The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 Our vision A spiritually alive world. Our mission Reimagining church with courage, joy and wonder. Jacopo Pontormo s Visitation c Public domain. The Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 23, a.m. Holy Eucharist

2 Welcome to Grace Cathedral Welcome to this sacred house of prayer for all people. Those who built this place and care for it love tradition and feel passionate about engaging with what is new. If you look closely you will find images of scientists, reformers, Jewish rabbis and Roman Catholic popes, political leaders, saints, and even an astronaut. We invite you to be part of this joyful community even if your visit is short. You might ask yourself two questions: What do I need to receive? What do I have to give? We would be delighted to hear about your explorations. May God bless you on your journey! The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean of Grace Cathedral If you are new to Grace Cathedral, please introduce yourself and fill out a welcome card so we can be in touch with you. We re glad you re here! Join us for coffee and conversation across the plaza in the Chapter House Library after the 8:30 a.m. service or in the Chapter House Dining Room after the 11 a.m. service. about today s readings Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) Reading texts can be found at the end of the service leaflet. Prophets don t generally have an easy time of it. They are compelled to share with us uncomfortable truths about where our actions are taking us, and decidedly unwelcome directives on how we can change. We d love to reach the glory that God intends for us, but ugh, there s so much mess to wade through first. Baruch, by tradition the friend and scribe of the prophet Jeremiah, addresses an audience that s still struck dumb by the disaster of the Babylonian conquest and exile. To promise that generations to come will return in splendor and rejoicing, and that God s people are still loved might have seemed a dubious assertion to his listeners. John found enthusiastic followers among the people around him, but when his message of repentance and rededication went up the hierarchy to those in power, it didn t end well. This Advent, where are you finding the voices that invite you further into your journey, deeper into unknown territory? What promises of joy and peace seem hard to believe, yet still worth holding onto? Where are you being called to work that s challenging, but that embodies our essential truth as people of God, that lives into our destiny to create, to heal, to make holy? This rough way isn t going to smooth itself out, you know. This reflection was written by Jim Simpson. He is a member of the Grace Cathedral Congregation Council and a graduate of the cathedral s Education for Ministry (EfM) program. highlights Did you know that when you attend a Christmas concert at Grace, you re not just giving yourself and loved ones the gift of music, you re also helping the cathedral? Each ticket to a Grace Christmas concert supports our year-round music program. When you consider that the vast majority of our exquisite musical offerings are presented for free, you ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your attendance at a Grace Christmas concert makes that possible. A Cathedral Christmas - Final Concert Today Today 3 p.m. Cathedral Tickets: cityboxoffice.com or call (415) Ring in the season with Grace Cathedral s Choir of Men and Boys, in a performance of classic carols and sacred masterpieces with full orchestra and organ. A holiday tradition!

3 The Holy Eucharist The Fourth Sunday of Advent 23 December :00 am Ask an usher about nursery care and Sunday school, hearing assistance devices, or large-print leaflets. Restrooms are located on the lower level corridor. Please silence any audible electronics and refrain from taking video or photos during the service. Voluntary Prelude on Ave maris stella Gerald Near The Gathering The people stand as the procession enters. Introit Sung by the choir. Mode I Choir Skies, let the Just One come forth like the dew, let him descend from the clouds like the rain. The earth will open up and give birth to our Savior. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands. Isaiah 45:8; Psalm 18 Hymn 61 Sung by all, standing. Wachet auf Johann G. Olearius ( ); tr. Catherine Winkworth ( ), alt.; music: melody and bass Claude Goudimel ( ); harm. Hymnal 1982 text:

4 Opening Acclamation Presider Blessed are you, holy and living One. People You come to your people and set them free. Kyrie Sung in Greek. Hans Leo Hassler Missa secunda Choir Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Collect of the Day Presider People May God be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. 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. The Word of God Readings can be found at the end of this service leaflet. The First Reading The people sit. Micah 5:2-5a Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Psalm 80:1-7 The people remain seated. Mode IV Choir, then all Re - store us, O Lord of hosts! Choir Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. All Restore us, O Lord of hosts! O Lord God of hosts, * how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears; * you have given them bowls of tears to drink. You have made us the derision of our neighbors, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. All Restore us, O Lord of hosts! The Second Reading Hebrews 10:5-10 Reader People The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2

5 Hymn 438 Sung by all, standing. Woodlands text: Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926); based on The Song Of Mary; music: Walter Greatorex ( ), alt. The Holy Gospel Luke 1:39-55 Before the Gospel All After the Gospel All The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, Lord Christ. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ. The Sermon The people sit. The Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus 3

6 The Nicene Creed The Prayers of the People The people stand. All 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. After each petition Come, Lord Jesus. The presider adds a concluding collect. The Confession of Sin The people may kneel. Deacon Let us confess our sins to God. All 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 presider pronounces God s absolution. The Peace Presider The peace of Christ be always with you. All And also with you. All may greet each other in the name of Christ. Welcome Offertory Sentence 4 The Holy Communion An offering will be received for the ministries of Grace Cathedral. Thank you for your generosity. Anthem Sung in Latin. Claudio Monteverdi Choir Hail, thou Star of the ocean, Portal of the sky! Ever Virgin Mother Of the Lord most high! Oh! by Gabriel s Ave, Uttered long ago, Eva s name reversing, Established peace below. Break the captive s fetters; Light on blindness pour; All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore. Show thyself a Mother; Offer Him our sighs, Who for us incarnate Did not thee despise. Virgin of all virgins!

