HYMNS NOTICES 26 Advent Candles (verses 1&4) 595 Be thou my vision Christmas at St Stephen’s by Zoom 52 The people that in darkness sat (v. 1, 4, 5&6) St. Stephen’s Chapel 80 Of the Father’s heart (v.1, 4&6) 8pm Christmas Eve Carol Service 10am Christmas Day , Holy Communion with Carols Stanley, Hong Kong PRAYERS - For the Church; for the Anglican Church of Hong A daughter church of St. John’s Cathedral Kong (), and for our Next Sunday 27th December we celebrate our in the Anglican / Episcopal Diocese of Hong Kong Island sister Anglican churches in Macau. patron saint, St Stephen. -For Hong Kong and the world… www.ststephen.org.hk -For the sick, especially Rita Farmer and John Ford. Sunday 3rd January we celebrate the Epiphany, St Stephen’s Chapel Stanley Hong Kong -For the departed, especially Chris Hattam and Dai the visit of the three Wise Men. Hand The Real Christmas If you would like to include anyone by name in our What does the Bible really say 4th Sunday in Advent th prayers, please let Will, Alison or Olivia know. about the Birth of Jesus? 20 December 2020

Join the final part of our Advent Course VOLUNTEERS TODAY NEXT SUNDAY with Will on Zoom, nd Welcomers 8pm Tuesday 2 2 December. 10am Holy Eucharist Altar Server Reader Andy Ronald New and Archbishop The Revd Will Newman Our Archbishop Paul is retiring. Intercessions Phoebe Alison On January 2nd will be enthroned Offertory & as Bishop of Hong Kong Island Diocese. Collection On January 3rd , Flowers Christmas Christmas Bishop of West Kowloon, will be enthroned Decorations Decorations as .

Refreshments No Refreshments at present of St John’s Cathedral st th Junior Church No Sunday School at present From January 1 -April 30 the Revd Mark Rogers will be Acting Dean of the Cathedral. The Very Revd KK Chan will become Thank you to all volunteers! Dean of St John’s Cathedral on May 1st. ***** You may like to donate flowers in celebration, in memoriam, or for any reason. Yours to take away after church if you wish. Contact Alison or Olivia. Please join us for tea and coffee after church

The church colour for Advent is purple for The Revd Will Newman repentance, in preparation for the coming of Jesus [email protected] 6254 7514 Wardens: Olivia Choi and Alison Harada The Collect 1st Reading from the gospel according to Luke GOSPEL God our redeemer, : Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary And Mary said, according to Luke. to be the mother of your Son: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices All: Glory to you, O Lord. grant that, as she looked for his coming as our in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on saviour, the lowliness of his servant. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by so we may be ready to greet him Surely, from now on all generations will call God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin when he comes again as our judge; me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the who is alive and reigns with you, things for me, and holy is his name. house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And in the unity of the Holy Spirit, His mercy is for those who fear him from generation he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! one God, now and for ever. to generation. The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Post Communion Prayer He has brought down the powerful from their Mary, for you have found favour with God. And Almighty God, give us grace thrones, and lifted up the lowly. now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, to cast away the works of darkness, He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and and put on the armour of light, the rich away empty. will be called the Son of the Most High, and the now in the time of this mortal life He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in his mercy, according to the promise he made to our David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for great humility; ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary that on the last day, forever.’ said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, Luke 1.46-55 virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will we may rise to the life immortal; come upon you, and the power of the Most High through him who is alive and reigns with you, Reader: This is the word of the Lord. will overshadow you; therefore the child to be in the unity of the Holy Spirit, All: Thanks be to God. born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And one God, now and forever. Amen. now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be

impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I,

the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according

to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1.26-38

Priest: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, O Christ.