Advent IV - December 20, 2020

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2020 10:00 a.m.

Gathering In Joy Prelude: Prelude and Fugue in D minor

J.S. Bach

Opening Hymn: 54, Savior of the nations come!

Opening Acclamation Celebrant: Blessed be the one, holy, and living God. People: You come to your people and set them free.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath Collect of the Day BCP 212 Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Listening for God’s Word The First Reading - 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 When the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you." But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.

Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

BCP 713

1 Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing; from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.

2 For I am persuaded that your love is established for ever; you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens.

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant: 4 'I will establish your line for ever, and preserve your throne for all generations.'"

19 You spoke once in a vision and said to your faithful people: "I have set the crown upon a warrior and have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.

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21 My hand will hold him fast and my arm will make him strong.

22 No enemy shall deceive him, nor any wicked man bring him down.

23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and love shall be with him, and he shall be victorious through my Name.

25 I shall make his dominion extend from the Great Sea to the River.

26 He will say to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.'

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Gospel Hymn: 56, O come, O come Emmanuel (vv. 6-8 before Gospel)

The Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 Before the Gospel the people respond: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of 5

greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.

For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

After the Gospel the people respond: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Silence (A time for silence will be kept for meditation.)

The Sermon

The Rev. Laura Palmer

A Liturgical Affirmation of Faith

from The New Zealand Prayer Book

You, O God, are supreme and holy.

You create our world and give us life.

Your purpose overarches everything we do.

You have always been with us.

You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, good beyond all measure.

You came to us before we came to you.

You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again.

You are with us now.

You are God. You, O God, are Holy Spirit.

You empower us to be your gospel in the world.

You reconcile and heal; you overcome death.

You are our God. We worship you. Amen.

The Prayers of the People These prayers have been adapted from Joyce Rupp’s “The Gift of Hope” by Carol Boyle.

God of all those who yearn for a glimmer of assurance on the long journey home to you, come! Come with a vast storehouse of renewed dreams, hopes, and peacefulness.

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God of hope, come! Enter into memories and remind often of the yearning of the people of history. Stir up stories of how the ancestors hung on to your promises, how they stole hope from tiny glimmers about you, passed on from age to age. Help us to hear the loud crying voices of the prophets who proclaimed that a new age would dawn.

God of hope, may we remember the strength of our ancestors, who waited faithfully for your coming.

God of hope, come! Find your home in our church and in places of worship all over the world. Be with Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Daniel, our Bishop, Silvestre, Bishop of Guatemala, Emily & Laura, our clergy, and each one of us in our vocation and ministry. In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for mission agencies and their ministry throughout the Anglican Communion, including the Mothers’ Union around the world. In our companion Diocese of Guatemala, we pray for Iglesia Episcopal San Juan Apostol, (Church of Saint John the Apostle), Chichicastenango, The Rt. Rev. Carlos Enrique Lainfiesta & The Rev. Pascuala Ventura. In our own Diocese, we pray for the Middle East Study Group.

God of hope, open their hearts to your Holy Spirit, that they may lead us along paths of compassion and reconciliation.

God of hope, come! Enter into our hearts that we may not lose ourselves in ourselves, missing the message of your encouragement because we are so entangled in the web of our own whirl of life. Enable us to keep sight of the power of your presence and the truth of your consolation.

God of hope, teach us to see your comfort in the blessings of daily life.

God of hope, come! Enter into the lives of all those we hold dear, the ones whose lives are marked with pain, struggle, and deep anxiety, those whose lives bear ongoing heartaches, those whose difficulties threaten to overwhelm them with helplessness and despair. Especially we remember this day all those on our parish prayer list, including Lynn, Mark, Benita, Jessie, Raleigh, Chris, Tim, Greyson, Mohamed, Jeanné, Ben, Josh, Kristin, Debbie, Angie, Frances, Katie, Bob, Hannah, Art, Doris, Warren, Kathy, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Ruth, all those suffering from COVID-19, and all those we name now…Come and gift them with deep belief about you and your never-ending faithfulness and companionship.

God of hope, make us sacraments of your presence, extending your hand of love to those who need us.

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God of hope, come! Receive into your loving hands those whom you have called to their heavenly home, especially Rose Marie Kelly, mother of Dan Kelly and all who have died from COVID-19. Fulfill their hope with your loving presence unveiled.

God of hope, we remember those who have cared for us during their lives and our continuing relationship in the communion of saints.

God of hope, come! Enter into this Advent season with the grace of joy and laughter. Fill faces with smiles of delight and voices with sounds of pleasure. Let this gift come from deep within.

God of hope, replenish all with the joyful blessings that only your peace can bring.

The Celebrant concludes with this prayer.

God of hope, enliven our hearts with hope during the dark times when we fail to see your presence. Help us listen to your still, small voice guiding and comforting us in the night.

Open our eyes to your light in the love of Jesus and in our love for one another. May steadfast hope anchor us always in the safe harbor of your love, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

The Confession of Sin and Absolution Celebrant: Let us confess our sins to God. People: God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

The Peace Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

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Celebrating Holy Communion Presentation Hymn: 60, Creator of the stars of night (vv. 1-5)

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The Great Thanksgiving from Enriching Our Worship 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 our thanks and praise.

Celebrant: We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God, source of life abundant. From before time you made ready the creation. Your Spirit moved over the deep and brought all things into being: sun, moon, and stars; earth, winds, and waters; and every living thing. You made us in your image, and taught us to walk in your ways.

But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away; and yet, as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us. Time and again you called us to live in the fullness of your love. And so this day we join with Saints and Angels in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity, lifting our voices to magnify you as we sing: 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.

The Celebrant continues with the prayer‌

In the fullness of time bring us, With Peter, Philip and Mary and all your saints, from every tribe and language and people and nation, to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (contemporary version)

BCP 364

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

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Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread. A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

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.

The Communion of the People Communion Music: Lullaby, My Sweet Little Baby

William Byrd Gus Mercante, countertenor soloist

The Post-Communion Prayer During a Time of Separation Priest and people together Lord of the Feast, we thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.

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Sending Out The Blessing Closing Hymn: 68, Rejoice! rejoice, believers

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Birthdays & Anniversary Prayer BCP 830 O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace; and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Announcements The Dismissal The people respond: Thanks be to God. Postlude: Cento Partite sopra Passacaglia

Frescobaldi

All copyright licensing for music during this service through: OneLicense.net License #A-719834 and LicenSing License # 620603.

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