Calendar
Epiphany Procession
Sunday, January 15, 2012
4:00pm - Saint Thomas Church
Collect:
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that thy people, illumined by thy Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Above: the choir sings from the back of the nave during the Epiphany Procession.
Just moments before 4pm, a crucifer and torch bearers lead the clergy to their places in the chancel. The choir then sings the responsory from the Great Stairwell, after which another crucifer and two more torch bearers lead the choir to the rear of the nave during the singing of the hymn. If you listen on the webcast, you will notice this movement of the choir through the nave.
The Rector then says the Bidding Prayer from his stall, and the congregation joins in saying the Lord's Prayer.
The Choir sings the motet from the back of the nave and the subdeacon then reads the first lesson from the lectern.
Then, while the choir sings the carol from the back of the nave, a thurifer leads the three kings (probationers from the choir school) down the center aisle to the creche. The Three Kings hand their gifts to the Rector, who places them at the creche. The Rector then censes the creche.
Following the collect, another hymn is sung, and a crucifer and two torch bearers lead the choir down the center aisle to their places in the chancel. If you listen to the webcast, from here on the choir will sound as they always do, given their position in the choir stalls.
After a succession of collects, music and lessons, the Rector gives his greetings and homily from the pulpit. Following the homily, an anthem is sung and the Rector says the blessing. The choir sings the responsory, and then the congregation joins in to sing a closing hymn as the choir, acolytes and clergy process through the nave.There is no Eucharist at this service. If you would like to make your Holy Communion, consider attending one of the morning services.
►The Rector speaks about the Epiphany Procession in his weekly audio message.
►If you are new to Saint Thomas, new to the Episcopal Church, and/or new to Christianity, consider attending the Rector's Christian Doctrine Class, which began anew on Tuesday, January 10 and continues on Tuesday, January 17 at 6:30pm.
►A new CD was recently released by Saint Thomas. Read more here and order your copy today.
| Officiant: | Fr Mead |
| Preacher: | Fr Mead |
| Sung by: | The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys |
| Prelude: | Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223, Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707) |
| Works by: | Palestrina, Cornelius, Philips, Lassus and Jonathan Dove |
| Voluntary: | Epiphanie, Gaston Litaize (1909-1991) |
