The First Sunday in Advent

PDF of the bulletin

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

Celebrant: Today we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. Each candle has a meaning. This first candle is HOPE.
The candle is lit.
Lector: We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
Celebrant: Eternal God, as we await the coming of our savior, give us the courage to hope. Give us grace to see your plans of redemption for our lives, for this community, and for the world. Through Jesus Christ, the source of our redemption and hope. Amen.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs 1
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

THE WORD OF GOD (Please stand)

Surely the Lord is coming soon.
People: Amen. Come Lord Jesus!
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

THE EXHORTATION (Please remain standing)

Dearly beloved in the Lord: if you intend to come to the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, you must consider how Saint Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, exhorts us all diligently to examine ourselves before we presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if we receive that holy Sacrament with a truly penitent heart and lively faith, spiritually eating the Flesh of Christ and drinking his Blood, so that we might be made one with Christ and he with us; so also is the danger great, if we receive these gifts unworthily. For then we become guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of Christ our Savior, and we eat and drink to our own condemnation.

Therefore, judge yourselves lest you be judged by the Lord. First, examine your life by the rule of God’s commandments. Wherever you have offended, either by thought, word, or deed, confess your sins to Almighty God, with the full intention to amend your life. Be ready to make restitution for all injuries and wrongs you have done to others; and also be ready to forgive others who have offended you: for otherwise, if you unworthily receive Holy Communion, you will increase your own condemnation. Therefore, repent of your sins, or else do not come to God’s Holy Table.

If you have come here today with a troubled conscience, and you need help and counsel, come to me, or to some other Priest, and confess your sins, that you may receive godly counsel, direction, and absolution. To do so will both satisfy your conscience and remove any scruples or doubt.

Above all, each of us should give humble and hearty thanks to God for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Savior Jesus Christ. He humbled himself, even to death on a Cross, for us sinners who lay in darkness and in the shadow of death, that he might make us children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life.

Because of his exceedingly great love for us, our Savior Jesus Christ has instituted and ordained these holy mysteries as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death and passion, to our great and endless comfort.

To him, therefore, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, let us give continual thanks, as is our duty and our joy, submitting ourselves entirely to his holy will and striving to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in 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. Amen.

THE LESSONS OF THE DAY

A reading from Isaiah 64:1-9 ESV
¹ “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—² as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! ³ When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. ⁴ From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. ⁵ You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? ⁶ We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. ⁷ There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. ⁸ But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. ⁹ Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever.
Reader: "The Word of the Lord."
People: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 80:1-7

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a sheep; *
show yourself also, you that sit upon the cherubim.
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us again, O God; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.
4 O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angry with your people that pray?
5 You feed them with the bread of tears *
and give them plenteous tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us again, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.

A reading from 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ESV
¹ Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, ² To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.⁴ I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶ even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reader: "The Word of the Lord."
People: Thanks be to God.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MARK

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

THE GOSPEL Mark 13:24-37 ESV
²⁴ “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And 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. ²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³² “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. ³⁵ Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— ³⁶ lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
"The Gospel of the Lord.”
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON The Rev. Terrence Johnson, Assisting Clergy

THE NICENE CREED

All stand to recite the Nicene Creed, the Celebrant first saying:
Let us confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed:
(Celebrant and People)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten 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 from the Holy Spirit and 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 and the Son,
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.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Please stand)
Let us pray for the Church and for the world, saying, “hear our prayer.”
For the peace of the whole world, and for the well-being and unity of the people of God.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For the Primates of the Worldwide Anglican Communion; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and Caroline; Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Foley Beach and Allison; our Standing Committee; for our Interim Bishop, Martyn Minns and Angela; for all clergy and other ministers, especially our Rector, Father Ron and Sue; our Associate Rector, Father Chris and Katherine; our assisting clergy, Fr. Terry and Mary Anne; all missionaries, especially The Rev. Alison Barfoot, in Uganda; the Anglican Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic; Advance Community Church; and for all the clergy and people of our Diocese and Congregation.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For all those who proclaim the Gospel at home and abroad; for all who teach and disciple others; and for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For all the men and women in our Armed Forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; and give them courage to face the perils that beset them; and help them to know that nothing can separate them from your love.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For our nation, for those in authority, and for all in public service especially, our Congress, Supreme Court and our President, Donald Trump.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For all of us affected by Covid-19. For those suffering with symptoms; those without symptoms but who carry the virus; and for those struggling with loneliness and depression from isolation. Pray for those who have died, provide rest for their souls and comfort for their families as they grieve. Protect and secure all health care workers and all those who provide essential services. Guide our leaders, and give us all wisdom as we seek to live as God's people striving for health and safety for everyone. Heal us.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity especially…
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For all those who have departed this life in the certain hope of the resurrection, especially...
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

