'St John's Cathedral Is a Place of God's Grace, Welcoming All

‘St John’s Cathedral is a place of God’s grace, welcoming all, following Christ and changing lives in the heart of Hong Kong.’ 22ND DECEMBER 2019 THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

8.00am Said Eucharist Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Franklin Lee Reader: Jeanniee Chan 9.00am Worship for All with Sunday School Nativity Play (See insert) Celebrant: The Revd Sharon Langbis Communion Setting: ‘Worship for All’ Setting Anthems: Ang puso ko’y’ nagpupuri (Eduardo Honitiveros) sung by the Filipino Fellowship Choir I sing of a maiden (Bryan Hesford) Voluntary: Conditor alme siderum (Jean Titelouze)

10.30am Sung Eucharist (in Mandarin) Celebrant: The Revd Canon Peter Koon Preacher: Ms Vivian Kuo 11.45am Responsorial Eucharist (See insert) Celebrant: The Revd Sharon Langbis Preacher: The Revd Franklin Lee Reader/Intercessor: Koon-G Chiu/Kevin She 1.15pm Sung Eucharist (in Filipino) Celebrant: The Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre Preacher: The Revd Sharon Langbis 5.00pm Nine Lessons and Carols (See separate service book) Officiant: The Revd Will Newman Readers: Daniel Lo, Francois Lung, Martin Matsui, T Y Wong, Marques Ng, Cynthia Ca. Abdon Tellez, Vincent Ho, Doris Lye, The Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre

Welcome to all who worship here today. Visiting communicants, of whatever Christian tradition, are invited to receive communion here. Gluten-free communion wafers are available on request at all Eucharists in this Cathedral. Please enquire of the Sidesmen or Servers for directions to the distribution. No unauthorized photography, video filming or sound recording during the service.

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL SUN 22nd 12.00noon Chinese Congregation Fellowship

MON 23rd 8.00am Said Eucharist 12.30pm Meditation Group 1.00pm One o’clock Prayer

TUE 24th 8.00am Said Eucharist Christmas Eve 1.00pm One o’clock Prayer 4.30pm Christingle Service 11.00pm Midnight Mass of the Nativity and Blessing of the Crib

WED 25th 8.00am Said Eucharist Christmas Day 9.00am Sung Eucharist 10.30am Sung Eucharist (Mandarin) 11.45am Responsorial Eucharist with Carols 1.15pm Sung Eucharist (Filipino) (NO evening service)

THU 26th 9.00am Said Eucharist (Public Holiday)

FRI 27th 8.00am Said Eucharist 1.00pm One o’clock Prayer 3.00pm Friday Fellowship Group

SAT 28th 8.30am Said Eucharist 12.00noon Said Eucharist (Filipino) 6.00pm Sung Eucharist (Cantonese) (Anticipated Sunday Service)

SUN 29th December The First Sunday of Christmas Isaiah 63.7-9 8.00am Said Eucharist Psalm 148.7-end Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Sharon Langbis Hebrews 2.10-end 9.00am Sung Eucharist Matthew 2.13-end Celebrant: The Dean Preacher: The Revd Sharon Langbis 10.30am Sung Eucharist (Mandarin) Celebrant: The Revd Franklin Lee Preacher: The Revd Wu Wai Ho 11.45am Responsorial Eucharist Celebrant: The Dean Preacher: The Revd Sharon Langbis 1.15pm Sung Eucharist (Filipino) Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre 5.00pm Evening Prayer in Taizé style Officiant: The Revd Franklin Lee Preacher: The Revd Wu Wai Ho

THEFT PREVENTION

As with any big city centre, please keep your valuables with you. If you feel unsafe at any time, please let a staff member or sidesman know.

