January 9, 2022 The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ

This is the First Sunday after the Epiphany, traditionally observed as the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  This period in the Church year is known as the “Epiphany Season” or “Ordinary Time.”  The term “ordinary” refers to how the New Testament passages are generally read in order or in sequence, as opposed to being arranged by specific theme as in other seasons.  During this season the Gospel passages focus on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and how he is revealed to the world as the Christ.  In Year C(the third in a three-year cycle: A, B & C) most of the Gospel passages are from the Gospel according to Luke.  The Old Testament Lesson and the Psalm are chosen because they relate to the words and message of Jesus.  The New Testament Lesson is independent of these readings and is almost always taken from one of the Letters in the New Testament that reflects the common life and mission of the first Christian community.

Our Celebrant today is: The Reverend Matthew Hoxsie Mead.  Our Preacher is The Reverend Deacon Chisara Alimole.


Today’s In Person Worship

  • Every Sunday at 8am the Eucharist (Rite 1) is celebrated in the Church.  The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 323, and includes 2 pre-recorded hymns, and lasts about 45 minutes. Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
  • Every Sunday at 10am the Eucharist (Rite 2) is celebrated in the Church. The service is from the red Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 355.  See below for detailed music information.  The service lasts about an hour.  Weather permitting coffee and tea are available in Garden afterwards.
  • Healing Prayers are offered at the Bolton Altar following both services.
  • Please review these Guidelines before attending worship at Christ Church.

Today’s Live-Stream Worship & Sermon Archives


Sunday Offerings & Financial Donations to Christ Church

Christ Church is supported by the generosity of members and friends who donate time, talent, and money to the church to ensure that it is open, staffed, safe, and active. God has given each of us many gifts and we are called to use them to build up the church and to show the spread the love of God to our community. Click on the Donate Button for a variety of ways to support Christ Church, including one-time donations, annual pledges, and raising funds through FaceBook or Amazon.


Today’s Propers (Collect & Lections from Holy Scripture)

The Collect

proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Old Testament

Isaiah 43:1-7
Thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east,  and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth–everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory,  whom I formed and made.”

The Psalm

Psalm 29 Afferte Domino

1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the LORD is upon the mighty waters.

4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.9 And in the temple of the LORD *
all are crying, “Glory!”

10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.

The New Testament

Acts 8:14-17
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. ”


Parish Prayer List

Please note that names are listed alphabetically by last name of the person being prayed for (if it is known).  We do not list last names for privacy reasons. For pastoral emergencies call or text one of the clergy: Father Matt (914.471.0260), Deacon Chisara Alimole (914.338.5194), or call the parish office (914.738.5515).  If you have any updates (birthdays, prayers additions, etc., please let us know.) Please submit names you wish to be included by Tuesday morning, to Marie at: marie@christchurchpelham.org.

Our prayers are asked especially for: Marion, Mark, Marcia, Elizabeth, Zachary, Anne, Alexander, Ginny, Ethan, Barbara, Russell, Fran, Randy, Mary, Ralph, Ursla, Marcia, Sammy, Ted, Ryan, Judy, Monica, Rebecca, Janet, Amina, Alexia Grace, Alison, Emma, Pelin, Hildy, Martin, Nate, Yen, Erica, Rosalina, Susan, Ariana, Danielle, The Salvatore family, Dean, Sue, Xandra, Sigi, Joyce, Julie, Scott, Robert, Sherry, Michelle, Rob, Drue, David, Rob, Bill, Andrea, Sue, Lael, M&D, Sandy, Morris, and Katie.

We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week and in the coming week Jack Kraft (January 2), Charlene Claxton (January 7), Eileen Wolfe (January 7) Anne Calder (January 8), Mike Micciche (January 11), Christina Carver Cahill (January 13), and Carla Carroll (January 15).

We also give thanks for the Wedding Anniversary of Jackie and Jack Kraft (January 6).

We pray for those in our Armed Services especially: Joseph, Kevin, Jack, Leopold, Philip, Jake, Matthew, Robert, Philip-Jason, Nicholas, Sam, Helen, Mitchel, Alec, Tia, Tyrese, and Terrence.

We pray that all elected and appointed officials may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world, especially Joseph our President, and Kathy our Governor.

We pray for those who have died, especially Jim Greenhalgh on the 6th Anniversary of his death (January 10), and we pray for those who have died from COVID-19.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.  Amen


Today’s Music

Organ Prelude: Chorale-Prelude on “Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam” (“Christ, our Lord, went to Jordan’s stream”), BWV 684 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Hymn: 448 O love, how deep, how broad, how high Deus tuorum militum
Gloria in excelsis: Hymn 421 All Glory be to God on high Allein Gott in der Höh
Psalm: 29, Afferte Domino Anglican chant, Percy Buck (1871-1947)
Sequence hymn: 121 Christ, when for us you were baptized Caithness
Anthem at the Offertory: 6. Chorale “Jesu, joy of our desiring” from the Cantata “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,” (“Heart and mouth and deed and life”), BWV 147 Johann Sebastian Bach
Jesu, joy of our desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.
– text by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930),
loosely translated from the German hymn “Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne”
by Martin Janus (c. 1620 – c. 1682)
Offertory Hymn: 380, v. 3 Praise God from whom all blessings flow (Doxology), Old 100th
Sanctus et Benedictus: S-114 from Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena by Healey Willan (1880-1968)
Agnus Dei: S-158 from Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena by Healey Willan
Carol during Communion: King Jesus hath a garden Dutch traditional carol, arr. Charles Wood

King Jesus hath a garden, full of divers flowers,
Where I go culling posies gay, all times and hours.

Refrain:
There naught is heard but Paradise bird,
Harp, dulcimer, lute,
With cymbal, trump and tymbal,
And the tender, soothing flute.

The Lily, white in blossom there, is Chastity:
The Violet, with sweet perfume, Humanity.
Refrain

The bonny Damask-rose is known as Patience:
The blithe and thrifty Marygold, Obedience.
Refrain

The Crown Imperial bloometh too in yonder place,
‘Tis Charity, of stock divine, the flower of grace.
Refrain

Yet, ‘mid the brave, the bravest prize of all may claim
The Star of Bethlem, Jesus, blessed be his Name!
Refrain

Ah! Jesu Lord, my heal and weal, my bliss complete,
Make thou my heart thy garden-plot, fair, trim and neat
That I may hear this musick clear,
Harp, dulcimer, lute,
With cymbal, trump and tymbal,
And the tender, soothing flute.

Heer Jesus heeft een Hofken, traditional Dutch carol from Geestlijcke Harmonie, Emmerich, 1633;
translated by the Rev’d George Radcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)

Organ Voluntary: “Little” Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 Johann Sebastian Bach

The quartet this morning are Jeanmarie Lally, soprano; Jann Degnan, mezzo-soprano; José Ruiz, tenor; and Jeffrey Hoffman, baritone
Jeffrey Hoffman, organist & director of music

Live-stream licensed under OneLicense.net A-713125.


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