We thank you for all the blessings of this life…
(The people are invited to share their thanksgivings aloud)
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

In thanksgiving for the fruitful discussions with the Episcopal Diocese regarding this property.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For our vestry, especially our wardens, Dave and Jeremy, that as your appointed leaders they may faithfully serve you and this church.
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially…
(The people may share their petitions silently or aloud)
Reader: Lord in your mercy:
People: hear our prayer.

The Celebrant concludes with this or some other appropriate Collect.
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION OF SIN

The Officiant says to the People
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence is kept.
All standing, the Officiant and People pray
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 Priest stands and says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

THE PEACE

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And with your spirit.

BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY PRAYERS

Birthday: Donna Goss, Vic Csellar, Bonnie Colaianne, Roy Saunders, Sue Baillie
Watch over your child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes all understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anniversary:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your continued blessings on the union of these your servants, that have enabled them to reach another anniversary. We thank You for letting their love deepen and for helping them in time of trial. We ask You to continue to watch over them, over their home and family. Help them to renew and strengthen their vows of love and commitment and to strive to remain united with You, steadfast in their faith and in your service. Amen.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

OFFERTORY HYMN “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son! Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free; to take away transgression, and rule in equity.

He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light, whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth; love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

You may give online: www.saintthomasanglican.org/give

DOXOLOGY

(Spoken. Please stand)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on the first day of the week overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

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: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

(All praise and glory is yours, O God our heavenly Father, for in your tender mercy, you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption. He made there, by his one offering of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, offering, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and he instituted, and in his Holy Gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again.

So now, O merciful Father, in your great goodness, we ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine, that we, receiving them according to your Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

For on the night that he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for 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 in remembrance of me.”

Therefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of your dearly beloved Son our Savior Jesus Christ, we your humble servants celebrate and make here before your divine Majesty, with these holy gifts, the memorial your Son commanded us to make; remembering his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and his promise to come again.

And here we offer and present to you, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice. We humbly pray that all who partake of this Holy Communion may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, be filled with your grace and heavenly benediction, and be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him.

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.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

Celebrant and People together 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.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

THE LAMB OF GOD

Celebrant: Lamb of God
People: You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.

THE PRAYER FOR HUMBLE ACCESS

Apart from Your grace, we do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord whose character is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

THE MINISTRATION OF COMMUNION

Celebrant: The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE TO PHYSICALLY RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT

Silence is kept. Each member of the family may read and reflect on this prayer or otherwise meditate on Christ’s spiritual presence.

Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul, and since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people, gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

COMMUNION HYMN “Fear Not”

Refrain: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; I have called you by name: you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flame shall not consume you.

Refrain

Because you are precious and I love you, you whom I formed for my glory,
You whom I called by my name, I will gather together.

Refrain

You are my witnesses; I have chosen you, that you may know and believe me.
You are my servants for the world to see I am the Lord, I’m among you.

Refrain

THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER

(Please stand)
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us, through this Sacrament, of your favor and goodness towards us: that we are true members of the mystical body of your Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of your everlasting kingdom. And we humbly ask you, heavenly Father, to assist us with your grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all the good works that you have prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

RECESSIONAL HYMN “The King Shall Come”
The King shall come when morning dawns, and light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills, And life to joy awakes.
Not as of old, a little child to bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun, that lights that morning sky
The King shall come when morning dawns, and earth’s dark night is past;
O hast the rising of that morn, the day that e’er shall last;

DISMISSAL

Celebrant: ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! Let us go forth in to the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
People: Thanks be to God. ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

POSTLUDE