St.

Francis Church A New Christian Community for the Goodlettsville Area

The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt--Bishop of Tennessee

The Reverend Joseph B. Howard--Vicar

Order of Worship

St. Francis Church is a community dedicated to the

transformation of lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ for
the Kingdom of God.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Year B

A congregation of the Diocese of Tennessee and the world-wide Anglican Communion

A note for visitors: We’re thankful that you could join us for worship today, and we
pray God blesses you in your time here. The service is printed in your bulletin. If you
have any questions don’t hesitate to ask someone around you!

St. Francis Church we want to encourage families to worship together. In order to

be a community where all ages feel welcome, we provide coloring materials for children
to use during worship and seek to understand the specific gifts and challenges that
children bring. We encourage you, should you feel comfortable doing so, to sit toward
the front with your children, as little-ones are often more attentive if they can see what is
happening. After the second reading, children 6 years old and below are invited to take
part in children’s chapel.

We understand that there may be times when it is best to take advantage of child care,
and nursury is provided.

In Preparation for worship: We invite you to take a few moments before the service
begins to be still, and rest from the business of your lives. Take time to breathe deeply,
and reflect upon the past week, preparing yourself to come before God in worship.
When you’re ready, you might say the following prayer or one like it in preparation for
worship.

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and
of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of
heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled
affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; though Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

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 The Word of God
Processional: O Come, O Come Emmanuel Hymnal 56 (vs. 1-6)

Opening Acclamation:
All Standing

Celebrant: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.

People: His mercy endures for ever.

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Collect for Purity:
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.

Trisagion Said (x3)

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ,
at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16

All sit.

Nathan receives a prophecy that the Lord will have an enduring relationship with David
and his descendents. They will rule forever because they enjoy the Lord’s favor.

A reading from the Second Book of Samuel:

Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his
surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house
of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all
that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” But that same night the word of the LORD
came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build
me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people
of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with
any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying,
“Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my
servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following
the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you
wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for
you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place
for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and
be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the
time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your
enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne
shall be established forever.’ ”

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.
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The Psalm of the day:
Remain seated

Canticle 15: In Unison

The Song of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Paul ends his letter to the Romans by acclaiming God’s glory and challenging Christians
to be strengthened by obedience to Jesus’ preaching.

A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to
all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of
faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Children Come forward for prayer, and then depart for Children’s
Chapel
All stand.

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Alleluia: Taizé

Holy Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Mary is told by an angel that she has found favor with God, and has been chosen to bring
God’s Son into the world.

Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _______.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one,
the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern
what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for
you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a
son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the
Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—
the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived
a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be
impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her..

Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Repeat Alleluia: (see above)

Sermon: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

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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.

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The Prayers of the People

Leader: I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishop, John;
for this gathering; and for all ministers and people.

Pray for the Church.

Silence

Leader: I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-
being of all people.

Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

Leader: I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in
prison.

Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

Leader: I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him.

Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Silence
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Leader: I ask your prayers for the departed.

Pray for those who have died.

Members of the congregation may ask the prayers or the thanksgivings of those present

I ask your prayers for ____________ .

I ask your thanksgiving for _____________ .

Silence

Leader: Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored

Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

People: “O Lord Hear my prayer...” (See music on facing page)

Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth:
Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your
will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession

Celebrant: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence.
Minister and People:

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our
Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the
Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

All stand

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Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements

# The Holy Communion #

Offertory Music: O Come , Come Emmanuel instrumental

Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offering of bread and wine, and money or other gifts, to the
celebrant. The people stand while the offerings are presented and placed on the Altar.

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 him thanks and praise.

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 sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us
heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great
triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his
appearing.

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:

The Sanctus: S-129

Please stand or kneel at this time, as best helps you to pray.

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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:

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;

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 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,

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed by 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.

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The Breaking of the Bread
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for
you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

ON RECEIVING COMMUNION:

All baptized Christians who are in love and charity with their neighbors are welcome to
receive communion. If you do not wish to receive, you are invited to come forward for
a blessing—simply cross your arms over your chest to let the servers know that you will
not be receiving.

Additionally, we invite those who for some reason cannot or do not wish to recieve, to
partake of the unconsecrated bread (Antidoron) available at the back as you leave.

Prayers before receiving can be found on pages 337 (the Prayer of Humble Access)
and 834 in the Book of Common Prayer (the red books available under your chairs).

Communion Hymn: Taizé

Post-Communion Prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says:

Let us Pray
The minister and people together, pray:
Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
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To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Recessional: O for a thousand tongues to sing Hymnal 493

Celebrant says the dismissal

People: Thanks be to God.

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 A Note on Today’s Readings
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B

Welcome to St. Francis Church. The central figure in today’s liturgy is the Blessed Virgin
Mary and her vocation as the human instrument of the Incarnation.

Today’s Gospel is the account of the Annunciation, when Gabriel announced to the Virgin
that God had chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary’s humble obedience,
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word,” is the model
for Christian living.