7 To thy shelter take us: Gentlest of the gentle! Chaste and gentle make us. Through the highest heaven, To the Almighty Three, Father, Son, and Spirit, One same glory be. Amen. Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, 1610 The Great Thanksgiving Enriching Our Worship, Prayer 3 Presider People Presider, continuing who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: Sanctus Sung by all. Franz Schubert Presider, continuing All Presider, concluding... we acclaim you, O Christ: Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life. Christ Jesus, come in glory!...through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. All 5

8 Presider As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray: The Breaking of the Bread The Bread is broken. Silence follows. Tone IV Choir, then all, repeat Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia. Choir Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; 6 People Therefore let us keep the feast. All repeat the three Alleluias. Invitation to Communion The presider invites the people to come forward for Communion. All who seek God and are drawn to Christ are welcome at God s table. Gluten-free Communion wafers are available at the north altar rail; please ask the Communion minister. For a variety of reasons, it is our custom to consume the Bread and sip the Wine directly from the cup. You are invited to guide the cup with your hands. If you choose not to receive either the Bread or the Wine, simply cross your arms over your chest and respond A men when it is presented. Ministers are available for shared prayer for healing in the AIDS Interfaith Chapel at the rear of the Cathedral. Agnus Dei Sung in Latin. Hassler Choir O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace. Motet Choir Orlando Gibbons My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me., and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. Glory be to the Father,and to the

9 Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Luke 1: Postcommunion Prayer After all have received Communion, the people stand. Presider Let us pray. All Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Sending Forth Hymn 57 Sung by all, standing. Helmsley The Blessing and Dismissal All respond Amen. text: Charles Wesley ( ); music: melody Thomas Augustine Arne ( ); harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams ( ), alt. Deacon All The presider pronounces God s blessing. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Voluntary Meine Seele erhebt den Herren [Magnificat], BWV 733 Johann Sebastian Bach

10 Micah 5:2-5a Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, Righteous Peace, Godly Glory. Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him. Hebrews 10:5-10 thank my God every time I remember you, I 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 The Readings 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 on 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. Luke 1:39-55 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Serving the Assembly: Presider Homilist Deacon Lay Assistant Readers Musicians The Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus The Very Rev. Dr. Malcom Clemens Young, Dean The Rev. Margaret Deeths, Assisting Clergy Roberta Sautter Nicole Kimborowicz Barry Druschel The Cathedral Camerata Gabriel Fanelli, Director Canon Benjamin Bachmann, The Diana Dollar Knowles Canon Director of Music Christopher Keady, Assistant Director of Music Copyrights: Sleepers, wake! (Hymn EH ): words: Copyright 1982, by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188; All Rights Reserved; Used by Permission; Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Hymn EH ): words: copyright 1962 by Hope Publishing Companu, Carol Stream, IL 60188; All Rights Reserved. Used by permission; music: both settings by permission of Oxford University Press; Lo! He comes with clouds (Hymn EH ): (public domain); Hymns and Service Music reprinted under OneLicense.net #A , All Rights Reserved. Readings taken from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible 1989 by The Division of Christian Education of The National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., used by permission.

11 music, arts, ideas Redhot & Blue at Grace Cathedral Saturday, January 5 8 p.m. Tickets $10 - $25: Eventbrite.com Yale University s oldest allgender a cappella group, now in its 42nd year, known for its innovative arrangements of jazz standards, in concert. The Eve of the March / In Sacred Spaces Friday, January 18 7:30 p.m. Cathedral Suggested donation $20 A celebration of the divine feminine in song featuring Vajra Voices and Kitka with Shira Kammen and Theresa Wong. Les Colombes: The Doves Exhibit open daily Cathedral Free An installation of thousands of white paper doves by the German artist Michael Pendry, with sound and light performances through December. Visit gracecathedral.org/doves for more information. World Tree of Hope On view through January 6 Cathedral The Rainbow World Fund World Tree of Hope is a gift to the world from the LGBT community. The world s largest origami-decorated holiday tree, it contains 17,000 cranes and stars, all folded by volunteers the forum returns The winter Forum season begins with a double-header on Sunday, January 20 in Gresham Hall. The Forum with Alan Hirsch Sunday, January 20 9:30 a.m. Free An historical look by the constitutional scholar at the practice of impeachment, how it impacted the terms of Presidents Andrew Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton, and how it may affect Donald Trump. The King and Faith Forum: We re In This Together Sunday. January 20 4:15 p.m. Gresham Hall Free This conversation is designed to ignite greater dialogue and programs of action that will infuse where we go from here. Moderated by Dr. Clayborne Carson, Founding Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford. spiritual life and practice Exploring Spiritual Practices Resumes January 10 & 17 6:30 Chapter Room Explore the riches of the spiritual traditions of Christianity from silent meditation to Celtic creativity to feminist passion. The Rev. Canon Dr. Ellen Clark-King leads this 5-part series using her book The Path to your Door: Approaches to Christian Spirituality. Contact congregation@gracecathedral. org for more information. Book Study: The Cloud of Unknowing Sundays, December 16- January 13 4:30 p.m. Chapter Room Join us as the 4:30 Book Study group begins a 5-week discussion of The Cloud of Unknowing an anonymous, medieval English work that extols contemplation as the way to the Divine. Please read the first nine chapters. Note: there will be no meeting on December 30. Candlelight Labyrinth Walk Friday, January 11 6 p.m. Labyrinths Walk the labyrinth by candlelight and music and pray for peace in our hearts and peace in the world. Inhabiting Grace: Becoming a Christian at Grace Cathedral Sundays, March 3-April 28 9:30 a.m. Inhabiting Grace introduces a way of life that is spiritual, practical, reasonable, mystical and in service to the community and world. Come to deepen your faith, or to prepare for adult baptism or confirmation. Contact the Rev. Kristin Saylor at kristins@gracecathedral.org. social justice Gun Buyback at Bayview Produce Market Saturday, January 12 Following the success of our August program, Grace Cathedral is partnering with the SFPD and other community organizations to sponsor another gun buyback in the Bayview District. Watch the website and social media for details.

