10:00pm Christmas Eve Concert and 10:30 Eucharist 2007

St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church San Francisco, California

Revised January 4, 2007

10pm Christmas Eve HE

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Deacons Set-up
Entry:
! Madonna & child icon on stand ! Standing candlestick w/candle lit

Table:
! ! ! ! ! ! Tablecloth 3 patens and 8 chalices 2 palls placed on either side of altar table. Insert Christmas anaphora and post communion prayer in missal. Cross stand 4 Mexican Candelabras

Vestry:
! ! ! ! ! Deacon's candle Gospel Book Ethiopian Presider's cross Four narrow beeswax tapers Drum outside vestry door

Kitchen:
! Decanters filled with 2 bottles wine ! Paten with 4 loaves

Seated Area:
! Reserve seats for: Deacons/Readers (2) (near lectern)

Presiders Chair area:

! ! ! ! Cough drops Small bells glass of water umbrellas in the corner

Recruitment: Talk to Christmas Tsar FIRST: he/she may pre-recruited some roles!
! ! ! ! ! 4 Chalice bearers One thurible prep person. 2 umbrella carriers Announcement person FOUR chandelier lowerers (either ushers, recruits, or a combination this happens before the concert!) ! Thurifer

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! FOUR volunteers to light chandeliers. THESE WILL ALSO LIGHT MENORAH AND OIL LAMP LATER IN THE SERVICE - AT THE INCENSE HYMN

Greeters notes:
Set Up
! Find 10:00 PM Concert Program on the TOP SHELF in Welcome Closet and Christmas Eve Music Booklets on Welcome Table (same booklets as were used at 6:30 Service). ! Place "recycling" boxes with "Please return" signs on either side of entrance doors. ! As people walk in, greet them, hand out Christmas Eve Music Booklet and 10:00 PM Concert Program, and ask them to be seated. ! Recruit THREE helpers for Collection.

During the liturgy

! ONLY AS NEEDED: Set any folding chairs on the wood floor in straight rows facing the Presiders chair. Front legs of the first row should touch the seam between the concrete and wood floors. Leave a 6-foot wide center aisle, and pay attention to sightlines and access. Rows should be 2 feet apart. ! Help to stack folding chairs onto dollies and roll them into closets (cue is at the start of the Tripudium announcement).

After the liturgy

! Collect Christmas Eve Music Booklets in "recycling" boxes by doors and leave on welcome table. Collect 10:00 Concert Programs and put in paper recycling boxes in welcome closet.

Pre-liturgy/concert prep:
Deacons Ushers set up according to the lists at the front of this script seat people in the seating area for the concert Ushers / Recruits lower and light ALL candelabras and then raise them. THIS HAPPENS AT 9:45 PM! Choir standing in apse, singing from 10 10:30

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Light Chandeliers Choir Concert Vested Party Entrance

Deacon rings gong

9:45 10:00 10:30

Cantor

Please stand.
Choir sings Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light Presider and Deacons enter from Vestry and walk to front of the Indian Oil lamp stand between presiders chair and oil lamp, facing the choir (deacons flanking the presider)

Presider
All:

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

And blessed be Gods kingdom, now and forever, Amen.

Deacon A

Please sing ____________, found at number ___ in your books, number ___.

Incense Hymn:

____________________

during singing:

Deacon C

carries Candle to lectern, adds incense to the thurible, then stands to the right (street side) of the lectern. pauses at the lectern to light the candle-lighters wick, lights the candles at the Presiders chair, checks to see where Readers are seated. carries Gospel book to lectern, places the Book on the stand and opens it to the first reading, then stands to the left (font side) of lectern. remains with Presider.

Deacon A Deacon C Deacon B

Deacon B/C when all candles are lit, brings Reader 1 to lectern Deacon A

Candle-lighting volunteers lights menorah and oil lamp from Deacon Cs candle

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insert incense hymn music

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Presider

O God, you cause this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Reading

Deacon B

Please take your seats, and listen to a reading from the prophet Isaiah.
Immediately following the Reading: Cantor rings pot bells.

Deacon C Deacon B

carries candle back to candle stand thanks Reader and returns to seat, leaving Gospel Book on the stand.

Presider

observes TWO minutes of silence, then rings handbells.

The Canticle Deacon A Well sing the Canticle [or Hymn] found at number ______ in your books [or colored insert], _____________________ (name of hymn). Please stand and sing number ______.
(standing)

Midway through the Canticle:

Deacon B and Deacon C (with the candle) bring Gospel Reader to lectern; Deacon B stands on the Readers left and Deacon C stands on the Readers right.
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The Gospel Reading

Deacon C

signs cross on Book, then crosses forehead, lips and heart

!The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to

______________.
!Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Reader reads or sings the Gospel

People

after the reading: [all Deacons move at once]

Deacon C

walks toward the chair singing,

!The Gospel of the Lord!

Praise to you, Lord Christ!

People:

Deacon C Deacon B

carries candle to stand carries book close behind candle to Preacher.

Presider

observes TWO minutes of silence, then rings handbells.

