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The First Sunday of Advent
November 29th, 2020
Christ Episcopal Church Online
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Prelude “Ricercar pro Tempore Adventus” Johann Kaspar Ferd. Fischer
Lighting of the Advent Wreath: Hope
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Reader One: When I look around, I see shadows of hunger. So many people in this city and around the world will go to bed hungry tonight…
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Reader Two: When I look around, I see shadows of injustice, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, everyone saying, "Buy, buy, buy!" - and someone somewhere will fall asleep under a bridge tonight…
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Reader One: In the face of hunger, we light a candle of hope…
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Reader Two: In the face of injustice, in the face of despair, we light a candle of hope…
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(Light the first candle in your Advent wreath.)
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Reader One: Let the light from this candle say to all that God’s hope is coming on earth as it already is in heaven.
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Reader Two: Friends, be not afraid, God’s hope is at hand!
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Opening Hymn “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Hymnal 56 – vs. 1, 2, 3
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1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
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that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear.
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Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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2 O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all thing mightily;
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to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go.
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Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
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3 O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
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in ancient times didst give the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
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Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Celebrant: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
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People: and blessed be God’s kingdom now and forever. Amen.
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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,
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Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
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People: And also with you.
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Celebrant: Let us pray.
The Collect of the Day:
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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.
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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 64:1-9 Read by S. Bowlby
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O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence-- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil--to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
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Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Read by S. Bowlby
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1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
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shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
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2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
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stir up your strength and come to help us.
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3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
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show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
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how long will you be angered
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despite the prayers of your people?
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5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
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you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
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6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
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and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
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7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
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show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
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16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
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the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
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17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
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give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
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18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
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show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
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Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Read by S. Bowlby
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Celebrant: The Word of the Lord.
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People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn “Hark! The glad sound!” Hymnal 73 – vs. 1, 2
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1 Hark! The glad sound! The Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long;
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let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
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2 He comes, the prisoners to release in Satan’s bondage held;
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the gates of brass before him burst, the iron fetters yield.
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The Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 Read by Rev. Elizabeth Ewing
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Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
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People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
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Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 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. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
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Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.
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People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Homily The Rev. Elizabeth Ewing
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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.
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Offertory “Waiting for a Miracle” Ruth Elaine Schram
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The Lord’s PrayerOur 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
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In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
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For all people in their daily life and work;
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For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
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For this community, the nation, and the world, especially Donald our President, Joe, our
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President-elect, and all elected officials;
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For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
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For the just and proper use of your creation;
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For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
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For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
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For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
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For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
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For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
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For Michael our Presiding Bishop, and DeDe our Bishop; and
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For all bishops and other ministers;
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For all who serve God in his Church.
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For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially Alli, Anne, Bob, Carolyn, Connor, George, Sharon, Rose, Millie, Joell, Mario, Connie, and Kristina.
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We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
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Silence (The People may add their own thanksgivings)
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We will exalt you, O God our King;
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And praise your Name for ever and ever.
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We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
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Silence (The People may add their own petitions)
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Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
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Who put their trust in you.
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Priest: We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
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Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
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in your compassion forgive us our sins,
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things done and left undone;
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and so uphold us by your Spirit
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that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
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to the honor and glory of your Name;
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through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Priest: The peace of the Lord always be with you.
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People: And also with you.
The Communion Prayer
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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.
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The Blessing
Closing Hymn “Rejoice! Rejoice, believers” Hymnal 68 – vs. 1, 2
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1 Rejoice! Rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear!
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The evening is advancing, and darker night is near.
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The Bridegroom is arising, and soon he will draw nigh;
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up, watch in expectation! At midnight comes the cry.
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2 See that your lamps are burning, replenish them with oil;
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look now for your salvation, the end of sin and toil.
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The marriage-feast is waiting, the gates wide open stand;
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rise up, ye heirs of glory, the Bridegroom is at hand!
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