FROM THE RECTOR FORMATION & SPECIAL EVENTS
Welcome! I’m very glad you’ve joined us for worship today. Please take a moment to fill out the welcome card, either physically or digitally, that can be found on the opposite page of in the pew back in front of you. Our Welcome Team members are in the hallways today to help you with anything you need.
Today is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. We continue our sermon series “Beyond the Signs,” as well as looking ahead to Christmas. I hope you’ll join us tonight for Christmas Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m., and plan ahead for Christmas Eve and Day with the schedule of service in this bulletin.
As we prepare to worship together, I invite you to take a moment and center yourself on God’s presence. Worshiping, learning, and giving together help us grow closer to who God created us to be, and you’re part of that work. May God bless you today and every day, and I hope to see you again very soon!
4 p.m. in the Church
Tonight!
CHRISTMAS LESSONS & CAROLS
As we prepare for Christmas and the birth of Christ, join us for this beloved service, featuring seven lessons along with carols sung by our Saint Michael Choristers and Saint Michael Choir.
Saintmichael.org/ChristmasLC
10 AM 4 PM
Adult Formation
The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem
The Rev. Canon René Somodevilla Saint Michael Chapel
Youth Formation Middle School 6th – 7th Grade • Green Room
High School Orange Room
8:30 AM
Other Events St. Mary’s Guild Bake Sale South Entrance • 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Christmas Lessons & Carols Church Childcare (3 & under) is available from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in rooms 13–16.
For a full listing of fall offerings and upcoming events, please visit saintmichael.org/fall22
e Advent Lessons & Carols service was a hit! Join us for the next two Lessons & Carols in the series!
January 22 — New Service!
EPIPHANY LESSONS & CAROLS
A special evening of music and lesson readings: the Contemporary and Traditional music departments will perform selections of Epiphany hymns and original arrangements to observe the Light of the World given to all.
Saintmichael.org/EpiphanyLC
Please come forward to the Communion rail at the direction of our ushers. Stand or kneel at the rail as you are able, and receive the wafer in the palm of your outstretched hands. If you desire a gluten-free wafer, clasp your hands in front of you with your palms down. Receive the wine by drinking from the chalice as it is offered to you, or by retaining the wafer, to dip lightly into the chalice for yourself. If you are not receiving, you may cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing. If you are unable to physically come to the rail, please indicate to an usher that you would like to receive Communion at your seat.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
The service begins on page 323 of the red Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The Word of God
The Opening Acclamation & Collect for Purity (standing) BCP 323 The Summary of the Law BCP 324
Trisagion (spoken by all) BCP 324
The Collect of the Day see page 3
The First Lesson Isaiah 7:10-16 (seated) see page 3
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 see page 3
The Second Lesson Romans 1:1-7 see page 4
The Gospel (standing) see page 4
Gospeler The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory be to thee, O Lord. Matthew 1:18-25
Gospeler The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise be to thee, O Christ.
The Sermon (seated)
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso
The Nicene Creed (standing, spoken by all) BCP 326
The Prayers of the People BCP 328
Confession of Sin and Absolution (kneeling, spoken by all) BCP 331
The Peace (standing) BCP 332
The Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer II (standing) BCP 340
The Lord’s Prayer BCP 336
The Breaking of the Bread BCP 337
The Post-Communion Prayer (standing, spoken by all) BCP 339
The Blessing
The Dismissal BCP 339
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
The service begins on page 355 of the red Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns are found in the blue hymnal.
