The Second Sunday of Advent December 8, 2024

“John the Baptist preaching in the desert,”

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT ST. EDMUND’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH DECEMBER 8, 2024 | 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM

WELCOME TO ST. EDMUND’S Thank you for coming and joining us for worship today. We are grateful for your presence with us.

If you are worshipping with us for the first time, we ask you to please see an usher to fill out either the guest book or a visitor card so that we might appropriately respond to your presence with us.

The congregation’s spoken parts (which are in bold) and hymns of the liturgy are found in this bulletin. Hymns have been taken from either the Hymnal 1982 or Lift Every Voice and Sing.

The Sunday School classroom, Parish Hall, and a unisex bathroom are accessed through the hallway on the north side of the sanctuary. The doors on the left side of the sanctuary will take you to this hallway.

At the time of the distribution of Communion, the ushers will invite interested individuals to come forward by row to the altar rail to receive either the Sacrament or a blessing from the priest (either standing or kneeling). In the Episcopal Church, all baptized Christians regardless of age and denomination are invited to receive the Sacrament. To receive the Sacrament, extend your hands and you will be offered the blessed bread and wine in a self-contained kit to consume at the rail. If you desire to receive a blessing instead of the Sacrament, fold your arms over your heart as a sign to the priest, who will offer you a blessing.

We hope that your time today is spiritually nourishing and look forward to the possibility of welcoming you again soon. May God bless you today with joy and peace.

Physical Posture At various times in the liturgy the congregation stands, sits, and kneels. Traditionally we stood to praise God, kneeled to pray, and sat to hear the Word of God. Over time, standing has come to be understood as an equally appropriate physical posture for prayer. Through the bulletin you will find italicized notations where we tend to move from one posture to another. At all times, however, know that you are welcome and encouraged to do that which seems appropriate for you physically and spiritually.

Live Stream Notice Please be advised that this public service of worship will be live streamed, and that your image and or that of any image of any children or vulnerable persons in your care may be shown by way of Zoom, YouTube, or other social media platforms. Your presence in Church communicates your agreement and willingness to be photographed, filmed, and or otherwise recorded, and you also agree to the use of such images in any and all media.

Bulletin Cover JESUS MAFA. “John the Baptist preaching in the desert,” from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

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THE WORD OF GOD Prelude “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

French Carol

Entrance Hymn Please stand as able and sing.

Hymnal 1982, #76

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Introit

LEVAS, #249

Opening Acclamation Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for Purity Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria 8:00 AM Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

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10:30 AM. Please sing as able.

Hymnal 1982, #S 280

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Collect of the Day Please stand as able.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Let us pray.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lessons Please be seated.

A reading from the prophet Malachi.

Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Lector The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God. The Song of Zechariah, Luke 1: 68-79 Please join in reading together.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

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Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:3-11

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Lector The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn Stand as able and sing verses 1,2, followed by the Gospel reading, and then verse 3,4.

“Soon and Very Soon”

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LEVAS #14

Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, 7

and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" Celebrant The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon Nicene Creed Please stand as able. (Chant at 10:30 AM) We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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Prayers of the People The Leader and People pray responsively.

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God. For all people in their daily life and work; For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For this community, the nation, and the world; For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation; For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble; For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God; For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For all bishops and other ministers; For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation. We pray especially for Tony Anderson, Hilma Avila, Maria Avila, Clifton Brooster, Sharon Brooster, Wellington Bush, Margaret Davis, Denise Fleming, Alan Flynn, Daphaney Gordon, Glenda Gwynn, BettyAnne Hargray, Margaret Jones, Stephanie Krawiec, James Linder, Nicholas Carl, Walter Hale, Laverne Kelly, Loretta Mann, Margretta Marchbank, Mark Martin, Sheila McKee, Delgra Moore, Dorothy Nisbeth, Paul Holmes, Barrington Spencer, Karen Scott, Clara Thorne, Elaine Washington, Roberta West as well as their caregivers. Hear us, Lord; For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life. We pray for those celebrating birthdays this week, including Geraldine Law (12/9), Lucia Joran (12/9), Morgan Whitt (12/11), Noah Whitt (12/11), and James Gates (12/14). We also pray for those celebrating anniversaries. We will exalt you, O God our King; And praise your Name for ever and ever.

We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.

Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

At this time, you are invited to add your own petitions either silently or aloud. You are also invited to come up to the altar rail if you’d like an individual prayer for birthday, wedding anniversary, travel, healing, or any other request.

Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Confession and Absolution Please bow or kneel as able.

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence Celebrant and People: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Peace Celebrant People

The peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

You are invited to greet those around you with the words “Peace be with you” accompanied by a wave, peace sign, or handshake.

Please be seated for some announcements. There’s much more to find out at the back of this bulletin.

THE HOLY COMMUNION Offertory Celebrant Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. “If God Be For Us , Who Can Be Against Us”

Handel

Presentation Please stand as able as the offering is brought to the altar.

8:00 AM Celebrant All things come of Thee, O Lord People And of Thine own have we given Thee 10:30 AM. All sing as able.

To God be the glory, To God be the glory, To God be the glory For all the things He has done!

With His blood He has saved me, With His pow’r He has raised me To God be the glory For the things He has done.

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THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Please stand as able.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: 8:00 AM Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

10:30 AM. Please sing as able:

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Please stand or kneel as able.