2 COLLECT AND READINGS LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT and apostleship to bring about the WREATH obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, Voice one— including yourselves who are called to On this fourth week of Advent we light belong to Jesus Christ, the first three candles, remembering God’s promise to be with us, to comfort To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are us, and to rejoice with us (lights two called to be saints: Grace to you and purple and one pink candle). peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Voice two— We light the last candle to remind us This is the word of the Lord. of Mary’s courage and grace as she All Thanks be to God. embraced God’s action in her life and in the world (lights last purple candle). GOSPEL READING Matthew 1.18-end Voice one— This candle is a symbol of the love that Hear the Gospel of our Lord frees us from captivity. Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Voice two— All Glory to you, O Lord. This candle is also a symbol of the love that was born at Christmas and contin- The birth of Jesus the Messiah took ues to be born each day. place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but All O God, come journey with before they lived together, she was us through Advent. found to be with child from the Holy Give us courage to spread Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a love in the world. Amen. righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to COLLECT dismiss her quietly. But just when he God our redeemer, who prepared the had resolved to do this, an angel of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother Lord appeared to him in a dream and of your Son: grant that, as she looked said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be for his coming as our saviour, so we afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the may be ready to greet him when he child conceived in her is from the Holy comes again as our judge; who is alive Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are and reigns with you, in the unity of the to name him Jesus, for he will save his Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. people from their sins.’ All this took Amen. place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, FIRST READING the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, Romans 1.1-7 and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When A reading from the letter of Paul to the Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the Romans. angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to relations with her until she had borne a be an apostle, set apart for the gospel son; and he named him Jesus. of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy This is the Gospel of the Lord. scriptures, the gospel concerning his All Praise to you, O Christ. Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace 3 PRAYERS

POST COMMUNION PRAYER PRAYER REQUESTS

Heavenly Father, who chose the Please pray for those who are sick: Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of the promised saviour: fill us your Therese Marie Gerarda Chan, Jennifer servants with your grace, that in all D. Ambatcan, Lila Szweda, Lene Bille things we may embrace your holy will Hoegh, Justin Ching, Luke Inkin, Annie and with her rejoice in your salvation; Kwan, Kong Siu-Ming, Benjamin Ng, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Elaine Cogan, Anthony Chan, Chow Pak Kwan, Geoff Walsh, Nie Shi Fa, Toung Ming, May Cheng, Chen Kuk Tye, Mike FOR YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK Chan, Shirley Nie, Margaret Pini, Tai Yu In the worldwide Anglican Hei, Marianne Felch, Catherine Chan, Communion we pray for Christians John McIntosh, Eunice Chan, Irene Lo in other denominations and for the Oi Lin, Roger Bebbington, John David, ecumenical movement; for His Holiness Christina Chan, Daisy Tai, Timothy Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, His All Moreno, Leslie Henderson, Chong Yuk Holiness Archbishop Bartholomew of Lau, Jesher Yau, Andrew Wong, Donna Constantinople, New Rome and Ecu- Gail Willis, Caroline Yu, Ron Fast, menical Patriarch; the Revd Dr Olav Monica Cornelius, Phyllis Schmitz, Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the Raymond Yuen, Meena Tsui, Kathryn World Council of Churches, Bishop Lewis, Richard Jones, Susan Westlake Ivan M Abrahams, General Secretary and Kathryn McCallen.

World Methodist Council, and the Revd Please pray for the recently departed: Chris Ferguson, General Secretary of Nancy Lo the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Prayers will be offered for those named

