The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2020, 11:00Am Lessons and Carols
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2020, 11:00am Lessons and Carols WELCOME The Church will always be the people, the followers of Jesus who gather in community – whether it is in a physical building, or virtually online. We gather as Christians to worship, work, pray and give to promote justice, peace, and love. This is the calling for us to live our faith together. We are so pleased that you have joined us today. You are most welcome here. God loves everyone, no exceptions, as we genuinely celebrate the diversity and beauty of God’s creation. We hope that you can easily follow and join in our service. But most of all, we hope that you can simply relax and be present with us. To learn more about St. Mark’s, please sign up for our weekly Newsletter online on our website at www.stmarksbowery.org. Welcome, and thank you. 1 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Philipp Nicolai GATHERING MUSIC “Sleepers, Wake!” Rufus Müller The Rev. THE LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE Anne Sawyer, Celebrant Leader The evening of the year is upon us. People We enter the shadows and wait for light’s return. Leader We light one candle to remind us of God’s light shining within us. People We open our hearts to that light and ask for help to shine with the brilliance of love. Leader We light a second candle to remind us of the light of justice on the prophet’s words. People We open our hearts to the light of justice, and ask for help to create a just world. Leader We light a third candle to remind us of Mary, who proclaimed the greatness of God with us. People We open our hearts to our own lights, and ask for help to carry that light into the world. Leader We light a fourth candle to remind us that visions and hope may still light our way. People We open our hearts to light from heaven, and ask for help to believe bravely in our dreams. Leader All of our waiting is a waiting for God. People God of our hearts, we wait for you alone. Priest We are waiting, O God, for the day of peace. Give us the will to bring that day through our own simple goodness and hope. Fill us with patient desire, that our work may be holy, and our holiness bright, through the One for whose coming we long, and the Spirit in whose presence we live. Amen. 2 ENTRANCE HYMN OPENING Led by Anthony Turner Verses 5-8 today A BIDDING PRAYER Beloved, let it be our care and delight to hear again this Advent time the message of the angels: to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, and with the shepherds and the wise men adore the Child lying in his Mother’s arms. But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world, for peace and justice on earth, for goodwill over all the earth and a wise stewardship by each 3 nation and each person; for our own country; for our city or town, state or province; and in particular for The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Com- munion; for our Presiding Bishop, Michael; for all of our bishops, deacons, priests and laypeople who minister in Christ’s name. And let us at this time remember with him the poor and the homeless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick in body and in mind, and all who mourn; the lonely and rejected; the aged and the little children; and all who do not know the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us also remember before God all those who rejoice with us upon anoth- er shore and in a greater light, that multitude whose hope was in the Word made flesh: and let us pray that we may be counted with them among the communion of saints, living in unity and fellowship with all God’s people and giving reverence to all that God has made. Finally, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and that whole multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in Jesus, we are one for evermore. The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of ev- erlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen. FIRST LESSON Reader A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH [31:31-34]. The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the cove- nant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People Thanks be to God. Traditional “Deep River” Larry Marshall & Mary Wooten 4 SECOND LESSON Reader A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH [42:10-18]. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the in- habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the tops of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the coastlands. The Lord goes forth like a soldier, like a warrior he stirs up his fury; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbage; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame— those who trust in carved images, who say to cast images, “You are our gods.” Listen, you that are deaf; and you that are blind, look up and see! Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People Thanks be to God. “Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming” Ingvild Waerhaug THIRD LESSON Reader A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH [66:7-11]. Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor she delivered her children. Shall I open the womb and not deliver? says the Lord; shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her— that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People Thanks be to God. 5 Traditional “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy“ Marie Dupre FOURTH LESSON Reader A READING FROM THE BOOK OF LUKE [1:46-55]. And Mary* said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his ser- vant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People Thanks be to God. Lanny Wolfe “No Room“ Jeannine Otis FIFTH LESSON Reader A READING FROM THE BOOK OF LUKE [2:1-14]. In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.