Prepare ye the way…
The Advent of Christ
The Sixth Sunday of Advent: December 13, 2020
• 1 • The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Prelude The Word of God
The Opening Acclamation Celebrant We wait in the darkness, O God, for the coming of your Christ. All A Light no darkness can overcome. We long, O God, for the coming of your reign. Let us walk in the light of your promise.
The Opening Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 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 fight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
The Collect for Purity Celebrant Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. All Amen.
The Celebrant lights the Advent candle.
The Trisagion Hymnal #S102 ALEXANDER ARCHANGELSKY
• 2 • The Collect of the Day The Celebrant says to the people The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, in your resurrection you appeared as the Morning Star that knows no setting: Dawn upon the darkness of the human heart so that the deathly orders of this world may be overcome and your whole creation made new; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 A reading from book of the prophet Isaiah. he spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the T oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their ofspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
After the Reading, the reader says The Word of the Lord. or Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People Thanks be to God.
The Response Holy is Your Name JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT Refrain: And holy, holy, holy is your name.
• 3 • The Second Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. ejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for R you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
After the Reading, the reader says The Word of the Lord. or Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People Thanks be to God.
All stand The Gospel Acclamation Come Now, O God TEXT BY DAVID BJORLIN
The Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28 Reader The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
here was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might T believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Reader The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. • 4 • The Sermon
A period of silence is kept.
All stand.
The Creed (sung by all) FREU DICH SEHR
• 5 • The Prayers of the People written by Emily Williams Gufey, refrain by James J. Chepponis
Refrain
Leader Creator of the stars of night, which keep watch when our own faith is dim: Awaken hope and kindle our longing for your return.
Leader Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set your people free: Release us from our sins and fears, that we may live in your light and truth.
Leader O come, Desire of nations: bind in one the hearts of humankind. Dissolve our sad divisions, and strengthen us to work for peace.
Leader Comfort all who sit in the darkness of illness, grief, or distress, especially those we now name:
(all are invited to ofer, aloud or silently, names of those in need)
Speak to them your peace, which passes all understanding.
Leader Welcome into your glory those we love but see no longer, especially those we now name:
(all are invited to ofer, aloud or silently, names of those who have died)
May light perpetual shine upon them, bright as sun and moon together.
Leader With the angels who announce your coming with shouts of joy, let us name the blessings of our lives:
(all are invited to ofer, aloud or silently, prayers of thanksgiving)
You have lifted up our lowliness in many marvelous ways.
Refrain
Celebrant Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign, one God for ever and ever. People Amen.
• 6 • The Confession of Sin The Celebrant says Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept.
All 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 with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors 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. Celebrant Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. All Amen.
The Peace The Celebrant says to the people The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.
Then the Ministers and People greet one another in the name of the Lord
The Holy Communion
The Ofertory Hymn Prepare the Way of the Lord TAIZÊ
• 7 • The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer B All standing, the Celebrant says The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
All GRAYSON WARREN BROWN
• 8 • Celebrant We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made fesh, Jesus, your Son.
For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said,
“Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said,
“Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
All We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;
Celebrant And we ofer our sacrifce of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifce, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctifed by the Holy Spirit.
In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the frstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrant As our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
• 9 • The Breaking of the Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
The Fraction Anthem Come Now, O Prince of Peace BY GEONYONG LEE
The Celebrant says the following Invitation: These are the gifts of God, and we are the people of God.
The Communion All are invited to receive communion.
• 10 • The Communion Hymn Be Thou My Vision SLANE
Following communion, a period of silence is kept.
• 11 • The Prayer Afer Communion from “A New Zealand Prayer Book” Celebrant Let us pray. All Most loving God, creator and redeemer, we give you thanks for this foretaste of your glory. Through Christ, with all your saints, we ofer ourselves and our lives to your service. Send us out in the power of your Spirit, to stand with you in your world. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the servant, our friend and our brother.
The Blessing and Announcements
A Prayer for the Search Committee Celebrant Let us pray. All O Eternal God, the foundation of all wisdom and the source of all inspiration: Enlighten with your grace the Rector Search Committee of this congregation; and so rule their minds, open their hearts, and guide their deliberations, that in their work they may seek your glory and promote the mission of your Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
• 12 • The Closing Hymn Lo He Comes
The Dismissal Priest Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The Postlude
• 13 • All music printed with permission under OneLicense #A-704768 THE ADVENT OF CHRIST is a time of patient waiting for the coming of Christ. Most familiar is the countdown to Christmas – the coming of Christ to humanity as a newborn baby. But Advent also focuses on the coming of Christ at the end of time. As T. S. Eliot says in Little Gidding, “What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning.” We believe that the future is already here. Christ reigns among us even today, being made known in Word and preaching, bread and wine, water and oil, prayer, song, and in one another – this community. In Advent we celebrate all these things.
So it is also with our liturgical year. What is the end is really the beginning. For that reason, All Saints’ will be joining an ever-widening circle of Christians who are reclaiming the ancient practice of beginning Advent immediately after All Saints’ Day. Instead of four weeks prior to Christmas, our Advent will embrace seven weeks, allowing us time to be immersed in these images of Christ’s presence among us.
During these weeks, the Advent wreath hangs over the altar, its circle reminding us of the eternity of God, who knows no end, nor beginning. A new candle is lighted around the altar each week as we approach Christmas, as a sign among us of the light of Christ’s presence.
Advent liturgy and music assist us to enter this counter-cultural time together. While the world, at least in “normal years,” is in a furry of holiday activity, we set aside some brief moments to wait, to be still and silent, to breathe in the mystery of Christ living among us here and now today. