Hymn:   Hark the Herald Angels Sing (#87)

Morsel for Meditation - Christmas Eve The gospel does not merely teach about the history of Christ. No, it enables all who believe it to receive it as their own, which is the way the gospel operates. Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own? If the voice gives forth this pleasant sound, even if it be in homely phrase, my heart listens with joy, for it is a lovely sound which penetrates the soul. Martin Luther, The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther , Volume 1 (Delmarva Publications, Inc), “The Birth of Jesus” II:A:44

Carol Singing (10:30)

Gabriel's Message It Came Upon a Midnight Clear On This Day Earth Shall Ring Angels We Have Heard On High God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice The First Noel Silent Night Come Thou Long Expected Jesus O Come O Come Emmanuel

9:00am - Christmas Day Service (no noon service)

Eric Gill, “Christmas Gifts Dawn” in  Engravings by Eric Gill (Birmingham, England: Douglas Cleverdon, 1929), wood engraving. Morsel for Meditation - Christmas Day Rabbi Barukh’s grandson, Yehiel, was once playing hide-and-seek with another boy. He hid himself well and waited for his playmate to find him. When he had waited for a long time, he came out of his hiding place, but the other was nowhere to be seen. Now Yehiel realized that his friend had not looked for him from the very beginning. This made him cry, and crying he ran to his grandfather and complained of his faithless friend. The tears brimmed in Rabbi Barukh’s eyes and he said: “God says the same thing: ‘I hide, but no one wants to seek me.’" Martin Buber, Tales of Hasidim: Early Masters

Contact our church office to add a name to our prayer list: 903-455-5030 or miracles16@gmail.com. Names remain for one month unless renewed or canceled.

SERVICE TIMES Sunday Services: Holy Eucharist, Rite I   8:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite II   10:30 AM  Sunday School for Adults and Youth 9:30-10:15am Clardy Hall Wednesday Services: Holy Eucharist, Rite I    Noon Bible Study 6:30 PM 8320 Jack Finney Blvd., Greenville, TX 75402