Third Sunday of Advent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJLSMtb2sDk

Join us as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on the Third Sunday of Advent. The service will be live streamed to YouTube. It will be available to watch on demand on the event page and YouTube at the end of the service.

The Third Sunday of Advent
December 13th, 2020
Christ Episcopal Church Online

Prelude “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” Johann Gottfried Walther

Lighting of the Advent Wreath: Joy

Reader One: In the face of injustice, in the face of despair, we light a candle of hope…

(Light the first candle in your Advent wreath)

Reader Two: Because hatred is still so strong, because so many swords have not yet been beaten into ploughshares, we light a candle of peace…

(Light the second candle in your Advent wreath)

Reader One: When I look around, I see shadows of sadness, families in homeless shelters, people in prison, people who have become invisible and forgotten…

Reader Two: When I look around, I see shadows of grief and loss, people dreading the holidays because they’ve lost a loved one, because they’re recently divorced, because they don’t want to spend another Christmas alone…

(Light the third candle in your Advent wreath)

Reader One: In the face of sadness, we light a candle of joy…

Reader Two: In the face of grief, in the face of loss, we light a candle of joy…

Reader One: May the light from this candle overwhelm the world.

Reader Two: May the light from this candle say to all that God’s joy is coming on earth as it already is in heaven.

Reader One: Brothers and sisters in Christ, be not afraid, God’s joy is at hand!

Opening Hymn “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” Hymnal 616, vs. 1 & 2

1 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 inequity.

2 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, were precious in his sight.

Celebrant:
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People:
and blessed be God’s kingdom now and forever. Amen.

Celebrant:
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.

Trisagion
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.

(Repeat Three Times)

Celebrant:
The Lord be with you.

People:
And also with you.

Celebrant:
Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer for our Country:
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lessons

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Read by P. Dutra
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Psalm 126 Read by P. Dutra
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.

3 Then they said among the nations, *
“The Lord has done great things for them.”

4 The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.

5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.

6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.

7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Read by P. Dutra
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Celebrant:
The Word of the Lord.

People:
Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn “The King shall come” Hymnal 73, vs. 1 & 2

1 The King shall come when morning dawns and light triumphant breaks;
when beauty gilds the eastern hills and life to joy awakes.

2 Not, as of old, a little child to bear and fight and die,
but crowned with glory like the sun that lights the morning sky.

The Gospel: John 1:6-8,19-28 The Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert

Deacon:
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to John.

People:
Glory to You, Lord Christ.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Deacon:
The Gospel of the Lord.

People:
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Homily The Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert

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:
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 and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped 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.

Offertory “There’s a voice in the wilderness crying” Hymnal 75

1 There’s a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low;
make straight all the crooked places where the Lord our God may go!

2 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people the coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish, like grass our works decay,
the power and pomp of nations shall pass like a dream away;

3 but the word of our God endureth, the arm of the Lord is strong;
he stands in the midst of nations, and he will right the wrong.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, the lambs he’ll gently hold;
to pastures of peace he’ll lead them, and bring them safe to his fold.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
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

Prayers of the People

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

Silence

For all people in their daily life and work;

For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For this community, the nation, and the world, especially Donald our President, Joe, our

President-elect, and all elected officials;

For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;

For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;

For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;

For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For Michael our Presiding Bishop, and DeDe our Bishop; and

For all bishops and other ministers;

For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially Alli, Anne, Bob, Carolyn, Connor, George, Sharon, Rose, Millie, Joell, Mario, Connie, and Kristina.

Silence

Hear us, Lord;

For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.

Silence (The People may add their own thanksgivings)

We will exalt you, O God our King;

And praise your Name for ever and ever.

We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.

Silence (The People may add their own petitions)

Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;

Who put their trust in you.

Deacon:
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.

Silence

ALL:
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

Priest:
The peace of the Lord always be with you.

People:
And also with you.

The Communion Prayer

In union, O Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church where the Holy Eucharist is and has been celebrated, we desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that we may always be united to you, and since we cannot now receive you sacramentally in the Bread and the Wine, we ask you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves with you, and embrace you with all the love of our souls. Let nothing ever separate you from us. May we live in you, and may you live in us, both in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

The Blessing

Closing Hymn “Prepare the way, O Zion” Hymnal 65, vs. 1 & 2

1 Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!
Let every hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

2 He brings God’s rule, O Zion; he comes from heaven above.
His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth and love.
Lift high, your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding.
O blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

The Dismissal