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PRELUDE: The Savior is Waiting Carmichael
Surely the presence Worship #131
PROCESSIONAL HYMN: O come, O come, Emmanuel Hymnal #56
OPENING ACCLAMATION
Celebrant Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
KYRIE Hymnal S-96
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, have mercy.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 2.1-5
A vision of an ideal world at peace based on a common faith is one of the most important gifts of Israel's prophets. Here Isaiah expressed that vision in one of two very similar versions in the Old Testament. It also appears in Micah 4:1-5. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah in the late 7th century BCE.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 122 (from The Book of Common Prayer)
Many worship services used to begin with a call to worship from the first verse of this psalm. The whole psalm is a prayer that Jerusalem be a city of peace for all nations - a prayer still fervently offered, but sadly not yet realized.
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, *
the assembly of Israel, to praise the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
I will seek to do you good.”
SECOND READING: Romans 13.11-14
Paul earnestly believed in an imminent return of Christ that would complete history by bringing in the reign of God. The present moment, he urges Christians in Rome, is the time to prepare for that glorious event. He tells them to prepare by adopting not just hopeful anticipation, but a Christ-like moral character.
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL HYMN: Let all mortal flesh keep silent Hymnal #324
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 24.36-44
In Year A of the lectionary cycle, we read primarily from Matthew's Gospel. The Season of Advent presents us with the challenge of preparing for the coming of Christ now and at the end of time. This passage is part of Matthew's version of the what scholars call the "Little Apocalypse." It is common to Matthew, Mark and Luke. It follows closely the style of earlier Jewish apocalyptic writings and depicts the time when Christ will come to establish God's reign. Note also that the emphasis is placed on the total unexpectedness of the moment when this will happen.
Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you. Lord Christ.
[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Gospeler The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
GRADUAL HYMN: Let all mortal flesh keep silent Hymnal #324
THE SERMON
THE CREED
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.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, remembering especially The Anglican Church of Australia, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Sarah, the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect; Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Doug, our Bishop; Tom, our Rector; Mary, our Deacon; and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, and for all those who advise our them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this city, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, or through outer space, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those celebrating the anniversary of their birth, especially Kyle Gorgas, Steven Augustus, and Ray Davila; and for those celebrating the anniversary of their marriage, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace. Lord, have mercy.
Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, and nurture victims of violence and warfare throughout your world, to the glory of your Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Lord have mercy.
In the communion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Joseph, Blessed Paul, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God. To thee, O Lord our God.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
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.
THE PEACE
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Holy Communion
OFFERTORY ANTHEM: Ready the Way Stephan
DOXOLOGY: Praise God from whom all blessings flow Old 100th
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
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:
SANCTUS
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