Celtic Evening Prayer and Communion The Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017, at Half-Past Five o clock in the Evening Welcome. We are aware that many who attend this service come from other churches and faith traditions, and we are delighted to have many who consider Saint Paul s to be their second church home. The mixture of faith traditions represented at this service makes up a community we especially cherish. We are glad you are here. Prelude In order to prepare for worship and allow for private prayer, we ask that silence be observed upon entering and that you turn off cell phones. At the sound of the bell, all stand. Opening We light our third candle, recalling nights of watching and waiting sleepless anxious when dawn seemed to ebb further from the horizon and hope seemed forlorn. Let it speak to us of the sureness of morning of the passing of darkness of suffering and the promise of an eternal sunrise dawning for those we have loved and lost and dawning too for us though we may yet be in that darkest hour before the dawn. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:31-33)
There were safer places, more comfortable places, palaces and wealthy places. Yet you chose a daughter of the soil Who would have otherwise lived a good and honest life, grown and harvested crops, cooked and washed and cared for others, and been forgotten to be your temporary home, to be exalted for all time. My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. When does an ordinary life Become extraordinary? A mundane day Become revolutionary? A moment in time Change history? When God enters in, Forgives sin, ows us to Begin again, When we repeat Those words of Mary: May it be to me As you say. Celebrant The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. I am the Lord s servant, Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said. (Luke 1:35-38) Silence follows. Into the daily cycle of our lives, When all seems well With us and with the world, When our yoke is easy And the burden light, You break in And scatter our complacency.
Into the daily cycle of our lives, When we are comfortable And at our ease, When the fire is lit But eyes are closed, You break in And challenge our dependency. You break into Our daily prayers, Humble hearts, Lay souls bare. You break in. You break in. You break in When defences are down With an Angel s shout Or the quietest sound You break in. You break in. And we change And all things change When you break in. Celebrant O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come again and with us ever dwell. Please be seated. Music for Meditation O come, O come, Emmanuel A period of silence is observed. The Holy Gospel John 1:6-8,19-28 Reader A reading from the Gospel according to John. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, I am not the Messiah. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the prophet? He answered, No. Then they said to him, Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are neither
the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them, I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal. This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God s people. Thanks be to God. A period of silence is observed after the reading. Reflection The Reverend John Jenkins A period of silence is observed. Music for Meditation Prayers for Ourselves and Others Please stand. Celebrant Imagine throwing a pebble into the centre of a pond, and the circles of ripples that move out from the center. Silence. We pray first for those closest to us, our immediate family and closest friends for their health, needs, joys and fears. The people may add their intercessions either silently or aloud. God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts. We pray for our extended family and friends whom we might not see each week for their love and concern, for their well-being. The people may add their intercessions either silently or aloud. God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts. As the ripples reach out toward the land, we pray for those with whom we have contact only annually or less frequently for a blessing this Advent-time. The people may add their intercessions either silently or aloud. God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts. And as the ripples reach their furthest point we pray for this world and its people for the needs of this week and the future. The people may add their intercessions either silently or aloud.
God of creation, God of Salvation Who speaks to us through thunder and whisper Who loves us as if there were but one of us to love Hear the prayers of our hearts. Celebrant Lord, you have given us your Word for a light to shine upon our path; grant us so to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Healing Service Celebrant Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. are invited to come forward to receive the laying on of hands and anointing with oil in prayer for healing for yourself, for others, for our world. Additional Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving Please sit. During the instrumental music and anytime hereafter, you may come forward to light votives as a symbol of your prayers. After lighting a votive, please fully extinguish the lit taper and return it to the holder. Music for Meditation The Grace Celebrant Now my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable; with these let us fill our hearts, and the God of heaven will be with us. Amen. The Peace Celebrant Christ, the Good Shepherd, bind us with a bond of love that cannot be broken. My sisters and brothers, the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. greet one another in the name of the Lord. Announcements The Reverend John Jenkins The Holy Communion The alms basin is not passed at this service, but stands in front of the Baptismal Font. The Offertory Music
Eucharistic Prayer stand. Celebrant The Lord be with you. And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise. Celebrant It is our joy and delight to give you thanks and praise, Emmanuel, God with us. We give you thanks and praise for your hallowing of human flesh. We rejoice at your light which shines out of darkness and enlightens all who seek you. We praise you that you brought forth new life in the family of Mary and Joseph as you do today from all who faithfully await the fulfillment of your word. We praise you that you were known first by poor shepherds and wise seekers as you are known today by the poor and the outcast. We rejoice with the angels at your promise of peace for those who trust in you. We rejoice that the extraordinary is given birth in the ordinary places of life. So with the angels who sing Glory and with all the saints and ancestors who have known you to be with us, we say together: 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. Celebrant We bless you for Jesus, born of the Spirit s love and a woman s body and blood. We bless you for Jesus who shows us how to live the fullness of our humanity and thus become one with you. We remember Jesus who laughed and wept and felt tiredness and fear; who praised Mary when she anointed him for death and blessed a woman of the city who washed his feet with tears. We remember Jesus who touched lepers and the sick and feasted with tax collectors and sinners. We remember Christ who lives on in all who courageously and faithfully bring forth the light of his love in earth s darkest places. We remember Jesus who on the night before he died, shared a meal with his friends. He took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave it to them saying: Take and eat. This is my own body given for you. Do this to remember me. After supper he took the cup of wine, gave thanks and gave it to them saying: This is my life-blood given for you. Do this to remember me. So we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Celebrant Oh God who is known to us in human flesh, send your Holy Spirit on us and on these material things of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ, and we may be the body of Christ, food and life for the world. We ask these things through Christ, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be glory now and forever. Amen. The Lord s Prayer 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.
