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THIS WEEK AT ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH2017/2018Monday, December 25

Tuesday, December 26

Wednesday, December 27

Thursday, December 28

Friday, December 29Saturday, December 30Sunday, December 31

Monday, January 1

The Nativity of the Lord Tesus ChristOffice Closed11:00 AM—Christmas Morning Eucharist Rite IIOffice Closed11:00 AM - Denali Center6:45 PM—Narcotics AnonymousOffice Closed10:30 AM - Morning Prayer6:00 PM - Choir Practice7:00 PM - Evening Eucharist w/ Teresa ThomasOffice Closed10:30 AM - Pioneer HomeOffice Closed

Festival of Lessons and Carols10:30 AM-Eucharist Rite II****NO SUNDAY SCHOOL***New Years Day - Office Closed

WELCOME to everyone visiting from throughout the Interior and beyond.You are invited to join us at our coffee hour in the parish hall after theservice.

OUR MISSION: WE, THE PEOPLE OF ST. MATTHEWS, FAIRBANKS ALASKA,RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE AND ARE BECOMING A WARM, LOVING COMMUNITY

WHO SHARE THAT LOVE WITH ALL GOD'S CHILDREN.

FLOWER and CANDLE OFFERINGFlowers on the Altar and the poinsettias are given to the Glory of God, and in loving

memory of Millie Rothenburg, by Bert and Betsy Sharp; and Nancy Tarnai's grandparents.And, in thanksgiving for the St. Matthew's Choir, by Jim & Barb Hameister.

In manksgiving for all the Blessings our community has received throughout the year; those

traveling; ALL those serving overseas & their families; All who donated to our Giving Treefor the FN A Woman and Children's Center and two local families.

The sanctuary candle is given to the Glory of God, and in thanksgiving for ALL OURALTAR GUILD MEMBERS and ALL OTHERS who helped decorate tire Church andParish Hall AND who helped make Christmas Eve at St. Matthew's wonderful.

The flowers on the Altar are prepared and provided at minimum cost by College Floral & Gift

Sexton:

Sunday School:Altar Guild directors:

Office Administrator:Wardens:

Priests:

Extended Supply Priest:

Bishop:

Todd HillCindy StragierMarty Thomas &Ann Fleenor

Jessica IvesAllen Todd & Tom MarshThe Revds. ' John Holz, Steve Reed, Lee Davis, Bella Jean

Savino, Shirley LeeThe Rev. Dr. Nancy JamesThe Rt. Rev. Mark Lattime

Christmas DayDecember 25, 2017

The Collect

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Sonto take our nature upon him, and to be bom [this day] ofa pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been bom againand made your children by adoption and grace, maydaily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our LordJesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit behonor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Isa iah 52:7-10How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,who brings good news,

who announces salvation,who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,together they sing for joy;

for in plain sight they seethe return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth together into singing,you ruins of Jerusalem;

for the Lord has comforted his people,he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy armbefore the eyes of all the nations;

and all the ends of the earth shall seethe salvation of our God.

The Psalm Psalm 981 Sing to the Lord a new song, *

for he has done marvelous things.2 With his right hand and his holy arm *

has he won for himself the victory.3 The Lord has made known his victory; *

his righteousness has he openly shown in thesight of the nations.

4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to thehouse of Israel, *and all the ends of the earth have seen thevictory of our God.

5 Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

6 Sing to the Lord with the harp, *with the harp and the voice of song.

7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn *shout with joy before the King, the Lord.

8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *the lands and those who dwell therein.

9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *and let the hills ring out with joy before theLord,when he comes to judge the earth.

10 In righteousness shall he judge the world *and the peoples with equity.

The New Testament Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12)Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various waysby the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by aSon, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he alsocreated the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and theexact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his

powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he satdown at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become asmuch superior to angels as the name he has inherited is moreexcellent than theirs.

[For to which of the angels did God ever say,

"You are my Son;today I have begotten you"?

Or again,

"I will be his Father,and he will be my Son"?And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, hesays,

"Let all God's angels worship him."Of the angels he says,

"He makes his angels winds,and his servants flames of fire."But of the Son he says,

"Your throne, 0 God, is forever and ever,and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed youwith the oil of gladness beyond your companions."And,

"In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,and the heavens are the work of your hands;

they will perish, but you remain;they will all wear out like clothing;

like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will bechanged.

But you are the same,and your years will never end."]

The Gospel

John 1:1-14In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, andthe Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thingscame into being through him, and without him not one thing cameinto being. What has come into being in him was life, and the lifewas the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, andthe darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He cameas a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe throughhim. Fie himself was not the light, but he came to testify to thelight. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming intothe 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 receivedhim, who believed in his name, he gave power to become childrenof God, who were bom, not of blood or of the will of the flesh orof the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we haveseen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace andtruth.

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Awaken Your LoveLoving God,you sent your Word to dwell among usand reveal to us your glory.By sending us the Light, your only Son,you have blessed your people who once lived

in darkness.On this great feast of the Incarnation,we lift our voices and give you praise for your

awesome deeds.Like your servant John the Baptist,

grant us confidence to testify to the gift ofyour Son, who is our salvation.

Send us forth proclaiming the gifts of yourmercy and love,

which you revealed in your Incarnate Word,so that, all who hear the Good News may

come to know Christ.May we, who received the Light at Baptism,persevere in faith, hope, and loveas we forever sing of your saving power.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday, December 25, 2017Word Made Flesh

Today's Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4,5-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18. On this day, all creationsings out in joy, for the Lord God has revealed to us hismighty deeds. During Advent and Christmas, it is easy to becaught up in the hype of secular society. As Christians, however, we need to reflect upon the "saving power of God"(Psalm 98). What does the Incarnation mean in your life andin the life of the Christian? Praying with Psalm 98, itbecomes clear how profound God's love is for his ChosenPeople, and this is what we celebrate in unison with everycorner of creation.

