Christmas Pilgrimage

Welcome to the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea

For everyone’s safety, please keep your mask on at all times and greet one another at a safe distance.

Greeting

Proceed to Upper Cluett Garden

Collect

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lesson

Luke 1:26—38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him 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 ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Proceed to Garden Chapel

Hymns

a. The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

“For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say–
“Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

— tr. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924)

b. Now in Holy Celebration

Now in holy celebration
sing we of that Mother blest,
in whose flesh for our salvation
God incarnate deigned to rest,
when a kindred salutation
named in faith the mystic Guest.

Lo, the advent Word confessing,
spake for joy the voice yet dumb,
through his mother’s lips addressing
her, of motherhood the sum,
bow’r of beauty, blest and blessing,
crowned with fruit of life to come.

“Whence,” she cried, at that fair meeting,
“comes to me this great reward?
For when I first heard the greeting
of the Mother of my Lord,
in my womb, the joy repeating,
leapt my babe in sweet accord.”

Triune Godhead, health supplying,
Ruler of eternity,
on the Fount of Grace relying,
we uplift our hearts to Thee,
praying that in realms undying
we at one with Life may be.

— Festum Matris gloriosae, 15th century, tr. Laurence Housman (1865–1959)

Proceed to Columbarium

Lesson

Luke 1:39—56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Proceed to Barton Ave. Entrance

Lesson

Luke 2:1—7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Prayers of the People

(Adapted from Christ Church Cranbrook)

The Leader and People pray responsively.

On this holy night in which God joins heaven and earth, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all those in need.

Silence

Mighty God, bless all those who are entrusted with Christian ministry—especially for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Peter, our Bishop; and the clergy of this parish—that your Word might be proclaimed with truth and courage.