Sermon
Preacher cues Cantor to ring pot-bells at end of sermon; observes TWO minutes silence; rings hand-bells

Gospel Procession Deacon C (standing) Well sing an Alleluia which Sanford will teach us. As we sing, well be bringing the gospel book around for you to greet with a touch, a kiss, or a bow. Please stand and sing ________!
Deacon B helps two Umbrella carriers
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Preacher

stands and holds book for vested party to kiss.

PROCESSION ORDER: Deacon C Preacher Umbrella carrying Candle carrying Book (NOTE: if a Guest Preacher is present, Deacon B carries the Book, to keep the procession moving at the usual pace) shadowing Preacher/Book The procession moves briskly through the congregation. Vested party members smile, make eye contact, touch people while singing and moving, without making conversation. Cantor leads the singing from the platform, always facing the Book. As the procession reaches the book stand, Preacher places the Book on the stand.

Vested party mixed among other umbrellas.

Deacon C Deacon B

rings the tower bell until the vested party have returned to their seats. assists Umbrella carriers to cross platform and collapse / store umbrellas, then remains standing for announcements as Alleluias end.

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insert Gospel Procession music

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Announcements Deacon B Deacon A Please take your seats, ____________ has a few announcements for us. Jesus welcomes everyone to his table, and so we offer to everyone the bread and wine that are Christs body and blood, without exception. After communion, we take up a collection of money for the work of the church, because all we give, we give in thanks for all that God has given us.
Immediately after the announcements:

The Prayers
Cantor and Asst. Cantor stand about fifteen feet apart in the center of the church, one facing north and one facing south.

Deacon B

Well sing The Lord's Prayer found at number ___ in your books; number ___. [IF THERE ARE FOLDING CHAIRS SET UP SAY:] Those of you in the folding chairs, please come in to the seating area here, and fill in the empty spaces. The Lords Prayer is at number ___. The music for the responses continues onto the following pages.

Deacons A & C herd people into the empty spaces.

Ushers

IF NEEDED help stack chairs onto dollies & quickly roll the chairs into the closet sing the Lords prayer until deliver us from evil.

ALL

Fire person gets the swinging thurible ready now Cantors alternate prayers:
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Asst. Cntr. For peace in the whole world; for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bethlehem. Let us pray to the Lord. Cantor For Marc our Bishop; Katherine our Presiding Bishop; Rowan, archbishop of Canterbury; for Guang-shun, Peter, Thomas, Louis, Paul and David, bishops of China, and for all spiritual leaders and guides of every faith, Let us pray to the Lord.

Asst. Cntr. For all who come to celebrate Christ's birth this holy night, and for their families and fellow-workers. Let us pray to the Lord. Cantor For all who suffer, and for those who offer care and support, Let us pray to the Lord.

Asst. Cntr. For the homeless, for refugees, prisoners and all in danger that they may be relieved and protected, Let us pray to the Lord.
Fire person adds incense now

Cantor

In fellowship with Mary, Christ's Mother, with Gregory of Nyssa, and with all God's holy people of every time and place, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life through Christ to God. 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,
For the kingdom, the power...

Presider

All

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Tripudium
Deacons, B, and C go to kitchen to bring the gifts to the table.

Fire person brings swinging thurible to Thurifer

Deacon A

Well go up to the table in step, singing ____________ found at number ___ in your books, number ___. The step is very simple, if you look this way, well show you how it goes. Starting on your right foot, go right left right BACK, right left right BACK, right left right BACK, Please place your right hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you, and ________will tell us when to step off.
Cantor leads the Tripudium

Tripudium

____________________

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Music: insert Tripudium music

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Eucharist
As soon as the tripudium is ended:

Presider

Christ is born to give us the gift of his peace share that gift with those around you. The peace of the Lord be with you all!
And also with you.
All share the Peace

All:

Cantor: Deacons

Please open your books to number ___.

!Draw Near, Draw Near Deacon C [ or assigned] !Parents take your children in hand;
Let us love one another that we may offer the holy sacrifice in peace.
Presider sings the Christmas Anaphora After One is Holy,

Deacon A

Jesus welcomes everyone to His Table so we offer communion to everyone, and to everyone by name. If you think we'll need help with your name, please help us out. _______, the Body of Christ. The Blood of Christ

Communion is distributed as shown below:

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Communion anthem: ____________________

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Post-Communion Prayer
After communion, in place of Arise Jerusalem:

Presider

Go with us, O Lord, as we journey to the heavenly country: that following your star we may not wander in the darkness of this worlds night while you who are the true and living way shine with us to the journeys end. Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forever more. Amen

Collection Deacon A Now seeing how greatly God loves us, let us share freely of the gifts we have received from God. Please put your offerings of money in the plate as it comes around.

Collection anthem: ____________________

Note -

No Polychronia**

Carol Deacon C A blessed Christmas to you all! Stay and enjoy refreshments. We invite you to join us for our regular services next Sunday! And dont forget to sign our guestbook! (hold up guestbook). Well sing the carol ____________, found at number ____ in your books, number ____. Carols are sung dances, so well dance the carol to a step that _________ will show us.
Carol: ____________________
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Deacon B

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Music: insert Carol music

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Closing ALL VESTED: Let us bless the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God!

END.

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