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+ THE FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS +

 

Processional: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear #19

THE EXHORTATION

Priest: Beloved in Christ, we come by this Service to prepare ourselves to hear the message of the angels again, to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem, and to see the loving-kindness of our God and the Babe lying in a manger.  Let us, therefore, open the Holy Scriptures and read the earliest tale of that disobedience to God’s holy will, which is familiar to us all, and then the story of the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord, to save us from our sins and make us pure and happy; and let us thank Him with our carols of praise.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PREDICTS THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Guitar Solo Vs. 1, 4, 5, 7

Numbers 24:17

GOD’S PROMISE OF REDEMPTION

“Angels, From the Realms of Glory” 28

Genesis 3:8 – 15         Layreader

 

THE PROPHECY               

“What Child is This?” # 36

Isaiah 9:2, 6 & 7        Layreader

 

THE ANNUNCIATION

“Sing of Mary Pure and Lowly…” (vs. 1, 2 & 4) # 117

Saint Luke 1:26 – 38 Layreader                   

 

THE NATIVITY

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” (vs. 1, 2, 3 & 5) # 21

Saint Luke 2:1, 3 – 7 Layreader

 

THE SHEPHERDS

“While Shepherds Watched…” # 13   

Saint Luke 2:8 – 16               Layreader

Hymn: #43 “Away in a Manger”

The Gospel: (stand) BCP 97

THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

Saint John 1:1 – 14 The Priest

Hymn: #31 “Good Christian Men Rejoice…”

 

HOLY COMMUNION

FROM THE RESERVE SACRAMENT

The Offering

The Confession and Absolution

The Prefaces

The Lord’s Prayer

Agnus Dei

Prayer of Humble Access

The Distribution

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Dismissal

The Blessing (kneel) BCP 84

 

Recessional Hymn: “Hark, the Angels Sing…” #27

Priest:  Alleluia, Christ is Born!

Response:  O Come, Let Us Adore Him!  Alleluia

Postlude

 

A fisherman lowers a net into calm water at sunrise on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stands beside him, symbolizing faith and trust after a night of empty nets.

Nevertheless at Thy Word: Faith in the Midst of Empty Nets

by | Jul 5, 2026 |

Sermon Excerpt — Trinity 5
Luke 5:1–11
Have you ever worked hard at something, only to come up empty? Simon Peter knew that feeling well. After a long night of fishing, he and his companions had caught nothing. Exhausted and discouraged, they returned to shore and began washing their nets—resigned to failure.

It was in that very moment that Jesus stepped in and said, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets.”

By all human reasoning, this made no sense. The night was over. The opportunity had passed. Yet Peter responds with remarkable faith:“Nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net.”

Those four words change everything.

Peter obeys—and the result is abundance beyond imagination. The nets overflow. The boats nearly sink. What began in exhaustion ends in overwhelming blessing.

This passage reminds us that faith often looks like simple obedience in difficult moments. Not when we feel strong or confident, but when we are tired, uncertain, and ready to give up. Christ does not wait for us to be perfect or prepared—He meets us in our weakness and calls us to trust Him.

Whatever “empty nets” you are carrying today, bring them to Christ. And then, like Peter, say: “Nevertheless at thy word.” Cast the net once more—and trust that He is faithful.