We pray for the Province of Hong above during the weekday Eucharist. Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican To include someone in this prayer list, please contact Elisa, Tel.: 2523 4157. Province of Hong Kong & Macau); for the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong, our REMARKS: Unless Elisa is contacted archbishop and primate; and for all ([email protected] ) bishops, priests and deacons within with advice to the contrary, names will our diocese and province. be removed from the Prayer Request list after one month. We pray for our cathedral and the daughter churches, the Very Revd Matthias Der, the Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre, the Revd Canon Peter Koon, the Revd Franklin Lee, the Revd Mark Rogers, the Revd Sharon Langbis, the Revd Robert Martin, the Revd Will A PRAYER FOR Newman, the Revd William Wu and the HONG KONG Revd Jenny Wong Nam; for the ministries of St John’s Cathedral; for our out- O Saviour Christ, in whose love lies reach ministries: HELP for Domestic the secret of all life and the hope of Workers, Mission for Migrant Workers, all people, we pray for quiet cour- Life Enrichment Centre, Counselling age to match this hour. We did not Centre, Bookstore, Castaway Shop, choose to be born or live in such an poverty alleviation and prison ministry. age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its We also pray for our link Diocese injustices anger us, its possibilities of Toungoo, Myanmar; for the Rt inspire us and its vigour renew us, Revd Dr Saw Shee Sho, his priests, for your Kingdom’s sake. Amen. people and ministry.

4 NOTICES

WELCOME NEW CHOIR ALBUM ‘FAITH IN THE CITY’ We welcome Bishop Humphrey South- ern in our midst this morning. Bishop As part of our 170th Anniversary, the Humphrey is currently the Principal of Cathedral Choir has produced a new Cuddesdon College that provides Ordi- album called ‘Faith in the City’. The nation training and theological studies repertoire includes music that has in the UK. connection with St John’s past and present. The album can be purchased CONGRATULATIONS TO from the Cathedral bookstore for THE REVD WU WAI HO HK$100 per copy. A fantastic idea for Christmas presents. The Archbishop has appointed the Revd Wu Wai Ho to be the vicar of the Church of Crown of Thorns, Tsuen Wan, effective 1st February, 2020. His last Sunday serving at St John’s Cathe- dral as chaplain will be 26th January.

The Revd Wu has served at the cathe- POVERTY ALLEVIATION dral since his ordination in 2013. We PROGRAMME appreciate his tremendous contribu- tion to the life of the cathedral, particu- larly in building up the Chinese congregations. He will be sorely missed.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop has appointed the Revd Amos Poon, currently serving at St Paul’s Church, to serve at the Cathedral, effective also on 1st- St John’s Cathedral February. Let’s pray for the Revd Wu and the Revd Poon during this time of CHRISTMASTIDE transition. FOOD DRIVE

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

The Dean and Clergy Team of St John’s Cathedral would like to wish a Happy and Blessed Christmas Support St James’ Settlement to all our parishioners. People’s Food Bank! Share the warmth, love and food

to the needy

Bring rice, noodles, canned food, May the presence of instant oatmeal or biscuits the Holy Child of Bethlehem to the Cathedral office fill your hearts and homes with joy BEFORE 3rd January 2020 this festive season.

5 NOTICES CHANGE OF SERVICE TIMES ‘FAITH BEGINS’ The worship schedule for Sunday Wednesday evenings services at St John’s Cathedral starting 5th February—16th May 2020 from 1st January 2020 will be:

‘Faith Begins’ is a course for adult 8.00am Said Eucharist baptism and confirmation at St 9.00am Sung Eucharist John's Cathedral. The course is for 10.30am Eucharist in Mandarin people who have been worshipping for at least three month in the cathe- 11.45am Responsorial Eucharist/ dral parish. Choral Mattins

The course explores the Christian 1.30pm Eucharist in Filipino faith in a relaxed atmosphere with a 5.00pm Afternoon Service meal and informal discussion. ‘Faith (service format according Begins’ is rooted in the Anglican to rota) tradition which values the bible, tradition, and reason, and interprets ~~~~ them in the light of a modern under- standing about life and the world we SJC BOOKSTORE live in. Opening Hours For further information please see during the Festive Season: the ‘Faith Begins’ leaflet. 22nd December 2019 (TODAY) How do I enrol? Just send The Fourth Sunday of Advent your contact details to Revd Will 10.00am - 5.00pm

Newman at th [email protected] 24 December 2019 (Tue) Christmas Eve Registration deadline: 9.00am - late in the evening th 15 January 2020 25th December 2019 (Wed) Christmas Day 9.00am - 2.00pm

26th December 2019 (Thu) Boxing Day 10.00am - 2.00pm

29th December 2019 (Sun) 9.00am - 3.30 pm

1st January 2020 (Wed) New Year's Day 10.00am - 2.00pm

2nd & 3rd January 2020 (Thu and Fri) Closed for Stock-Take ~~~~ PARENTS AND TODDLERS

There will be no Parents and Toddlers meeting on 26th December 2019 and 2nd January 2020.

