The Blessing of the Crèche (The Nativity Story)

Saturday, December 13, 2025

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4:00 p.m. | High Altar

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Calling all Angels, Shepherds, Sheep, and all of God’s creatures to the manger.

Join us for this special Children and Families Service at Saint Thomas Church!

Director
Sung by	The Noble Singers

Preludes
The Scene is Set
Hymns	102 – Once in royal David’s city – IRBY
	78 – O little town of Bethlehem – FOREST GREEN
	96 – Angels we have heard on high – GLORIA
	83 – O come, all ye faithful – ADESTE FIDELES
	100 – Joy to the world! the Lord is come – ANTIOCH
Readings	Luke 1:1-4
	Luke 1:25-35, 38
	Luke 2:1-7
	Luke 2:8-13
	Luke 2:15-20
	Matthew 2:1-12
Anthems	The Washington Service, by David Hogan (1949-1996)
	Show me the way, by Maks Adach (b. 1993)
	What star is this, by Richard Shephard (1949-2021)
Building the Crèche
Reading	The Angel Gabriel visits Mary
Carol	The angel Gabriel from heaven came, Basque Carol, arr. Richard Shephard (1949-2021)
Reading	No Room at the End
Hymn	78 – O little town of Bethlehem – FOREST GREEN
Reading	The Visit of the Shepherds
Carol	Twas in the moon of winter-time, by Terre Johnson (b. 1959)
Reading	The Visit of the Magi
Carol	Drei Könige wandern aus Morgenland, by Peter Cornelius (1824-1874)
The Christ Child is Placed in the Manger
Hymn	101 – Away in a manger, no crib for his bed – CRADLE SONG — Anonymous (Traditional carol)
Carol	Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, by Richard Shephard
Hymn	83 – O come, all ye faithful – ADESTE FIDELES Sung by 8th Grade Choristers of the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys
Voluntary	Puer nobis nascitur, by Pierre Dandrieu (1664-1733)

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7:15 AM - Open Doors

7:45 AM - Said Mass

9:00 AM - Nursery

9:00 AM - Sung Eucharist

10:00 AM - Coffee Hour following the 9am Sung Mass

10:00 AM - Sunday School

10:00 AM - Faith Alive

11:00 AM - Solemn Eucharist

12:30 PM - Guided Tour of Saint Thomas Church

12:30 PM - Coffee Hour following the 11am Eucharist

4:00 PM - The Advent Procession

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

5:30 PM - Said Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

5:30 PM - Choral Evensong

6:15 PM - Holy Eucharist

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

5:30 PM - Said Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

3:00 PM - Contemplative Prayer

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

10:00 AM - Open Doors

11:00 AM - Confessions, Spiritual Advice, and Healing Ministry

11:30 AM - The Rosary including Shrine Prayers

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

7:15 AM - Open Doors

7:45 AM - Said Mass

9:00 AM - Nursery

9:00 AM - Sung Eucharist

10:00 AM - Coffee Hour following the 9am Sung Mass

10:00 AM - Sunday School

10:00 AM - Faith Alive

11:00 AM - Litany and Solemn Eucharist

12:30 PM - Guided Tour of Saint Thomas Church

12:30 PM - Coffee Hour following the 11am Eucharist

4:00 PM - Solemn Evensong

5:15 PM - Organ Recital: Richard Tanner

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

7:30 PM - G.F. Handel: Messiah

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

7:30 PM - G.F. Handel: Messiah

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

3:00 PM - Contemplative Prayer

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

10:00 AM - Open Doors

11:00 AM - Confessions, Spiritual Advice, and Healing Ministry

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

4:00 PM - The Blessing of the Crèche (The Nativity Story)

7:15 AM - Open Doors

7:45 AM - Said Mass

9:00 AM - Nursery

9:00 AM - Sung Eucharist

10:00 AM - Coffee Hour following the 9am Sung Mass

10:00 AM - Sunday School

10:00 AM - Faith Alive

11:00 AM - Festal Eucharist

12:30 PM - Guided Tour of Saint Thomas Church

12:30 PM - Coffee Hour following the 11am Eucharist

1:30 PM - Korean Holy Eucharist 한국어 감사성찬례

4:00 PM - Festal Evensong

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

5:30 PM - Choral Evensong

6:15 PM - Holy Eucharist

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

5:30 PM - Choral Evensong

6:15 PM - Holy Eucharist

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

5:30 PM - Christmas on Fifth Avenue

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

3:00 PM - Contemplative Prayer

4:15 PM - Noble Singers Rehearsal

8:00 AM - Open Doors

9:00 AM - Said Mass

10:30 AM - Confessions, Spiritual Advice, and Healing Ministry

12:00 PM - Christmas on Fifth Avenue

7:15 AM - Open Doors

7:45 AM - Said Mass

9:00 AM - Nursery

9:00 AM - Sung Eucharist

10:00 AM - Coffee Hour following the 9am Sung Mass

10:00 AM - Sunday School

10:00 AM - Faith Alive

11:00 AM - Solemn Eucharist

12:30 PM - Guided Tour of Saint Thomas Church

12:30 PM - Coffee Hour following the 11am Eucharist

4:00 PM - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

4:00 PM - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

5:30 PM - Vigil Mass of Christmas

10:00 PM - Christmas Music

10:30 PM - Procession and Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity

8:00 AM - Open Doors

9:00 AM - Said Mass

11:00 AM - Procession and Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity

8:00 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:00 AM - Open Doors

11:00 AM - Confessions, Spiritual Advice, and Healing Ministry

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

7:15 AM - Open Doors

7:45 AM - Said Mass

9:00 AM - Nursery

9:00 AM - Sung Eucharist

10:00 AM - Coffee Hour following the 9am Sung Mass

11:00 AM - Solemn Eucharist

12:30 PM - Guided Tour of Saint Thomas Church

12:30 PM - Coffee Hour following the 11am Eucharist

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

10:00 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

8:30 AM - Open Doors

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

10:00 AM - Open Doors

11:00 AM - Confessions, Spiritual Advice, and Healing Ministry

11:30 AM - The Rosary and Shrine Prayers

12:00 PM - Shrine Prayers (Intercessions) and Mass

The church year is structured in such a way as to lead the worshiper through the life of Christ. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day with a season of waiting, anticipation, and preparation known as Advent, from the latin adventus meaning "coming; arrival". During Advent we reflect on the physical nativity in Bethlehem and ask for the reception of Christ in our own hearts. As a favorite carol puts it:

"O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
o come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!"