The Word of God
Prelude
“Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes” Richmond (sung by all) Hymn 72
The Opening Acclamation & Collect for Purity (standing) BCP 355
Trisagion (spoken by all) BCP 356
The Collect of the Day see page 3
The Lesson Isaiah 7:10-16 (seated) see page 3
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 see page 4
The Gospel (standing) see page 4
Gospeler The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Matthew 1:18-25 Gospeler The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon (seated)
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso
The Nicene Creed (standing, spoken by all) BCP 358
The Prayers of the People: Form II BCP 385 Confession of Sin and Absolution (kneeling, spoken by all) BCP 360
The Peace (standing) BCP 360
The Holy Communion
“The angel Gabriel” Gabriel’s Message (sung by all) Hymn 265 “Creator of the stars” Conditor alme siderum (sung by all) Hymn 60, v. 3
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A (standing) BCP 361 Sanctus and Benedictus: Schubert Hymn S 130
The Lord’s Prayer BCP 364
The Breaking of the Bread BCP 364
"“Sleepers, wake! A voice astounds us” Wachet auf (sung by all) Hymn 61
The Post-Communion Prayer (standing, spoken by all) BCP 365
The Blessing
The Dismissal BCP 366 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni, veni (sung by all) Hymn 56, v. 1-3, 7-8
Please come forward to the Communion rail at the direction of our ushers. Stand or kneel at the rail as you are able, and receive the wafer in the palm of your outstretched hands. If you desire a glutenfree wafer, clasp your hands in front of you with your palms down. Receive the wine by drinking from the chalice as it is offered to you, or by retaining the wafer, to dip lightly into the chalice for yourself. If you are not receiving, you may cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing. If you are unable to physically come to the rail, please indicate to an usher that you would like to receive Communion at your seat.
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Parish Prayers of the People
Kathryn Anschutz, Dixey Arterburn, Barbara Hart Bell, Tom & Margaret Bell, Katsy Boyd, Len Bourland, Suzanne Buhrer, Scott Calhoun, Frances Campbell, Rachel & Aaron Cathey, Randy Davis, David DeKnock, Richard DeKnock, Carol Dotson, Rosalee Fillion, Nancy Gottsacker, Michael Gratkowski, Laura Graves, Jody Guenther, Stephanie Hagen, Don Harp, Melissa Harrison, Caroline Hattemer, Amy Heller, Josh Hight, Carla Jones, Bea Kappes, Joan Booker Kerr, Gayle Kesinger, Nancy Kimbell, Jeff Kunzler, John Kyle, Jean Lattimore, Darlene Lueking, Vicki Sparks McCarty, Harrison Marcus, Barbara Mata, Caroline Morelock, Heather Nemec, Haley Odlozil, Susanne Osborne, Charles Peeler, Alex Powell, Lupita Rangel, Paul Risenhoover, Dorinda Scobee, Mike Smith, Callan Spence, Janet Stafford, Diana Teagarden, Byrd Teague, Judy Tucker, Valerie Guenther Unger, Juli Valley, Maria DeJesus Vela, Mary VonDohlen, Jack Day Watson III, Tony Wilks, Mary Wolf, Catherine Carr Worley
The Collect of the Day: 7:30 AM
We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son Jesus Christ cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect of the Day: 5:30 PM
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.
The First Lesson Isaiah 7:10-16
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”
Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us. Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. O LORD God of hosts, * how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?
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You have fed them with the bread of tears; * you have given them bowls of tears to drink. You have made us the derision of our neighbors, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, * the son of man you have made so strong for yourself. And so will we never turn away from you; * give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
The Second Lesson Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will
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The preceding text of the worship service contained in this order of worship is taken from the Book of Common Prayer 1979. The Book of Common Prayer alone is of authority in the worship of the Episcopal Church. This program is provided for convenience of use on this occasion.
save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5
5:30 PM Worship in the Church
6:30 PM Burning of the Greens in the Garden Cloister
Join us for the Feast of Epiphany, a service in which we celebrate the revelation of Jesus as the King of the Jews to the nations. The service begins in the church and concludes with the annual burning of the greens followed by hot chocolate and s’mores.
SAINTMICHAEL.ORG/EPIPHANY
Grocery bags with the Advent calendar are available at church entrances. Please return your bag of food to the South entrance the first week of January.
For more information, contact Christi Morrow at cmorrow@saintmichael.org.