Prelude
Opening Hymn
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Reader Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
The candle(s) are now lit.
Priest Grant us, Lord, the lamp of love which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may see that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Priest Blessed are you, holy and living One.
People You come to your people and set them free.
The Beatitudes
Priest When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Deacon Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
All 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.
Priest 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.
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
The Priest now prays the Collect of the Day – see insert.
The People may be seated for the readings. At the end of the First and Second Reading, the reader says, “The Word of the Lord” to which the people respond, “Thanks be to God!”
First Reading – See Insert
Psalm – See Insert
Second Reading – See Insert
The People stand for the reading of the Gospel.
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Gospel – See Insert
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon
The people may be seated for the sermon.
The Nicene Creed
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,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped 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.
Prayers of the People
Deacon In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Intercessor For the holy Church of God, that it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the day of your coming, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For Sean, our Presiding Bishop; for Jos, our Bishop, for all bishops and other ministers, and for all the holy people of God, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For the mission of the Church, especially for (the intercessor adds the name from the Anglican Cycle of Prayer), that in faithful witness it may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For the peace of the world that a spirit of respect and justice may grow among nations and peoples, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For those in positions of public trust, that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For all who are poor, sick, or suffering; for those who are imprisoned; for those who are oppressed, and those who are refugees; that they may be relieved and protected, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For this congregation: for everyone here, and for all who are absent from us, that we may all be delivered from hardness of heart and show forth your glory and love in all that we do, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For the work of our diocese, especially (the intercessor adds the name from the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer) and for the special prayer intention of the diocese, (the intercessor adds the name from the Diocesan special intention) we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For all who have commended themselves to our prayers: (the Intercessor now adds the names of the Parish Prayer List), that they may live in joy, peace, and health, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For all who have died in the communion of your Church, and those whose faith is known to you alone, that, with all the saints, they may have rest in that place where there is no pain or grief, but life eternal, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor Rejoicing in the fellowship of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life to Christ our God.
People To you, O Lord our God.
Priest For yours is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The peace is briefly shared. After the peace, a time for sharing and celebrating
blessings and birthdays will follow.
The Offertory begins with the following:
Priest Through Christ let us offer to God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;
People With gladness we present the offerings of our life and labor to the Lord.
Offertory Hymn
The people stand to sing or sit as able.
After the Altar is prepared, the following is said:
Priest Everything in heaven and earth is yours, O Lord;
People All things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER B
Priest 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:
At 8:00 am, the Sanctus is said.
At 10:00 am, the Sanctus is sung.
All 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.
Priest 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,
All We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
Priest 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 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.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
8:00 A.M.
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.
10:00 A.M.
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.
Priest Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Priest The gifts of God for the people of God.
People may be seated while waiting to come forward. All are welcome to share in communion. Gluten free bread is available. Hold out your hands to receive the bread. If you wish to come forward for a blessing only, cross your arms over your chest.
Communion Taize
If a Eucharistic Visitor is being sent out to take communion to those unable to be present, they are sent with the following words:
Priest 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.
People We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread, one cup.
Priest Let us pray.
All 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.
The Priest now blesses the people. It is appropriate to make the sign of the cross as a sign of receiving the blessing.
Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Closing Hymn
Postlude