John's Gospel recounts the story of the Incarnation inan extended poetic form. Jesus, the Word become flesh,shines in the darkness and is the One who gives life. EverySunday when we hear the Scriptures proclaimed, the Wordis alive and trying to find a home in our hearts. Listen to theWord; hear the Word; allow the Word to rouse your heart toaction and transform it so your life becomes a proclamationof the Good News, the Word made flesh.

THIS WEEK AT HOMELas PosadasLas Posadas is a nine-day Advent celebration that begins onDecember 16 and ends on Christmas Eve. Today, it is celebrated in many Latin American countries and has becomecommon across the United Stated. Augustinian Spanish friars, who were evangelizing the New World, first brought LasPosadas to Mexico during the sixteenth century. In 1586,Pope Sixtus V issued a Papal Bull that granted permissionfor Christmas Masses to be celebrated the nine days preceding the solemnity of Christ's birth.

Las Posadas is intended to help participants prepare forthe celebration of the birth of Christ. The novena-like celebration is a communal event that reenacts Mary and Joseph'sjourney to Bethlehem. The nine days also symbolize the ninemonths of Mary's pregnancy. The Lucan Gospel account tellsus that Mary and Joseph searched for a place to stay, but theinn {posada) was full. They find shelter, but not in an inn,which is how Jesus is born in the manger.

For this celebration, the community gathers during theevening with lighted candles. With two individuals portraying Mary and Joseph (and sometimes with a donkey), thegroup sings carols and makes their way to the first stop. Thepilgrims or peregrines go from place to place seeking shelterbut are rejected at first by the "innkeepers." Eventually, thegroup arrives at the final house and is welcomed into thehome, singing "Enter, Enter, Holy Pilgrims."

Once the group arrives at the final house, traditionalsongs, such as "Cancion para pedir posada," are sung andthen followed by Scripture readings and prayers. The eveningconcludes with a festive meal and activities for children.

This tradition, steeped in God's hospitality, reminds theparticipants that Christians must show hospitality to the poorand marginalized. Las Posadas can help parish communitiesdeepen their devotion to the Holy Family. This is a festiveand prayerful way to celebrate Advent and meditate on theHoly Family's journey to Bethlehem.

Simbang GabiSimbang Gabi is a nine-day Advent devotion that has beencelebrated in the Philippines since the sixteenth century. LikeLas Posadas, these "Dawn Masses," begin on December 16and end on December 24 with the Misa de Gallo (Rooster'sMass). The Filipino celebration has roots in Mexico, when in1587 the pope allowed outdoor Masses for Christmas sincethe celebration was too large to hold indoors.

Liturgically, these nine Masses are intended to help thecommunity prepare their hearts and minds to receive theChrist Child at Christmas. They are also celebrated as anine-day novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition saysthat these nine days corresponded to the nine-day harvestfestivals once held by the Filipino community.

During the nine days, Mass is traditionally celebrated outside in the early morning before sunrise, hence the nameRooster's Mass. This practice was intended to accommodatethe farmers who could attend Mass early and then get into thefields for harvest. When the first sounds of dawn rang out, thefamily made their way to the church for the festivities. In theUnited States today, some parishes celebrate these Masses earlier in the evening to accommodate modern work schedules.

The making of decorations called parol is a Filipino tradition that continues today. The parol is a paper lantern thatcommemorates the Star of Bethlehem. Since these Masseswere celebrated before dawn, the lanterns helped guide farmers and their families to Mass. You might consider asking theart and environment team at your parish if you and otherscould make pawls and decorate the space for these liturgies.Even though it is Advent, at these Masses, because of specialpermissions, the priest wears white vestments and the assembly sings the "Glory to God." Other traditional songs include,"Pasko na Naman" (It's Christmas Again), and "HimigPasko." Once the liturgy is concluded, the community continues the celebration with food and conversation. Traditionaltreats includeputo, kutsinta, and bibingka. If you missed thiscelebration this year, mark your calendars for the comingyear and take part in the festivities.

© 2017 Liturgy Training Publications; 800-933-1800. Written by Timothy A. Johnston. Illustrated by William Hernandez.Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright (D 1993 and 19S9 bythe Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.Used by permission. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, on February 23, 2017.

Reproducibles for Advent-Christmas 2017-2018

The Nativity of the Lord Jesus ChristDecember 25, 2017

Year B & Daily Office Year Two

11:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST RITE IIThe WORD of GOD

PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 83 "O Come, All Ye Faithful"BCP Page 355 Opening Acclamat ion

Gloria in excelsis (spoken)Page 212 The Collect of the Day (insert)Insert Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98 (pg. 727); Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

GRADUAL HYMN # 96 'Angels We Have Heard on High"Inse r t The Gospe l : John 1 :1 -14

The HomilyPage 358 The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of tire PeopleP a g e 3 6 0 T h e P e a c ePage 830/431 Announcements, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Welcome Visitors

The HOLY COMMUNIONOFFERTORY HYMN #225 "What Child is This"THE DOXOLOGY

Page 361 The Great Thanksgiving (Eucharistic Prayer A)Page 362 Sanctus (Hymnal S-129)Page 364 Fraction Anthem (Hymnal S-155)

COIvIMUNION HYMNS: (Hymnal) 78, 99,101,109Page 366 The Post Communion Prayer & Blessing

RECESSIONAL HYMN #100 "Joy to the World-Trie Dismissal

All baptized Christians are invited to receive the Eucharist. Those who wish to only receive ablessing may cross their arms. It is perfectly acceptable to receive the Eucharist in only one kind(i.e. the Host), and then decline the Chalice, crossing your arms.