The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Opening Hymn #56: O come, o come Emmanuel, Verses 1 – 2, 5 – 7
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 for ever. Amen.
A reading from the second book of Samuel, Chapter 7, Verses 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.
Canticle 15
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 for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A reading from Paul’s letter to the Roman, Chapter 16, Verses 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.
Sequence Hymn #265: The angel Gabriel from heaven came
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 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.
Prayers of the People
Priest 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 Michael, 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, 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 Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, Meridian, and for the special prayer intention of the diocese, all persecuted LGBTQ+ persons, we pray to you, O Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor For all who have commended themselves to our prayers Donna, Cheryl W., Bill & Barbara, Mark & Kim, Cathy & Del, Kathryn, Karen & Daryl, Debbie, Alex, Stacy, Carolyn S., Jenn W., Amory, Gwen and family, Margaret L., Mary T., Annette, Claire, Liz, Carey, Cathy & Gary, Amber, Margo, and CABI, 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.
Offertory Hymn: Special Music Number
Communion Hymn
Closing Hymn #66: Come thou long expected Jesus
Serving today:
Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes
Lectors: Brian Kiester & Sue Nims
Eucharistic Minister: Duncan Nims
Altar Guild: Dee Ann Goulet
Usher: Jim Reynolds
Music Director: Shauna Emara
Camera: Ed Lonsdale
Coffee Hour: Robin Finch & Sherrill Geddes