6 NOTICES

2019 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL

22nd December (TODAY) TICKETS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

The Fourth Sunday of Advent MIDNIGHT MASS 24th December (Tue) at 11.00pm 8.00am Said Eucharist 9.00am Worship for All with Each Christmas Eve we welcome over Sunday School Nativity 1300 people to our Midnight Mass of 10.30am Sung Eucharist (Mandarin) the Nativity and the numbers are 11.45am Responsorial Eucharist growing. We will be issuing tickets 1.15pm Sung Eucharist (Filipino) again this year to ensure that there is 5.00pm Festival of Nine Lessons a fair distribution to members of the and Carols Cathedral congregations and the wider community. 24th December (Tue) Christmas Eve Please note that all tickets for 4.30 pm Christingle Service the Midnight Mass have now 11.00 pm Midnight Mass of the been issued. Nativity and Blessing of the Crib The remaining 100 tickets will be distributed at the main door at 25th December (Wed) 9.00pm on the 24th December. Christmas Day

8.00 am Said Eucharist PLEASE ALSO NOTE 9.00 am Sung Eucharist 10.30 am Sung Eucharist (Mandarin) 1) On the night of 24th December, 11.45 am Responsorial Eucharist ticket holders will be admitted with Carols from 10.00pm, using the North 1.15 pm Sung Eucharist (Filipino) and South Transept doors of the (No evening service) Church.

2) All ticket holders are requested to be seated by 10.30pm when the NEW YEAR’S EVE Devotion before Midnight Mass begins.

3) At 10.45pm any unoccupied seats will be released to non-ticket holders under the supervision of the sidesmen.

st Tuesday 31 December 4) Overflow provision will be prepared 11.00pm for worshippers in both the Li Hall and the North lawn. Watchnight Eucharist A service to welcome the New Year *Due to the current situation in Celebrant: Hong Kong, the service schedule is subject to change. The Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre **If your plans change and you can- Preacher: not join the Midnight Mass, The Revd Robert Martin please kindly return the tickets to the Cathedral office. Thanks.

7 ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL MINISTRY TEAM

Dean: The Very Revd Matthias Der Executive Administrator:

Mrs Viola Ip Clergy Ministry Co-ordinators:

Community Building — The Revd Franklin Lee Serving the wider community: Christian Education — The Revd Will Newman (Priest-In-Charge of St Stephen’s Chapel, Stanley) SJC Counselling Service HELP for Domestic Workers Outreach Ministry — The Revd Mark Rogers Mission for Migrant Workers (Priest-In-Charge of Discovery Bay Church) SJC Life Enrichment Centre

Liturgy and Spirituality — The Revd Robert Martin Cathedral Bookstore (Priest-In-Charge of Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam) CLARES/Castaways Prison Ministry Filipino Ministry — The Revd Canon Dwight dela Torre The Revd Sharon Langbis Information about St John’s Cathedral and its ministries can be found on the Chinese Ministry — notice boards and on the website: The Revd Canon Peter Koon www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk. The Revd Wu Wai Ho Clergy are here to listen and help. Please Honorary Chaplain: feel free to speak to one of them after the services, or make contact during the The Revd Jenny Wong Nam week: St John’s Cathedral, 4–8 Garden Road, Central Tel: 2523 4157

Welcome to St John’s Cathedral!

Please complete this form and hand it to one of the Clergy, a Sidesman or the Welcome Table.

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