12 cathedral worship Sunday Nursery 8 a.m. 1 p.m. Eucharist 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Choral Eucharist 11 a.m. Evensong 3 p.m. Evening Eucharist 6 p.m. Monday - Friday Morning Prayer 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist 12:10 p.m. Evening Prayer 5:15 p.m. Tuesday Yoga 6:15 p.m. Resumes January 8 Christmas Eve Dec. 24 The Bishop s Christmas Pageant 11 a.m. Bishop Marc, children in costume and animals re-enact the Christmas story. Children are invited to arrive between 10 and 10:30 a.m. to get into costume. Lessons and Carols 4 p.m. Choral music, Scripture readings and hymns with the Choir of Men and Boys. This service fills to capacity plan to arrive early! Choral Eucharist 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Camerata. The Very Rev. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean, preaching. Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist 11 p.m. A festive Choral Eucharist with the Choir of Men and Boys and orchestra. The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop, preaching. Music begins at 10:30 p.m. This service fills to capacity plan to arrive early! Christmas Day Dec. 25 Choral Eucharist 11 a.m. A joyful Choral Eucharist sung by the Men of the Choir. The Rev. Mary Carter Greene, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, preaching. Wednesday The Vine Contemporary Worship Thursday Holy Eucharist Choral Evensong Saturday Morning Prayer Evening Prayer 6:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 5:15 p.m. 9 a.m. 3 p.m. when we re open Cathedral: Open daily 8 a.m. 6 p.m. (Thursday open 7 a.m.). Columbarium: Sunday 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. Docents generally available: Monday - Friday 1 3 p.m. Saturday 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Sunday after the 11 a.m. service (meet at the font). Get connected, stay connected Follow us on Facebook (@gracecathedralsf), Instagram (gracecathedral), YouTube (Grace Cathedral San Francisco), Twitter (@gracecathedral) and follow our dean on Twitter (@MalcolmYoung). Sign up for Cathedral Highlights, our weekly events , or for congregation updates at gracecathedral.org/connect. Listen to sermons and services online The 11 a.m. Sunday Eucharist and 5:15 p.m. Thursday Evensong are posted on our website for a week after each service. Subscribe to the sermons through itunes or listen at gracecathedral.org/listen. Prayer Requests To request prayers of thanksgiving or intercession, prayer@gracecathedral.org. Every day, our prayer team tends to the concerns of the community and remembers those who have died. Cathedral Clergy and Program Staff The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop, Diocese of California bishopmarc@diocal.org (415) The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean dean@gracecathedral.org (415) The Rev. Canon Dr. Ellen Clark-King, Executive Pastor, Canon for Social Justice ellenc@gracecathedral.org (415) The Rev. Mary Carter Greene, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry maryg@gracecathedral.org (415) The Rev. Jude Harmon, Director of Innovative Ministries judeh@gracecathedral.org (415) SERVICES The Rev. Canon Nina Pickerrell, Cathedral Deacon ninap@gracecathedral.org (415) The Rev. Kristin Saylor, Director of Formation kristins@gracecathedral.org (415) Canon Benjamin Bachmann, The Diana Dollar Knowles Canon Director of Music benb@gracecathedral.org Free and open to all (415) Canon Jeffrey Hookom, Canon Precentor jeffreyh@gracecathedral.org (415) The Very Rev. Dr. Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24 Regarding the Cathedral Congregation congregation@gracecathedral.org 11 a.m. General Information (415) info@gracecathedral.org gracecathedral.org Christmas Lessons and Carols 4 p.m. Grace Cathedral is an Episcopal Church, a member of the worldwide Anglican Christmas Communion. Eve Choral Eucharist 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist 11 p.m. Lorem ipsum