Participants in Today s Service Celebrant: The Rev. Jane Cornman Organist: Lise Wallace Greeter: Leanna Greene Reader: Maude March Acolytes: Daniel and Evelyn Howie Chalice: Maude March Counters: Kathryn Suminsby Maude March The Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude St. Mary s Chapel The Feast of St. Nicholas December 6, 2015 The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane, Bishop The Rev. Jane E. Cornman, Rector Kerry Kenney, Parish Administrator Edward Horvath, Sexton Lise Wallace, Organist Joe and Beth Renault, Sunday School Teachers Patricia Shellnutt, Accountant THE VESTRY The Rev. Jane E. Cornman Sally Merchant, Sr. Warden Beth Renault, Jr. Warden Lauri Fernald, Treasurer Richard Habermann Lesley Horvath Morris Kellett Jackie Lowe Todd Miner Marsha Planting Sheila Pulling General Office Hours: Monday-Friday June-September ~ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm / October-May ~ 8:30 am - 2:30 pm 5 Kimball Road PO Box 105, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662 (207) 276-5588 - phone / (207) 276-3220 fax email: ssmaryjude@roadrunner.com website: www.maryjude.org * The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Holy Eucharist 9 AM 12
Welcome to Worship! Draw near to God and God will draw near to you." James 4:8 Welcome to this Episcopal community of worship. No matter where you come from, or what your circumstances are, we invite you to participate fully in worship in the way you most feel comfortable. Though it is our practice to stand for hymns and to stand or kneel for prayers, please do what is most comfortable for you. Hymns are usually found in the hymnal. Page references are for the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Both texts are in the pews. All are welcome to receive communion. These are God s gifts for all who believe in Christ and all who yearn to draw closer to him! Thank you for enriching us with your presence. May God bless you on this day! The Dismissal People s response Thanks be to God. Postlude Winter from "The Four Seasons" A. Vivaldi (1678-1741) What happened to Advent? If you re the sort of person who pays attention to such things, you may notice that today s readings and music are not typically used on the second Sunday of Advent. Here at St. Mary s, we ve held the tradition of receiving a visit from St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, on the second Sunday in Advent, since his feast day, December 6, is usually pretty close to it. This year is special, because the second Sunday of Advent IS the date for the Feast of St. Nicholas. Technically, the rules in the prayer book say that the Sunday observance should "take precedence" that is, we re supposed to transfer this feast to another day and observe the second Sunday of Advent. However, it s not often that we get to celebrate the Christian story behind our modern day Santa Claus. Therefore, the bishop has given St. Mary s permission to use the readings assigned for the Feast of St. Nicholas instead of those for Advent 2. The hymns we re singing follow the themes of the readings, focusing on God s love, and on the special place of children in Jesus incarnation and ministry. 2 11
Closing Hymn Good Saint Nicholas of Myra Good Saint Nicholas of Myra, deeds and legends tell his fame. Saintly bishop, friend of children Bari pilgrims chant the name: Bless d Nicholas, Bless d Nicholas He loved all in Jesus' name Miracles and signs and wonders, he performed to praise the Lord. For a poor and weary people source of care and joy outpoured: Sailors, nations, people thank him for the message that he brought. Young and old now hail the memory Of the lessons that he taught: May his ways of true devotion guide us on our earthly way. Challenge us to be more like him as Christ's gospel we obey: Father, Son and Holy Spirit bind us in community, so that we with holy Nicholas might eternal glory see: Prelude "But thou didst no leave" Air from "Messiah" G.F. Handel (1685-1759) The Holy Eucharist Rite II (please stand) Opening Hymn God is Love, let heaven adore him Hymn 379 Salutation Enriching our Worship Celebrant Blessed be the one, holy and living God. People: Glory to God for ever and ever. Lighting of the Advent Wreath Reader: Today is the second Sunday of Advent, the season of waiting. We wait for God to send divine love and light into our dark world. God s light comes through Jesus, who became a human being just like you and me, so that he could show us the way back to God s divine love and light. The first and second candles are lit. While this is being done, the following is read: Reader: Last Sunday, we began in the dark, then lit one candle. Today, we light two candles. Every week in Advent, we light another candle. Each candle that we light reminds us that the Light of the World will soon come to us in the human form of the infant Jesus....Let us pray. Advent Prayer (said by all): Come, O Holy One, as the water of life and refiner's fire! Strengthen us with courage for your work of justice that in all the creation and among every people your peace may be established and your joy abound, through Jesus our Deliverer. Amen. Text: J M Rosenthal, 1999. Sung to the tune of hymn 518. Copied from http://www.stnicholascenter.org/ pages/good-saint-nicholas/ as it appeared on October 14, 2015 10 3
Gloria S 280 The Collect of the Day Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The First Reading (please be seated) Proverbs 19:17, 20-23 Reader A reading from the Book of Proverbs. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and will be repaid in full. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established. What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar. The fear of the LORD is life indeed; filled with it one rests secure and suffers no harm. Reader People 4 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 145:8-13 BCP p. 802 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, * slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The LORD is loving to everyone * and his compassion is over all his works. 10 All your works praise you, O LORD, * and your faithful servants bless you. 11 They make known the glory of your kingdom * and speak of your power; 12 That the peoples may know of your power * and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. The Lord s Prayer BCP p. 364 The Breaking of the Bread Celebrant This is the true bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. People Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. The Invitation to Communion All who are drawn to Christ are welcome to come forward for communion. If you prefer a blessing to receiving the bread and the wine, simply cross your arms over your chest and the priest will bless you. (Gluten free wafers are available, please let the celebrant know when you come forward.) Communion Hymn "God is love, and where true love is Hymn 577 The Post-communion Prayer Enriching Our Worship Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen. Blessing (please stand) People s response: Amen Please turn the page for the closing hymn. 9
Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life. On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said: Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. As supper was ending, Jesus 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 poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me. Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Celebrant and People Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. The Celebrant continues Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ s Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with St. Mary, St. Jude, St. Nicholas, and all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever. 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. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; * your dominion endures throughout all ages. The Epistle 1 John 4:7-14 Reader A reading from the First Book of John. Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Reader People The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. (please stand) Sequence Hymn When Jesus left his Father s throne Hymn 480 vs.1-2 The Gospel (please remain standing) Mark 10:13-16 Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. Sequence Hymn When Jesus left his Father s throne Hymn 480 vs.3 8 5
Sermon The Rev. Jane Cornman The Nicene Creed (please stand) BCP p. 358 The Prayers of the People VI BCP p. 392 The Confession BCP p. 393 Celebrant Let us confess our sins to God. Silence may be kept. Celebrant and People Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, know and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Absolution The Peace Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you. Announcements Offertory Sentence The Celebration of Holy Communion The plates that are passed throughout the congregation are for your offering of yourself to God this day. Feel free to include money, a note, or any other symbol of your self-offering. The plates will be placed on the altar to be blessed with the bread and the wine. Offertory Music Presentation Hymn: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow Hymnal, p. 380, vs. 3 Eucharistic Prayer 1 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 It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, allholy God, source of life and fountain of mercy. Proper Preface 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, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we sing: Celebrant and People Hymnal, S 130 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The Celebrant continues Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace. But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people. 6 7