Welcome! In the name of Christ we welcome everyone to our worship service for the second Sunday of Advent. Our officiant this week is the Reverend Dorothy Hartzog.
This week our music is supplied by Rhonda Stanton and Zoë Pouliot. The scriptures in our service this week are read by Bruce and Dianne Carlisle. We invite you to listen, watch and read your way through the order of service below. Sing, stand, sit, kneel – participate however you are comfortable as you worship from home.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We are collecting non-perishable food for a local food pantry. Please remember this when you shop and swing by the church during business hours 9-2 Tuesday through Friday to drop your Advent food offerings off in the blue bins Wilma has set out. Together we hope to help some local families make it through a tough time.
Downtown Churches Advent Walk – this online version of the annual tradition is beautiful, and thanks to Pam Evans, Rhonda and Zoë, Grace Church was beautifully represented among the downtown churches. Link here: https://fb.watch/2bwRf9KYOj/
Festival of Lessons and Carols tonight, Dec 6, online at 7 PM, presented online by the University Choir of the University of the South at Sewanee TN, a college associated with the Episcopal Church. Link here: https://new.sewanee.edu/campus-life/believing/all-saints-chapel/lessons-and-carols
Grace Church’s Members’ Facebook Group – If you’re a member at Grace and would like to join this private Facebook group, please let us know by dropping a message here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144532786973966/ It’s a way we can keep up with one another during this time when we’re not gathering together in person.
Children’s Resources
Together at Home
Lectionary-based conversation starters, prayers, memory verses, puzzles and a coloring page for the second week in Advent. [Download multi-page PDF at this link.]
Godly Play: The second week in Advent, the Holy Family
The Second Sunday of Advent
Prelude: I wonder as I wander
Candle-lighting
Opening Hymn: #67 Comfort, comfort ye my people
1 Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness
mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover,
and her warfare now is over.
2 Hark, the voice of one that crieth
in the desert far and near,
calling us to new repentance
since the kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
let the valleys rise to meet him,
and the hills bow down to greet him.
3 Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain:
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad;
and all flesh shall see the token
that the word is never broken.
Opening Sentences and Collect for Purity
Collect of the Day
Mother Dorothy Hartzog
Hymn: O Come, o come, Emmanuel
3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Gospel Hymn: #65 Prepare the way, O Zion
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.
Oh 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.
Oh blest is Christ that came
in God’s most holy name.
3 Fling wide your gates, O Zion;
your Savior’s rule embrace.
His tidings of salvation
proclaim in every place.
All lands will bow before him,
their voices will adore him.
Oh blest is Christ that came
in God’s most holy name.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8
Sermon
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.Hymn WLP #724 People, look East (not yet recorded)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.
Hymn: WLP #724 People, look East
People, look East; the time is near
Of the crowning of the year
Make your house fair as you are able
Trim the hearth and set the table
People, look East and sing today
Love, the guest, is on the way
Furrows, be glad; though earth is bare
One more seed is planted there
Give up your strength the seed to nourish
That in course the flow’r may flourish
People, look East and sing today
Love, the rose, is on the way
Birds, though you long have ceased to build
Guard the nest that must be filled
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen
People, look East and sing today
Love, the bird, is on the way
Stars, keep the watch; when night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim
Shining beyond the frosty weather
Bright as sun and moon together
People, look East and sing today
Love, the star, is on the way
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming
People, look East and sing today
Love, the Lord, is on the way
Prayers of the People
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and
Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations
of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The People may add their own petitions.
Closing Hymn: Christians all, your Lord is coming
Christians all, your Lord is coming
Drawing near in holy birth
Ring the bells and sound the trumpets
Let your music fill the earth
Dance and move to show God’s glory
Kneel and pause to hear God’s word
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Rise and let your songs be heard
Christians all, your Lord is coming
Calling you to serve in deed
See the ones who hurt and suffer
Hear their cry and act with speed
Set all selfish ways behind you
Purge your hearts of sin and greed
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ in you will meet their need
Christians all, your Lord is coming
He will rise up from the dead
Lift the cup of sin forgiven
Bless the host and eat his bread
Mend the ways where peace is broken
Give yourselves to true Shalom
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dwell as one in church and home
Christians all, your Lord is coming
Hope for peace is now at hand
Let there be no hesitation
Walk in faith where life demands
Bear the word that God has given
Share the birth that stirs your soul
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ will come and make you whole