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks 12

to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father, Celebrant and People: We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, (Chant at 10:30AM) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

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Fractional Anthem 10:30 AM. All sing as able.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us Thy peace.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion 10:30 AM. Celebrant and People: In union, O Lord, with those gathered around your altar and with those who cannot be present, we offer you our praise and thanksgiving. We present to you our soul and body, that we may always be united to you. Although not everyone is able to share in the blessed bread and wine of this sacrament, we ask that everyone may spiritually receive you in their hearts. Let nothing ever separate us from you. May we live in you, and you in us, both in this life and in the life to come.

Amen.

Distribution of Communion The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Please be seated. The ushers will invite you to the altar.

Communion 10:30 AM. Please sing as able.

“Is You All on the Altar”

Hoffman

Post Communion Prayer Please stand or kneel as able.

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.

To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

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Recessional Hymn Hymnal 1982, #616

Please sing as able.

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Choir Anthem “Till We Gather Again”

Dismissal Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People

Thanks be to God.

Postlude “Prelude/Fugue in A Minor”

Bach

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Parish Notes Stewardship Campaign 2025

Donations

Please consider supporting the ministry of St. Edmund’s by generously pledging for the Stewardship Campaign 2025. Our church has dreams to expand and grow in the coming year.

Some of the dreams shared by our ministry leaders are- Vacation Bible Camp, Food Garden, Block Party, Church Retreat, Education Initiatives, Ministry for Seniors and Youth Mission Trip. Please support this dream by pledging at tinyurl.com/stedmunds-pledge.

Anniversary offering: Ivy Martinez

Special offering: Kevin Harper Ivy Martinez

Thanksgiving offering: Martha Bell BettyAnne Hargray Kevin Harper Shirley Harris Earnestine Holloway Paul & Hisae Isihara Eloise Johnson Charisse Linder

Bible Study/Theology Group Join us every Tuesday at 6pm either in the church conference room or via Zoom. December marks the beginning of the church’s liturgical year and we will embark this year’s faith journey by reflecting on passages from the Gospel according to Luke. Reading the scriptures together and having fellowship with each other can be a fascinating experience for healing, growth, and service. No preparation is needed: just come as you are, as often as you can. We will end each session with some tasty food. See you there!

Ivy Martine Philip & Kathleen Maskall Charlotte Mays Raymond Owens Robin & DeWayne Reeves Richard Toliver David & Christy Vosburg Sherman Wright

Holiday Drive for Uniforms for CICSWashington Park The Community Engagement team is collecting uniforms for CICS-Washington Park students, for male and female students from kindergarten through eighth grade, particularly for students experiencing housing insecurity.

We will be collecting: • Solid black dress shoes and black athletic shoes (big kid sizes 1-7, women's sizes 5-8, men's sizes 6-9) • Navy polo or collared shirts (sizes 5-12/14) • White polo or collared shirts (youth sizes 12/14 - 16/18, adult sizes XS - M) • Navy cardigans, sweaters and blazers (sizes 5 - 16/18, adult sizes XS - M) • Plain khaki slacks (sizes 5-18)

Birthdays Please remember upcoming birthdays in Dec: Geraldine Laws (12/9) Christopher Finch (12/24) Lucia Jordan (12/9) Nathan Herron (12/26) Morgan Whitt (12/11) Roslyn Johnson (12/30) Noah Whitt (12/11) Kathleen Maskall (12/30) James Gates (12/14) Donna Scott (12/30) Stephanie Shanks (12/20) David Vosburg (12/22)

Please bring donations (new or gently used) during the first three Sundays in December (Dec. 1, 8 and 15). Please contact Miriam Walton (773350-1349) or Christy Vosburg (314-324-7403) with any questions.

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Serving Today

Calendar

Dec. 8, 2024

December 8, 15 | 12:30 PM | Choir Rehearsal December 10, 17 | 6:00 PM | Bible Study December 8 | 9:30 AM | Altar Guild December 10 | 7:00 PM | Community Engagement * December 17 | 7:00 PM | Vestry Meeting* December 24 | 5:30 PM | Christmas Eve Mass December 25 Church Office Closed

8:00 AM Priest: Fr. Barnabas Pusnur Lay Eucharistic Minister: Cheryl Harris Lector: Renee Matthews 10:30AM Priest: Fr. Barnabas Pusnur Organist & Director of Music: Richard Evans Lay Eucharistic Minister: Roxanne Whitt Lector: Morgan Whitt Acolytes: Morgan Whitt, Noah Whitt, Simone Whitt, Aubrey Wallace, Raven Wallace Music: Soloist Jennifer Whittenburg Coffee Hour: Vestry

*via zoom

Online Worship Sunday at 10:30 AM via Zoom at tinyurl.com/stedmunds-online. Call in number: (312) 626-6799. Meeting ID: 515 723 8420. Password: 6105.

Staff Fr. Barnabas E. Pusnur, Rector (bpusnur@stedmundschicago.org) Richard E. Evans, Organist & Director of Music Charmian Moore, Parish Administrative Assistant (admin@stedmundschicago.org) James Franklin, Sexton

Vestry Andrea Flynn, Senior Warden Charlotte Mays, Junior Warden Charisse Linder Kevin Harper Miriam Walton Sherman Wright Christy Vosburg Paul Isihara Ana Lewis Melissa Smith Cheryl Harris, Clerk (Non-Vestry) Lisa Finch, Treasurer (Non-Vestry)

6105 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637-2119 | 773-288-0038 19

Church Office Hours: Tues-Fri 9:00am-1:00pm | Priest is available to meet by appointment