GRACE CHURCH OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD

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  • WELCOME
  • Contact Us
  • 2024 Evaluation Form
  • Leadership
  • Parish Calendar
  • Online Sunday Services at Grace
    • 02.08..26 The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany
    • 02.01..26 The Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
    • 01.25.26 The Third Sunday After the Epiphany
    • 01.18.26 The Second Sunday After the Epiphany
  • Church and Faith
    • African American Heritage Trail
    • Our Three-Year Plan
    • Weddings
    • History of Grace Church
  • Praise and Sweat Classes
  • Climate Change
  • Donate
  • Liturgies to Say at Home
    • Spiritual Communion
    • Morning Prayer
    • Daily Devotions
    • Noonday Prayer
    • Evening Prayer
    • Compline for nightly use
    • The Angelus
    • BCP Services
  • Community Suppers
    • Community Suppers
    • Summer Lobster Rolls
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The First Sunday After Christmas
​Grace Episcopal Church, Martha’s Vineyard 
December 29, 2024   ~   10:00 am


FESTIVE EUCHARIST:  RITE II, PRAYER B
 
All music printed by permission in accordance with ONE LICENSE, License #A-734784.   Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with License #A-734784.
All rights reserved.

Welcome​

Hymn 99  Go tell it on the mountain
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Opening Sentences

​Celebrant         Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.       
People            And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever, Amen.

The Collect for Purity
 
Celebrant
 Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid:  Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn 93  Angels from the realms of glory
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The Collect of the Day
​
​Celebrant         God be with you.
People            And also with you.
Celebrant         Let us pray.
 
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 Lessons

The First Reading:  Isaiah 61:10-62:3  read by Faith Laskaris

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 Word of the Lord.
​
​
People    Thanks be to God.

​Psalm 147  read by John Hickey

​[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 Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 read by Judy Carter

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.  Amen


The Word of the Lord.
​
​
People    Thanks be to God.

Hymn 83  O come, all ye faithful
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The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (1:1-18)

People    Glory to you, Lord Christ

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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

People    Praise to you, Lord Christ.

         Homily                                    The Rev. Stephen Harding

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
    the Father, the Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    the only Son of God,
    eternally begotten of the Father,
    God from God, Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
    begotten, not made,
    of one Being with the Father.
    Through him all things were made.
    For us and for our salvation
        he came down from heaven:
    by the power of the Holy Spirit
        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
        and was made man.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered death and was buried.
        On the third day he rose again
            in accordance with the Scriptures;
        he ascended into heaven
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.

 
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
    With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
    He has spoken through the Prophets.
    We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
    We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
    We look for the resurrection of the dead,
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People, Form IV, read by Betsy Holcomb
 
Leader
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
 
We commend to your mercy all who have died, especially those in whose memory flowers have been given, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
 
Silence
 
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

​The Peace

Celebrant        The Peace of Christ be always with you.
People           And also with you.



Hymn 100 Joy to the World
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The Holy Communion
Eucharistic Prayer B
Celebrant                                 The Lord be with you.
People                                    And also with you.
Celebrant                                 Lift up your hearts.
People                                    We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant                                 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People                                    It is right to give God thanks and praise
Celebrant   It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
 
Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, was made Man of the perfect flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.
 
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus S124 Holy, holy, holy Lord
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Celebrant       
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
 
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
 
Celebrant and People
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;

 
Celebrant   
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 
 
In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with the departed and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
 
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.  Amen

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Lord’s Prayer
 
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,
            as we forgive those
                        who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
            but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

           and the power, and the glory,
            for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant              Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People                 Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Agnus Dei  S161  Jesus, Lamb of God
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Prayer for Spiritual Communion
All say together
 
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, we desire to offer You praise and thanksgiving.  We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that we may always be united to you.  And since we can not now receive you sacramentally, we beseech you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves to you, and embrace you with all the affections of our souls. Let nothing ever separate you from us. May we live and die in your love. Amen.

The Leader continues
 
Let us spend a few moments reflecting on the fact that God so loved each one of us that God sent God’s Only-Begotten Son into the world for all of us.
 
[Silence is kept]

Celebrant:  The gifts of God for the people of God.

Hymn 115   What child is this
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Postcommunion Prayer
 
Celebrant and People
 
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Christmas Blessing

Hymn 107 Good Christians friends, rejoice
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Dismissal
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​The Flowers for Christmas are given in Memory of
 
Erica Eckhardt
The Reverend Dr. Franklin Fry
Dorothy Grant
Carl Green
Frances Rocha
Ruth Rocha
Mary & Charles Castelletti
Francis Garrison
Brian Aromando
John & Mary Moran
Gloria Wong
Edmund O. Beaucaire
Beatrice Beaucaire
Richard Clark Sr.
Dale R. Clark
Robert Clark Sr.
Robert Clark Jr.
Phyllis Clark Smith
Thelma Baird
Audrey Riker
Gerry Averill
Kay Dixon
Amy Ballou
Robert Kinnecom
Valerie Murphy
Susan Murphy
Gordon Bassett
Thomas Gallagher &Frances Sylvester
Raymond & Marilyn Hoehn
Joseph L. Norris
Maxwell McCreery
Katherine Avramov
Rev. & Mrs. Fred Stimson
Jim Norton
Jay Wilbur
 
May their + souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
 
And in Thanksgiving for:
 
Natalie
Lilly
Meredith
Prayer Ministry
The Garrison Family

GRACE CHURCH
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
(508) 693-0332

                                       Rector:                                    The Reverend Stephen Harding
                                        Priest Associates:                   The Rev’d Sharon Eckhardt
                                                                                         The Rev’d Dr. Storm Swain
                                       Parish Administrator:             Heather Raveling
                                       Cellist:                                       Jan Hyer
                                       Bookkeeper:                            David Smith
​Vestry Officers:
​Senior Warden:  Jennifer Haynes
Junior Warden: Bryan Garrison

Clerk: Betsy Holcomb
​Vestry Members:
Teri Culletto, Karen Huff, Lew Laskaris, and Maranda Post

​ASSISTING IN OUR WORSHIP
 
Videographer & Curator: Karen Huff
Zoom Hosts:  The Rev’d Ribbons Harris & Karen Huff
Hospitality: Lorraine Clark, Bebee Green & members of the parish
Readers and Intercessors: Judy Carter, Teri Culletto, Carolyn Eddy, Kim Garrison,
David Grey, Ribbons Harris, Jennifer Haynes, John Hickey, Betsy Holcomb, Karen Huff, Jan Hyer, Faith Laskaris, Michelle Lynch, Maranda Post & DiAnn Ray
Eucharistic Ministers: Abby Bates, Judy Carter, Carolyn Eddy,
Jennifer Haynes & DiAnn Ray
Singers:  Abby Bates, Rev. Sharon Eckhardt, David Grey,  Rev. Stephen Harding, Michael Haydn, John Hickey, Betsy Holcomb, Jan Hyer
Ushers:  Lorraine Clark and BeBee Green
We welcome you to join us! Please email [email protected] 
​
PO Box 1197 • 34 Woodlawn Avenue • Vineyard Haven MA 02568
​
www.graceepiscopalmv.org • 508 693-0332