Christmas Eve Service - Caroling, Readings, Communion

Christmas Day Holy Communion

Dec 1:   Mary May Rice Birthday

Dec 4:   John & Jenny Pate Anniversary

Dec 6:   Jason Pate Birthday

Dec 6:   Samantha D'Alessandro Birthday

Dec 9:   Dan Allen Birthday

Dec 23: Justin Raver Birthday

Dec 24: Christmas Eve

Dec 25: Christmas

Dec 30: Marv & Lou Edwards Anniversary

Dec 31: Mary Ellen Holley Birthday

St. Andrew is the patron saint for fishermen, because he, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman. Initially, Andrew was a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master.

After the Lord ascended into Heaven, St.Andrew travelled to many lands preaching the Gospel. He is said to have been put to death on a cross. He was tied to this cross, not nailed, which allowed him to live for two more days, during which he preached continuously to the crowds of people who came to see him.

St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday merited for him the title of "doubting Thomas." Eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was gently rebuked for his scepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded - seeing in Christ's hands the point of the nails and putting his fingers in the place of the nails and his hand into His side. At this, St. Thomas became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection.

Stephen was one of the "seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3), who were chosen by the apostles to relieve them of the administrative burden of waiting on tables and caring for the widows. By this appointment to assist the apostles, Stephen, the first named of those whom the New Testament calls "the Seven", became the first to do what the Church traditionally considers to be the work and ministry of a deacon.

It is apparent from that Stephen's ministry involved more than serving tables, for the Acts of the Apostles speaks of his preaching and performing many miracles. One powerful sermon before the Council is recorded in the seventh chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. His denunciations of the Sanhedrin and against the Temple so enraged the members of the council that, without a trial, they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.

St. John, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when the Savior made him the guardian of His Mother. He founded many churches in Asia ` Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, and three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also attributed to him.

He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died at Ephesus about the year 100.

As recorded in the gospel of Matthew , after the visit of the Magi, Herod, in rage and jealousy, slaughtered all the baby boys in Bethlehem and surrounding countryside in an attempt to destroy his perceived rival, the infant Messiah. These "innocents" are honored by the Church as martyrs.

St. Thomas Becket (c. 1118 - 29 December 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. He engaged in conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was assassinated by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral.