ST. G EORGE ’ S ON - THE -H ILL Advent II 10:30AM HOLY EUCHARIST, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2018 The Sunday Celebration We are a growing Christian community celebrating and living the love of God in our common life of prayer and service in this neighbourhood. In our celebration today, we will try to be joyful and reflective, playful and reverent, as our thanksgiving for the new life which God gives us through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the shape of worship this morning: We gather together as a community of faith. We read the Word of God given to us in the Bible. We respond to the readings through silence, song and preaching. We break the bread and share the cup of wine. We take God’s love out into our lives, relationships, and the world. Children are full members of our church and we welcome their presence and participation in our worship. If at any point you are unable to stand please feel free to be seated.
Prelude: Concerto Grosso op.6 No. 8 The Gathering of the Community We gather with song and prayer as the People of God. The children begin worship upstairs. Processional Hymn #94 Wait for the Lord, Whose Day is Near
Welcome & Greeting Presider: Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen. Los Posados (Please be seated) (Congregation knocks three times on Mary and Joseph’s cue.)
A.Corelli
Innkeeper: What’s this awful racket at this hour of the night? Who are you, stranger? Joseph: I am Joseph, a carpenter. We are cold and tired. We’ve walked long and far. We have nowhere to go. Will you let us in for the night? Innkeeper: No! You look like one of those guys who wander around here looking for work. Your accent is wrong and I don’t believe your story. Innkeeper and Choir: Go away! (Congregation knocks again three times on Mary and Joseph’s cue.) Innkeeper: Another one? Who are you and what do you want? Mary: I’m Mary. I am pregnant and at the end of my strength. We don’t have a lot but we can pay you a little. We’re honest workers from up Nazareth way and we mean no harm. Surely you have room in that big house. Please let us in. Innkeeper: No! You’re probably trying to rip us off. We don’t need your type around here. Innkeeper and Choir: Go away! (Congregation knocks again.) People:
Let us in! You have money and we have none. You have a warm house and we’re out in the cold street. Let us in, please!
Innkeeper: Oh, we’ve heard all this before and we don’t believe it. Get lost or I’ll call the soldiers over here. Innkeeper and Choir: Go away! Las Posadas Hymn: (Sung to the tune of “Good King Wenceslas”) Congregation: In the name of God we beg: will you let us enter? We are tired and we are cold. May we please have shelter? Choir: You look dirty and you smell. Will you please keep moving? For your kind there is no place, for our inn is decent. Congregation: It is not by our own choice that today we travel; But the Emperor has said that all must be counted.
Choir:
For your reasons we care not. Every room is taken. Can’t you see the place is full? You are bad for business.
The Lighting of the Advent Candle A child will light the candle on the Advent Wreath during the first verse of the hymn. The children proceed to Christmas pageant preparation while this hymn is sung. They will return for communion. Hymn #108 Hark! A Herald Voice Is Sounding Hark, a herald voice is sounding: "Christ is nigh," it seems to say. "Cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day!" Wakened by the solemn warning, let the earth-bound soul arise; Christ our sun, all sloth dispelling, shines upon the morning skies. Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, comes with pardon down from heaven; Let us all, with deep repentance, pray that we may be forgiven, That when next he comes with glory, and the world is wrapped in fear, With his mercy he may shield us, and with words of love draw near. Honour, glory, might, and blessing to the Father and the Son, With the everlasting Spirit, while eternal ages run. The Prayer of the Day The Proclamation of the Word of God First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. The word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Please keep a period of silence for reflection.
Psalm 85 (Please remain seated)
Choir: Show us your mercy Lord and grant us your salvation. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Choir: I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to Him. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Choir: Truly his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Choir: Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Choir: Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Choir: The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, and our land will yield its increase. All: In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful… Second Reading: Philippians 1.3-11 I thank my God every time I remember you, -constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, -because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. -I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. -It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all
of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. -For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight -to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, -having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. The word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Please keep a period of silence for reflection.
The Holy Gospel: Luke 3.1-6 Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Reader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke. People: Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ! In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, -as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; -and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'” Reader: The Gospel of Christ! People: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!
Homily: The Reverend Michelle Childs-Ward The Apostle’s Creed: (Please stand) Presider: Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say, All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen The Prayers of the People: (Please stand or kneel as you prefer) Please respond to the petitions by singing “Lord hear our prayer” three times.
The Confession & Absolution: (Please stand or kneel as you prefer) Presider: Dear Friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to God’s table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
People: 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 will our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours 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. Presider: Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Peace: (Please stand) Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you! People: And also with you! Offertory Hymn: As we sing this hymn, we will pass the plate to collect the offerings of the people. If you are visiting us please do not feel you need to put anything in the plate; you are our guest. We do, however, rely on free-will offerings to fund the good work we do. If you would like to know more about how this is done, please contact one of the clergy. Hymn # 89 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Please join in singing) O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. O come, O Wisdom from on high, who orders all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. R. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times once gave the law, in cloud and majesty and awe. R. O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem, from every foe deliver them That trust your mighty power to save, and give them victory o'er the grave. R. O come, O Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. R.
O come, O Dayspring from on high and cheer us by your drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight. R. O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of humankind; O bid our bitter conflict cease, and be for us our Prince of Peace. R. The Celebration of the Eucharist We share God’s banquet of love for this community of faith Prayer Over the Gifts Eucharistic Prayer 3
(The Presiding Celebrant acclaims the life-giving power of God in the story of salvation and calls on us to join all creation in the song of the angels.) (We then sing verses 1-2 of the Sanctus following)
(The Presiding Celebrant recounts God’s continuing love in the history of humanity and in the sending of his son, Jesus Christ. We join Jesus in celebrating the Last Supper and acclaim his giving of himself in the gifts of bread and wine.) (After the words over the cup and the elevation of the chalice we sing the following…) People: Glory to you, O Lord, Glory for evermore, Glory, glory, glory to you! Presider: Therefore, Father, according to his command. People: we remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory; (The Presiding Celebrant calls on the Holy Spirit to bless the gifts and strengthen us until we come to share the joys of eternity. We praise God’s endless love and at the elevation of the bread and cup we sing the following…) People: Glory to you, O Lord, Glory for evermore, Amen, amen, amen! The Lord’s Prayer BAS Page 211 Presider: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray, All: 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen The Breaking of the Bread 5 BAS Page 212 Presider: God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom. People: Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb. Song for the Breaking of Bread: Happy Are Those
Cantor: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: Have mercy on is. People: Happy are those … Cantor: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: Have mercy on is. People: Happy are those … Cantor: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: Grant us peace. People: Happy are those … Presider: The gifts of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. The Communion All who are baptized may receive the bread and the wine, those not wishing to receive communion may come forward to receive a blessing. Please make your way up the center aisle and then return to your seat by the side aisles. If you would like to receive the laying on of hands and anointing with oil for restoration to health in body, soul, mind, and spirit, please make your way to the side altar after receiving communion. For those who prefer receiving only the wafer, this is considered full participation in Holy Communion. Communion Music:
Communion Hymn #100 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People Comfort, comfort ye my people; speak ye peace: thus says your God. Comfort those who sit in darkness bowed beneath oppression'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.
Hark! The herald's voice is calling in the desert far and near, Calling us to new repentance since the reign of God is here. Oh, the warning call obey! Now prepare for Christ a way; Let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him. Make ye straight what long was crooked; make the rougher places plain. Let your hearts be true and humble as befits Messiah's reign. For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad, And all flesh shall see the token that God's Word is never broken. Choir Anthem: Zion, at the shinning gates (p 214) Come, thou Redeemer of the earth (p 54) Prayer after Communion: (Please stand) Doxology BAS Page 211 Presider: Glory to God, People: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God, from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen. The Blessing Announcements Recessional Hymn # 101 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 shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth, And love, joy, 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. Kings shall fall down before him, and gold and incense bring; All nations shall adore him, his praise all people sing. To him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend, His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end.
O'er every foe victorious, he on his throne shall rest, From age to age more glorious, all-blessing and all-best. The tide of time shall never his covenant remove. His name shall stand forever: that name to us is Love. The Dismissal: Presider: Go forth, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit! People: Thanks be to God! Postlude: Litanies
J.Alain
FLOWERS IN THE CHURCH "The flowers in the Church are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of: John Alexander Strachan Norman & Annie Naylor
Contact Information: The Reverend Michelle Childs-Ward, Incumbent E: rev.michelle@stgeorgesonthehill.ca; O: 416.239.2341; C: 647.234.8229 The Reverend Canon Dr. Andrew Sheldon, Associate Priest E: andrew@stgeorgesonthehill.ca The Reverend Janet Sidey, Honorary Assistant The Reverend Dr. P.J. Carefoote, Honorary Assistant Ran Kim, Director of Music Ministry E: rankim@stgeorgesonthehill.ca Wardens: Max Marechaux – People’s Warden Linda Javorski – Rector’s Warden Keith Grattan – Deputy People’s Warden Teresa Selander – Deputy Rector’s Warden wardens@stgeorgesonthehill.ca