The Breaking of the Bread A period of silence is observed when the bread is broken. Celebrant This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is made ready for those who love him and for those who want to love him more. So, come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been here long, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, because it is the Lord who invites you. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here. You are welcome to be seated until you come forward to receive. When you receive the consecrated bread, you may consume it and then move to one of the cups of consecrated wine. Music during Communion After Communion Please stand or kneel. Celebrant Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you have put your life into our hands; now we put our lives into yours. Take us, renew us and remake us. What we have been is past; what we shall be, through you, still awaits us. Lead us on. Take us with you. Amen. The Blessing Celebrant May this new night of rest Repair the wear of time, Restore your vision of a deeper light, Heal the wounds of disappointments, And restore youth of heart For the adventure That awaits you tomorrow. May the blessing of Almighty God: the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. The Dismissal Go out into the world in peace, have courage, hold on to what is good, return no one evil for evil, strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering, honor everyone, love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God. Music for Meditation Please feel free to sit or depart, as you wish, during the closing music.
Parish Announcements You are invited to the Greening of the Church Friday, December 22 at 9:30 am. Contact Pam Uros at st.paulsflowerguild@icloud.com and join the Flower Guild as they decorate the church for Christmas. Daughters of the King, an Episcopal Prayer Ministry, invite prayers for yourself and others. Attach your prayer request to the Advent Prayer Tree located in Tyler Hall or in the Narthex. For more information, contact Suzanne Pursley-Crotteau at spursleycrotteau@gmail.com. The Vestry Nominating Committee is seeking candidates whom you believe would make outstanding Vestry members for Saint Paul s. If you d like to suggest someone, including yourself, please contact Wright Montgomery at wmontgomery@cranstonengineering.com. More information is included in Friday s Weekly Postings. SAVE the DATE for MARDI GRAS: Saturday, February 10, 2018. The big band Swingsation will be returning! Think about silent & live auction items that you can donate. More info will be coming right after the New Year. For information, contact Kathy Enicks, (kge1726@aol.com or 484-433-4007). Saint Paul s Church communicates by a weekly E-newsletter. Join our email list by contacting the parish administrator, Elisabeth Price, at mailbox@saintpauls.org or scan the QR on the back of this bulletin. Advent & Christmas Schedules Fourth Sunday after Advent 11:00 am December 24, 2017 Holy Eucharist Rite II with the Saint Paul s Choir A nursery will be available. Christmas Eve 4:00 & 10:00 pm December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve Festival Celebrations with Choir, Brass, & Drums A nursery will be available for the 4:00 pm service. The 10:00 pm service will be broadcast live on WGAC 580 AM and 95.1 FM. Christmas 10:00 am December 25, 2017 Christmas Eucharist in the Chapel with Carols First Sunday after Christmas December 31, 2018 8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I 11:00 am Hymn Sing and Holy Eucharist A nursery will be available for the 11 am service. 5:30 pm Celtic Evening Prayer & Communion Visit our website Saint Paul s Church is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. The Church is open for prayer daily 9 am 3 pm, Monday - Thursday, & 9 am 12 pm, Friday. The Church Office and Parish House are closed Saturdays as well as Sunday afternoons. www.saintpauls.org Tel: 706-724-2485 Join Our E-mail List