The Second Sunday of Advent Holy Eucharist December 6, 2015 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. Welcome to St. Paul s. This service is the Holy Eucharist as found primarily in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). If you wish seated communion, please notify an usher. Reading glasses and hearing enhancement devices are also available from an usher. Although there are customary postures (such as standing and kneeling) in Episcopal Worship, you are invited to be seated at any point, according to your needs and comfort. The service music for the Eucharist during Advent is based on the Advent chant, Conditur alme siderum. This simple and charming tune comes from a ninth century Advent Hymn, (Hymn 60). Prelude Comfort ye, my people from Messiah G. F. Handel Brian Pawlak, tenor Comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah XL, 1-3) Lighting of the Advent Wreath The people are invited to stand, as they are able, and face the Baptismal Font. Reader Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time 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. Celebrant Living God, write in our hearts the lessons of your law; prepare our minds to receive the gospel made visible in your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. Reader We continue to wait for the coming of Jesus. Today, on the second Sunday of Advent, we light two candles. The first and second candles are lit. The people remain standing, as they are able, for the Processional Hymn. Processional Hymn 54 Nun komm, der heiden Heiland Advent Acclamation Blessed are you, holy and living One. You come to your people and set them free. Collect of the Day The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 1
The Word of God The people are seated for the reading of the Lessons. Lesson Baruch 5:1-9 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. The Lector concludes with The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Hymn S-248 The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus 11:15 Service only: the people remain seated and sing the canticle with the choir. The Antiphon is sung before and after the Canticle omitting the Gloria Lesson Philippians 1:3-11 I thank my God every time I remember you, 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 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 in 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. The Lector concludes with The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The people stand, as they are able, and remain standing for the Gospel reading. Hymn Besançon Carol 2
During the singing of the hymn, children ages 3 and up participating in Children s Chapel will gather at the baptismal font, and follow the adult leader out. Holy Gospel Luke 3:1-6 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, Lord Christ. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ. As the gospel procession returns to the altar, the people are seated. Sermon The Rev. John Denson, D.Min., Rector 3
Following a brief silence for reflection, all stand, as they are able, and say the Affirmation of Faith from A New Zealand Prayer Book. Affirmation of Faith You, O God, are supreme and holy. You create our world and give us life. Your purpose overarches everything we do. You have always been with us. You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, Good beyond all measure. You came to us before we came to you. You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ, Who lived and died and rose again. You are with us now. You are God. You, O God, are Holy Spirit. You empower us to be your gospel in the world. You reconcile and heal; you overcome death. You are our God. We worship you. Prayers of the People The leader ends each petition with: Let us pray to our God. The people respond: Holy One, hear our prayer. The Celebrant says the concluding Collect. Confession of Sin and Absolution Assisting Priest Let us confess our sins to God. The people kneel, as they are able, and silence may be kept. 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. Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The people stand, as they are able. The Peace The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. The people greet one another with a sign of God s peace, and then are seated. Announcements are made, followed by an offertory sentence. The people remain seated while an offering is collected to support God s mission in and through St. Paul s Church. 4
The Celebration of the Holy Communion Offertory Anthem Rorate caeli G. P. Palestrina Pour out dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One. Let the earth open and bring forth a Saviour. Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Come, O Lord, and do not delay. Alleluia. The people stand, as they are able. Presentation Hymn 66 (Stanzas 1 & 2) Stuttgart The Great Thanksgiving (Eucharistic Prayer B) The people remain standing, as they are able, and the Celebrant sings or says, Celebrant 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: 5
Holy, holy, holy Lord Sanctus and Benedictus Frank Boles The people remain standing, or kneel, as they are able. We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. After supper he 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 shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me. Therefore, according to his command, O Father, Celebrant and People We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory; The Celebrant continues And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with blessed Mary, the God-bearer, blessed Paul our patron, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN. 6
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say 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 The Celebrant breaks the bread. A period of silence is kept. Fraction Anthem Invitation Whoever you are and wherever you are in your faith journey, you are welcome here at the Table of the Lord. Gluten free bread is available upon request. During Communion the sacrament of healing will be held in the Prayer Alcove. The people are seated. Communion Anthem O come, thou rod of Jesse s stem Joel Martinson Communion Hymn 69 St. Mark s Berkeley The people stand or kneel, as they are able. Post Communion Prayer Let us pray. 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. Sending Forth of Lay Eucharistic Visitors (when scheduled) In the name of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts; that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ s body and blood. We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread, one cup. Blessing May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you, now and always. Amen. 7
The people stand, as they are able. Hymn 67 Psalm 42 Dismissal The Assisting Priest dismisses the people, and they respond: Thanks be to God. Postlude Sleepers, wake! A voice astounds us Johann Sebastian Bach Copyright permission granted by the following: OneLicense.net #A-702801 The worship is over. The service begins. Leaders in Today s Worship Celebrant Lectors 9:00 The Rev. Nicholas Myers 9:00 Rick Adams, Ethan Redmon 11:15 The Rev. Sarah Ginolfi 11:15 Judith Gustafson, Rusty Broxterman Preacher Intercessor The Rev. John Denson, D.Min. 9:00 Rick Adams 11:15 Ann Hinson Assisting/Healing 9:00 The Rev. Sarah Ginolfi 11:15 The Rev. Nicholas Myers We pray for Our companion Dioceses Bor and Brasilia and their Bishops Ruben and Mauricio: Michael our Presiding Bishop, Catherine our Bishop; for members of the Bishop Search and Transition Committees; and for all Bishops and Clergy. Those who serve in our armed forces, especially: Aaron, Adam, Andrew, Austin, Christopher, Erick, James, Jim, Kate, Keith, Lawrence, Matt, Michael, Molly, Nick, Spencer, Tyson, Will, Xochitl (So-shee). In thanksgiving for the ministries of St. Paul s: especially the Alternative Christmas Market Those who need our prayers, especially those on our prayer list: Brian, Debby, Heather, Kosha, Mark, Nathan, and Nia. 8