Advent 1 - Hope December 3, 2017 Holy Eucharist Lay Reader Special Guest Speakers Sidespeople Readers Music Accompanist Sunday School Seniors Sunday School Seniors Assistant Sunday School Juniors Sunday School Juniors Assistant Nursery Attendant The Rev. Chris Dowdeswell Lloyd Begley Anne Marie MacNeil & Wilma Ward Gloria Teulon & Donna Hanel Debbie Unger Michael Siebert Amy Wiens Kirsten Olson Lana Hoffman Erika Olson Travis Olson Svonnah St. Stephen s Anglican Church 108 2 nd Ave NE Swift Current, SK S9H 2C7 (306) 773-4007 secretary@ststephenthemartyrsc.ca ststephenthemartyrsc.ca
Welcome to our service this morning! Please join in the congregational responses where bolded. If you would like to use a hearing-assist device to help follow along, one can be borrowed from the sound desk. Processional O Come, O Come Emmanuel 89 Please sing only verse 2-4. Verse 1 will be a solo. People The Gathering of the Community The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. And also with you. Advent Candle Lighting Hope: Canticle #7: The New Jerusalem Collect Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility, that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. The Proclamation of the Word First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly
angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. Reader The word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. HEAR, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Jo-seph like a flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned up-on the che- ru-bim. In the presence of Ephraim, Benja-min, and Man- as-seh, * stir up your strength and come help us. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and she shall be saved. O Lord God of hosts, * how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your peo-ple? 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 neigh-bours, * and our e-ne-mies laugh us to scorn. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, * the son of man you have made so strong for your-self. And so will we never turn a-way from you; * give us life, that we may call up-on your Name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reader The word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Sequence Hymn Creator of the Stars of Night 96 Lay Reader The Lord be with you. People and also with you. Lay Reader The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. (Mark 13: 24-37) People Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake. Lay Reader This is the Gospel of Christ. People Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Children s Talk (all children are invited to the front) SERMON The Nicene Creed Let us confess our faith, as we say: 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped 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. The Prayers of the People Confession and Absolution invitation Most merciful God, All We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen. absolution People The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Offertory O Come, Divine Messiah 95
Prayer over the Gifts God of love and power, your word stirs within us the expectation of the coming of your Son. Accept all we offer you this day, and sustain us with your promise of eternal life. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. All things come of thee, O Lord, And of thine own, have we given thee. Amen. The Celebration of the Eucharist prays Now with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name. All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, (x2) heaven and earth are full, full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. (x2) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (x2) prays All Therefore Father, according to his command, We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory. As our Saviour taught us, let us sing, All 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 them who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom. All Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb. Lamb of God Insert People The Communion The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. All baptized Christians are welcome to share in communion. If you are not baptized or would otherwise prefer, we invite you to cross your hands over your chest to receive a blessing The congregation is invited to sing the communion hymns Communion Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling 51 O God, Our Help in Ages Past 528 Prayer after Communion God for whom we wait, you have fed us with the bread of eternal life. Keep us ever watchful, that we may be ready to stand before the Son of man. We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord. All Blessing Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen. Announcements Recessional Hail to the Lord s Anointed 101 People Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Seymour, Almeda, Mel, and Matthew Teulon by Mark, Gloria, Erica, Leah, Lindon, Kari, Deacon, Luke and Corben, and Elsie UPCOMING EVENTS The office will be closed from December 4-8 There will be no 8:30am services in December December 6 December 8 December 10 Needles & Natter @ 1:30pm Wednesdays with Stevie @ 5:30pm Care Home Services: The Meadows @ 1:45pm & Cypress House @ 3pm Care Home Services: Revera @ 2pm & Prairie View Lodge @ 3pm ANNOUNCEMENTS Congregational meeting TODAY: Please stick around after our service today for coffee, to hear about the work of the Transition Team over the past five months, and to vote on whether we would like Rev. Chris to become our permanent Rector. Your presence is greatly encouraged! NURSERY: We are excited to announce that we will now have a nursery attendant available to watch children ages 0-3 during the service. Svonnah Flynn and Emily Mickleborough will be alternating in this role week-to-week. The Swift Current Oratorio Choir and Prairie Spirit s Canadian Christmas Concert is on Monday, December 11 at 7pm at Zion Mennonite Church. Tickets are $15 at Pharmasave or $20 at the door. December 3 December 4 December 7 December 9 COMMEMORATIONS BIRTHDAY: Carol Nurcombe BAPTISM: Brett, Chad and Kelly Phillips BIRTHDAY: Heidi Deg BIRTHDAY: Ron Young BIRTHDAY: Carys Nisbet
Advent & Christmas Services December 7 Ecumenical Service - First United @ 12pm December 10 Advent 2 Peace: Guest Speaker Sammy Khalife December 14 Ecumenical Service - First United @ 12pm December 17 Advent 3 Joy: Sunday School Christmas Pageant during 10:30am service December 21 Ecumenical Service - First United @ 12pm December 24 Advent 4 Love: BCP Holy Communion Service @ 10:30am Christmas Eve BAS Family Service @ 4pm December 25 Christmas Day BAS Communion Service @ 10:30am
Prayers of the People General We pray for vigilance for all God s people and for the protection of those in the Armed Forces. Anglican Cycle of Prayer The Most. Rev. Fred Hiltz (Primate); The Most Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson (Metropolitan); The Rt. Rev. Rob Hardwick, Bishop of Qu Appelle. Government Leaders Governor General Julie Payette; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Lt. Gov. Vaughn Solomon Schofield; Premier Brad Wall; David Anderson, MP; Mayor of Swift Current, Denis Perrault; city council and all other government leaders. Companion Dioceses For the Bishops, clergy and congregations in the dioceses of Muyinga and Lichfield. Diocesan Prayers For the clergy, lay leaders, congregation and ministries of the parish St. Phillip, Regina. For the Rev. Dale Gillman and the celebration services today at St. Luke s (Gordon 1 st Nation), as she begins Interim Ministry for the parish of Nehiyawe. For the newly elected members of Diocesan Council and Diocesan Standing Committees who begin a 3-year term. For our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz and the staff at the Primate s Office. Ecumenical Partners For the Swift Current & Area Ministerial Association; Our ecumenical partnerships: the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Anglican-Roman Catholic Covenant. For the clergy and congregation at Community Baptist Church. Parish Prayers St. Stephen s Anglican Church, Swift Current; The Rev. Chris and the Rev. Krista Dowdeswell and family, all lay readers, ministries and area impact. All in our hospital and special care homes, all who minister to them. All who have asked for our prayers, whether for healing, help or comfort, especially: Tom Mackie; Michelle Hetherton; Kathy Leer Mattice; Gloria Shabbits; Wesley Dyck; Howard Couch; Travis, Kirsten, Erika & Jesse Olson; Linda Packham; Mary Wells; Dr. Ron Young; Tanoj; Lindon; Erica; Catherine Lavallee and those known only to yourself. In whose memory the altar flowers are placed today; and all those whose anniversary of death falls at this time. If you would like an item added to the prayer list, please contact us. Prayer requests will be included for one month unless requested otherwise.