| Worship Bulletin
Prelude: Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel
13th century plainsong, arranged by Ann Buys
The Welcome
Hymn 66: Come Thou long expected Jesus
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Reader:
The first candle of Advent is the candle of Hope;
the second is the candle of Peace;
the third is the candle of Joy;
the fourth is the candle of Love.
We light this candle to remind us that Christ's Love is alive.
People: God of Love, there is no greater power in the world than love. As Christmas draws near, we marvel at the gift of your great love for us through Jesus Christ your Son. Let your love transform every aspect of our lies and touch everyone we encounter. Help us to love you with the strength of our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves; may the light of Christ's love shine always in our hearts. Amen.
Hymn 75: There's a voice in the wilderness, verse 1
Opening Sentence
Officiant In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight
in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3
Confession of Sin
Officiant Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Officiant and People
Most merciful God, 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 neighbors 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.
The Officiant says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Invitatory
Lord, open our lips,
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.
Canticle 15
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
When the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you."
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle 11: The Third Song of Isaiah Surge, illuminare
Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19
Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise, *
and his glory will appear upon you.
Nations will stream to your light, *
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.
The Lord will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Second Lesson: Romans 16:25-27
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God.
Canticle 16: The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus
Luke 1: 68-79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the
shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
The Sermon
Hymn – 265 – The Angel Gabriel came, vs. 1, 2, 3
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers
Officiant: The Lord be with you.
Officiant and People: And also with you.
Let us pray.
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.
Suffrages (A)
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collect of the Day
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A Prayer for Hope
When evil darkens our world, give us light.
When despair numbs our souls, give us hope.
When we stumble and fall, lift us up.
When doubts assail us, give us faith.
When nothing seems sure, give us trust.
When ideals fade, give us vision.
When we lose our way, be our guide!
That we may find serenity in Your presence,
and purpose in doing Your will. Amen.
(John D. Rayner)
The Prayers of the People
Lord Jesus, as we prepare for your coming,
Hear your faithful people as we pray for the light of your love
to shine upon the whole human family.
We will respond to each petition, saying, Come, Lord Jesus.
For the Church: that we may bear witness to the depths of God's love for all people; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For people of other faiths: for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and all who seek the truth: that we may respect one another and work for the common good; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; for Thomas, our bishop; and for our sisters and brothers in the parishes of Mount Desert Island: that Christ may increase our love for one another, and deepen our compassion for all who suffer; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For an end to violence throughout the world; and for those we find it hardest to love: that God will lead the human family to peace and reconciliation; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For all in political leadership; for Donald, our President, Joe, our President-elect, and Janet, our Governor; that they may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in the way of your truth; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For the poor, the hungry, and the homeless; for the abandoned, the addicted, and the abused: that God will relieve their suffering and lead us to care for them; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For those who are grieving this holiday season, and for all those for whom the holidays are lonely, difficult, or sad, that God will comfort them in their sorrow and ease their burdens; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For our financial commitment to support the church's work in the new year: that we may trust in God's care for us and have courage to give generously of ourselves; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For the sick and the suffering; especially those struggling with Covid-19; and for all who care for them; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
I now invite you to offer your own prayers for those in any need or trouble….. (moment of silence)….; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For all who have died; and for all who grieve and mourn; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
For those who have no faith and for those the Church may have injured or offended: that we may honor their doubt and seek their forgiveness; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
In thanksgiving for our daily blessings; for our families, friends, and neighbors; for the beauty of the earth; and for the special blessing of children in our lives; in your mercy… Come Lord Jesus.
The General Thanksgiving
Officiant and People
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Officiant
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14
An Advent Blessing
Hymn 56: O come, O come Emmanuel, vs. 1, 4, 5, 6
Postlude: Gifts for the Child, by Eugene Butler
Quoting the Caralon carol "What Shall I Give to the Child?"
* 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.
Participants
Officiant: The Rev. William Hague
Pianist: Stephen Sampson
Vocalist: Pamela Smith
Readers: Roger Samuel, Ellen Gilmore, Liz McMullan
Canticle 16: Ted Fletcher
Prayers of the People: Jim and Marilyn Kitler
Advent Wreath: Paul and Margot Haertel
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