Music for The Epiphany of the Lord January 2-3,
2021
Entrance
1. As
with gladness men of old
Did
the guiding star behold;
As
with joy they hailed its light,
Leading
onward, beaming bright;
So,
most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore
your splendor see.
2. As
with joyful steps they sped
To
that lowly manger-bed,
There
to bend the knee before
Him,
whom heav'n and earth adore;
So
may we with hurried pace
Run
to seek your throne of grace.
Presentation
1. What
star is this with beams so bright,
More
lovely than the noonday light?
'Tis
sent to announce a newborn king,
Glad
tidings of our God to bring.
2. 'Tis
now fulfilled what God decreed:
“From
Jacob shall a star proceed.”
And
lo! The eastern sages stand
To
read in heav'n the Lord's command.
3. While
outward signs the star displays,
An
inward light the Lord conveys.
It
urges them, with force benign,
To
seek the Giver of the sign.
4. O
Jesus, while the star of grace
Invites
us all to seek your face,
Let
not our slothful hearts refuse
The
guidance of your light to use.
5. To
God the Father, God the Son,
And
God the Spirit, Three in One,
May
ev’ry tongue and nation raise
An
endless song of thankful praise!
Text: Quem stella sole pulchrior, Charles
Coffin, 1676-1749; tr. by John Chandler, 1806-1876, alt.
Communion
1. We
three kings of Orient are;
Bearing
gifts, we traverse afar
Field
and fountain,
Moor
and mountain,
Following
yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.
2. Born
a King on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold
I bring to crown him again;
King
forever,
Ceasing
never,
Over
us all to reign.
3. Frankincense
to offer have I;
Incense
owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer
and praising,
Gladly
raising,
Worshiping
God on high.
4. Myrrh
is mine: its bitter perfume
Breathes
a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing,
sighing,
Bleeding,
dying,
Sealed
in the stonecold tomb.
5. Glorious
now behold him arise,
King
and God and Sacrifice:
“Alleluia,
Alleluia!”
Sounds
through the earth and skies.
Text: Matthew 2:1-11; John H. Hopkins, Jr.,
1820-1891, alt.
Recessional
1. Songs
of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus,
Lord, to you we raise,
Manifested
by the star
To
the sages from afar;
Branch
of royal David's stem
In
your birth at Bethlehem;
Anthems
be to you addressed,
God
in flesh made manifest.
2. Manifest
at Jordan's stream,
Prophet,
Priest, and King supreme;
And
at Cana, wedding guest,
In
your Godhead manifest;
Manifest
in pow'r divine,
Changing
water into wine;
Anthems
be to you addressed,
God
in flesh made manifest.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE
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EPIPHANY BLESSED CHALK
& HOUSE BLESSING
It is a long-standing
tradition for Catholics to bless their homes and mark their doors using blessed
chalk on or around the Feast of the Epiphany. We invite you to take an “Epiphany
Package” with you after Mass, including blessed chalk and the prayer of
blessing and formula for the inscription, and consecrate your homes and
families to God as we begin this New Year. Please take one per household.
ADORATION
THIS WEEK
No
Adoration on Wednesday. We will present Bibles to our 6th Grade
students at Prayer Services at 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm.
CHURCH
CLOSED
Our
Church will be closed on Tuesday from 1:30 – 3:00 pm for work.
ABOUT
THE “SUNDAY OBLIGATION”
As
we experience the ongoing effects of the pandemic, Cardinal Dolan has continued
to suspend the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. But remember, the obligation
to “keep holy the Lord’s Day” can never be suspended. If you are afraid or uncomfortable
attending Mass in person, or you have cold or flu symptoms or need to
quarantine, make sure to watch our Mass livestream or any of the livestreams of
Sunday Mass now available. If you do not have the internet, sit down with the
Sunday readings, pray, and make a Spiritual Communion. Watch one of the many videos
available to you free on Formed or Word on Fire through Flock notes. Call a
friend and watch a Formed or Word of Fire film at the same time and discuss it
after. Take a walk and pray the rosary. Do our outdoor Stations of the Cross or
walk on our property and visit the statues and shrines. Read a good spiritual
book, most especially the Bible. If weekend Mass is too crowded, attend a daily
Mass instead. It has become easy to excuse ourselves from prayer and worship. Begin
this New Year with a firm resolve to keep your faith strong and make it even
stronger. Keep holy the Lord’s day!
THANK
YOU
Thanks
to all who helped us throughout the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Thanks to our
team of ushers, greeters, and medical team for keeping things organized and
safe. Thanks to Pat Moore and Emily Ricci for special attention to Christmas
Masses. Thanks to Cathy Reale and our Cantors who led us in song. Thanks to all
who decorated our church, school, and grounds and especially for the leadership
of Gary Bartilucci. Thanks to all who kept our church and school clean and
safe, especially Connie and Heather. Thanks
to all who made donations to the SVDP Food Pantry. Many gift cards were
distributed for Christmas. Special thanks to all who made a Christmas gift to
your parish. We are most grateful for your generosity. And, on a personal note,
your priests thank you for your Christmas remembrances, including cards, gifts
and treats. May God bless all our parishioners as we begin the New Year of
2021.
OUR
RESURRECTION SISTERS
The Congregation of the Sisters of the
Resurrection was founded in Rome on January 6 in 1891 by a widow, Celine
Borzecka, and her daughter, Hedwig. The formation of the Congregation was the
first time in the history of the Catholic Church that a religious community of
women was founded by a mother and a daughter. This year their
Congregation celebrates their 130th Anniversary! Our parish and
school are so blessed to have five Resurrection Sisters serving our people.
What an amazing blessing they are to all of us. We wish our Sisters a Happy
Anniversary and thank them for all they do for us!
