December 23, 2012 WELCOME TO St PAUL S ANGLICAN CHURCH SAMFORD Belong, Believe & Be Fourth Sunday of Advent 23 December 2012-7:30am (Said Eucharist) (Please feel free to take these booklets for further reading and prayer) Pre and Post Service Prayer We appreciate your co-operation during the pre and post-service prayer- please be mindful that others may be in private prayer before and after the service. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford
The Sanctuary party enters in silence Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy. We light that candle and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world everlasting peace. The three candles are lit The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love. God's love is a perfect love. It holds nothing back. God, in love, gives us everything we need to live a life of hope and peace and joy. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus shows us God's perfect love. Paul reminds us what love is like: Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish. Love is not quick to take offence, it keeps no records of wrongs, it does not gloat over other people's troubles, but rejoices in the right, the good, and the true. There is nothing that love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, to its hope, to its endurance. Love never ends. We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus brings us God's love and shows us how to love others. The fourth Candle is lit and then we say together Let us pray Love is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the love we find in Jesus Christ. Thank you God for the love you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and every day to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your love with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 2
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins, whose mercy endures for ever. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Sentence Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Luke 1.45 Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: 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. The Lord comes, bringing to light things now hidden in darkness, and disclosing the purposes of the heart. Silence is kept for a moment. Let us open our hearts and prepare for his coming, confessing our sins in penitence and faith. Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, and in what we have failed to do: we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves; we repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, who has promised forgiveness to all who turn to him in faith: Pardon you and set you free from all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness and keep you in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 3
Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy In place of the Gloria we say The Canticle- A Song of God s Love Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was revealed among us, that 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 expiation for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we ought also to love one another. For if we love one another, God abides in us, and God s love will be perfected in us. 1 John 4.7-11,12b The Trisagion is said together Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. Collect Gracious God, you have visited your people and redeemed us in your Son: as we prepare to celebrate his birth, make our hearts leap for joy at the sound of your word, and move us by your Spirit to bless your wonderful works. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose Day draws near, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Please be seated for the readings A reading from the Book of Micah Chapter 5- beginning at verse 2 (NRSV- p.724) The Lord says to his people: You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 4
Said Together The Magnificat- The Song of Mary 1. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; he has looked with favour on his lowly servant. 2. From this day all generations will call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. 3. He has mercy on those who fear him, from generation to generation. 4. He has shown strength with his arm and has scattered the proud in their conceit, 5. Casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly. 6. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. 7. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, to remember his promise of mercy, 8. The promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children for ever. Luke 1.46-55 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; as in the beginning, so now and for ever. Amen. A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews Chapter 10- beginning at verse 5 (NRSV- p.906) When Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, See, God, I have come to do your will, O God (in the scroll of the book it is written of me). When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, See, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 5
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done. Alleluia! The Lord be with you And also with you. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke Chapter 1- beginning at verse 39 (NRSV- p.785) Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Mary set out and went with haste to a Judaean 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 fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Please sit for the Sermon. We pause for a few moments of silent recollection. This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 6
Let us together affirm the faith of the Church: 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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who 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. Let us pray for the world and for the Church. All kneel or sit Responses: Maranatha. Come Lord, Jesus. The Priest conculdes the prayers with the following St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 7
Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers. Grant that what we have asked in faith we may by your grace receive, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel: God with us. Matthew 1.23 Let us pray We do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. All stand We are the body of Christ. His Spirit is with us. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Exchange of peace with the people beside you. Offertory Hymn 1. Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free, from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. 2. Israel s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. 3. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, born to reign in us for ever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 8
4. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Charles Wesley 1707 88 Reproduced with permission Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. We participate by watching and listening as the Priest sings or says the first part of the Great Thanksgiving. This prayer is seasonal and concludes with these or similar words: Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and singing: 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 Eucharistic Prayer continues. After the words of consecration all acclaim what Jesus has accomplished. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. The priest continues the Eucharistic Prayer. The prayer concludes with these or similar words:..with whom, and in whom, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we worship you, Father, in songs of never-ending praise: Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 9
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are confident to pray, 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. 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. We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread. Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us your peace. The gifts of God for the people of God. Come let us take this holy sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance that he died for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. The sacrament is given. The following may be sung in quiet contemplation during the Communion 1. Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us, you are one with us, Mary s son; cleansing our souls from all their sin, pouring your love and goodness in, Jesus, our love for you we sing, living Lord. 2. Lord Jesus Christ, now and every day teach us how to pray, Son of God. You have commanded us to do this in remembrance, Lord, of you: into our lives your power breaks through, living Lord. 3. Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us, born as one of us, Mary s son; led out to die on Calvary, risen from death to set us free, living Lord Jesus, help us see you are Lord. 4. Lord Jesus Christ, I would come to you, live my life for you, Son of God. All your commands I know are true, your many gifts will make me new, into my life your power breaks through, living Lord. Patrick Robert Norman Appleford 1925 Words Josef Weinberger Limited. Reproduced by permission of the copyright owners. Reproduced with permission St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 10
After Communion Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7.14 Let us Pray. God for whom we wait, we thank you that you have fed us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation. As we joyfully await your Son, keep us ever watchful that we may be ready to stand before him on the day of his coming. Father, we offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Lord. Send us out in the power of your Spirit Notices The Blessing Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. Recessional Hymn 1. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. 2. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy name - the Lord, the Mighty One. 3. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might! Powers and dominions lay their glory by. Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight, the hungry fed, the humble lifted high. St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 11
4. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children s children and for evermore! Timothy Dudley-Smith 1926. Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith Words 1962, renewal 1990 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Music by permission Oxford University Press. Reproduced with permission Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen. For further reflection. Micah Who makes the big difference? What will the reign of peace look like? Feel like? Who is this ruler from Bethlehem: King David? Christ Jesus? Both? What will he do for his people? How might such humble, ancient roots shape the way he rules? Luke How might Mary have felt when Elizabeth greeted her? How is she blessed and encouraged? How is Mary s faith and example to you? Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. Liturgical resources are from A Prayer Book for Australia which is copyright 1995, The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation, and published under the imprint Broughton Books. Reproduced with permission. Broughton Publishing License 2011/344. Common Worship: Times and Seasons (2006) material from which is included in this service, is copyright The Archbishops Council 2006. CRI/Voice, Institute, Dennis Bratcher, from which information appears in this service, Copyright 2009 CRI/Voice, Institute. Hymns The Australian Hymn Book Pty. Ltd., from Together in Song, published by William Collins Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Reproduced with permission under Licence No. AUS20-10123Y-3318Q7 (Licensed to Rev. Cameron Freese). All other music used under CCLI licesne No: 79896 & Licesing License No: A1208 St Paul s Anglican Church, Samford Page 12