The first reading today is the promise God made to David to establish his line as kings over
God’s people. The promise to raise up a new king of David’s lineage was understood by
Jews in the first century as a promise to send the Messiah.

In the second reading today, Paul concludes his letter to the church in Rome. He expresses
the early Christian proclamation that in Christ the clouded meaning of the Old Testament
prophecies has been revealed. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God’s plan
has been made clear, and the hints of that plan in the writings of the prophets have been
fulfilled.

Christians gather in the liturgy to remember our story, a story which goes back through the
ages. The central actor is always God, who acts in history to lead all the creation into the
kingdom. God, who acted in the lives of people in the past such as David and the Blessed
Virgin, continues to act today in our lives. The Eucharist is the moment of encounter with
God in which, like Mary, we respond, “Yes.”

From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing

Incorporated, New York.

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 Good News Daily
Volume VIII
(
December 21–27, 2008 Number 51
Sunday, December 21

Isaiah 42:1-12 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise
to idols. (v.8 NRSV)

God’s desire is that all people experience His glory. However, to know His glory, we must
truly seek to know Him. His glory abides only in His presence. So, naturally it came with
the arrival of Jesus. “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those
whom he favors” (Luke 2:14).

The shepherds who heard the “Gloria” witnessed and then reflected the glory of the Lord
that shone around them. They not only spread the word with joy about what they had seen
and heard, but they “glorified God” (Luke 2:20).

Christians are to reflect His glory as well. Matthew 5:16 instructs us to “...let your light
shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father
in heaven.” We are to illuminate the way of God for others, manifest the joy of fellowship
with God as a witness to the world, and be “transformed into His likeness with ever-
increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).

Psalms 24, 29; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 3:16-21

Monday, December 22

Psalm 62 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone
is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken. (vv.1-2)

Morton Kelsey in The Other Side of Silence says, “To become really silent one has to
come to a halt outwardly and inwardly at the same time.” Outwardly, can we stop the
frantic attempts to get everything done—the shopping, the entertaining, and the family
interaction? Inwardly, can we relax our spirit and let the Holy Spirit calm our soul? It is in
silence that we become most intimate with God. A wonderful advent hymn emphasizes the
thoughts in our focus verse.

“Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.”

A time of rest, moments of silence, can truly prepare us for the coming of the Holy One,
our Savior. Consider an evening walk gazing at the night stars, lingering before an open
fire, perhaps even a day of retreat. Let us keep quiet vigil and enjoy the spaciousness and
creativity of silence.

Isaiah 11:1-9; Psalm 61; Revelation 20:1-10; John 5:30-47

Tuesday, December 23

Luke 1:5-48a “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what
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was spoken to her by the Lord.” (v.45)

In a tiny church in the North Carolina Mountains, there is a beautiful fresco of Mary, the
expectant, pregnant Mary. I love to sit on those hard pews and ponder the life of that
blessed woman. She was blessed to be the dwelling place of the Christ, the fulfillment of
years of prophecy. She was blessed as she watched Jesus grow into a man, to be there at
His first miracle. Although it couldn’t have seemed so at the time, she was blessed to be
at His crucifixion, as she would soon realize that he was her Savior. Finally, we see an
additional blessing as portrayed in Acts. “All there were constantly devoting themselves to
prayer...including Mary the mother of Jesus....” (Acts 1:14). This event continues in Acts
2:4, “...all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit....”

Like Mary, each of us can be visited by the divine Spirit who bears an invitation to become
a dwelling place for Christ. Like Mary, we can believe in the incarnation, in Jesus as
our Savior, and in the promise of being filled by the Holy Spirit. So we also can be most
blessed.

Isaiah 11:10-16; Psalms 66, 67; Revelation 20:11—21:8

Wednesday, December 24

Luke 1:67-80 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon
us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet
into the way of peace. (vv.78-79)

“You, sweetness itself, stooped to join yourself with our bitterness.

You, splendor, joined yourself with darkness;
You, wisdom, with foolishness;
You, life, with death;
You, the infinite, with us who are finite....”

Catherine of Siena paints a beautiful picture of Jesus with these words. “Splendor,” she
names Him. Zechariah, in his word picture calls Him “the dawn from on high.” Other
versions of Luke use “dayspring from on high,” “light of dawn,” “heaven’s dawn,” and
“God’s sunrise”; many ways of expressing the truth that Christ is the divine light that
permeates creation. In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light.” In the incarnation, He
says it again.

Candle glow, twinkling lights, and luminaries—all reminding us that on a dark night long
ago, the light shone.

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalms 45, 46; Revelation 22:12-17, 21

Thursday, December 25

Zechariah 2:10-13 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in
your midst, says the Lord. (v.10)

As we travel the highway, about an hour from our house, there is a church with the name
“Great Present.” The first time I saw it, it captured my imagination. Each time we pass the
sign, I turn it over in my mind and play with the name.

Zechariah prophesied that “Great Present” was going to come and dwell in the midst of his
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people. Before the time had even come, he was encouraging them to celebrate. The Gospels
say “Great Present” is here! Jesus tells the people that while the bridegroom is with them,
it is to be a festive time. In 1 John 4, John boldly declared, “the Father has sent his Son as
the Saviour of the world.” “Great Present” had been in their midst, and John had been a
witness to that life. He delivered the news with assurance and much excitement.

Today, family and friends gather. We give and receive gifts, but all would be hollow
and without real joy except for the “Great Present.” We remember the incarnation and
experience the indwelling Spirit, the presence of our Great God. “Joy to the World, The
Lord Is Come!”

Psalms 2, 85; 1 John 4:7-16; John 3:31-36

Friday, December 26

Psalm 31 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful
God. (v.5)

Today is the day we remember the martyrdom of Stephen. As a disciple full of faith and
the Holy Spirit, he was chosen to be a deacon, and he worked miracles among the people.
But his crowning testimony was to speak up boldly about Jesus among those who had
previously condemned Jesus to death. He faced these enemies and told them they had
done wrong. The consequence was that he himself was killed (Acts 7:58).

In other words, having recognized that Jesus had given himself for him, he gladly gave
up himself for Jesus. And Stephen’s last words—“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”
(Acts 7:60)— echoed Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”
(Luke 23:34).

Today we are still basking in Jesus’ love for us. And Stephen’s death inspires us to ask,
“What are we going to give up for Jesus? What sacrifice can we make to show him that we
love him too?”

Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15; Acts 6:8—7:60; Matthew 23:34-39

Saturday, December 27

Mark 10:13-16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed
them. (v.16)

My sister, born December 18, came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve. I was
twelve. Soon we packed the tiny Jesus from the nativity scene in a cardboard box,
wrapping him in tissue paper. But you don’t put a live baby sister away like that. That child
had to be cared for after Christmas was over. She couldn’t be forgotten for even an hour,
but required attention and vigilance. So, too, it was with the baby, Jesus. Maybe Jesus
learned to tenderly bless children by his remembrance of Mary and Joseph’s care for him,
their willingness to take a strange journey to save his life.

I have a magnetized note on my refrigerator to remind me to pray for a child in our

church family. Once a year, the names are passed out to the congregation and we have
the opportunity to be a part of the rearing of a child by interceding for her or him. What
an encouragement to a parent to realize that someone else is joining them in praying
for their child. There are many ways we can join Jesus in the care of the children of the
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world. So many are suffering from the devastation of war, famine, and disease, all kinds of
brokenness. They need our care, attention, and prayers.

Just as Simeon prayed and thanked God for the child, Jesus, we can join his line.

Isaiah 49:13-23; Psalm 26

by Carolyn Byrd (all days except Friday) and Fr. John Pearce (Friday)
Used with permission from the BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP

P. O. Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790

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 Announcements
Christmas Poinsettias: We will be ordering the Christmas Poinsettias soon. If you
would like to donate toward them in someone’s honor or memory, please tear off the
portion of your bulletin below and let us know. Suggested donation is $10.

December 21st: The Greening of the Church will take place after the 10:30 service.
Join us as we prepare for the Christmas season and enjoy fellowship and snacks together.

December 24th: Our Christmas Eve Service will take place at 5:00 pm.

January 4th: The St. Francis parish Chrsitmas party will be at 6:00 pm tonight. The
Chittom’s have graciously offered to host it at their home.

January 6th: We will celebrate Epiphany with an evening service at 6:30 pm, after
which we will de-green the Church.

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 Bishop of Tennessee
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt

Vicar
The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

Mission Council
Ralph Eddy
Linda Palmer
Thom Chittom
Shelley Sircy
clerk: Nanci Frey

Accompanist
Anna Howard

Schedule of Ministry:
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard Reader: Dave Gaines
Acolyte/Crucifer: Adam Waltenbaugh Prayer Station: Shelley Sircy
Oblationers: Chalicist: Adam Waltenbaugh
To check the schedule online, visit:
http://stfrancis-tn.net and go to congregational resources-->schedule

To get in touch with Fr. Jody for any reason, you can reach him at 615-440-6492 or via email at frjody@stfrancis-tn.
net.
_______________________________________________________________________________

St. Francis Church

Biblically minded. Mission driven.
812 Meadowlark Ln
PO Box 697
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
Phone: 851-0790
http://stfrancis-tn.net

Cover Image: The Annunciation, by Fra Angelico

Wood cuts from: Pitts Theological Library Digital Image Archive

Color images from: Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN, https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-search.pl

CCLI License No. 2334637 Oneliscence.net No. A-714717

Christmas Poinsettias:

If you would like to make a donation toward the purchase of the Christmas Poinsettias, please fill out the information below. If you
are donating with a check, please write “Christmas flowers” in the “for” area of the check. If you are using cash, simply fold this
paper over your donation before placing it in the offering plate.

Your Name:

Number of poinsettas (if you would like to take them after the Holidays):

Given in memoriam or in thanksgiving for: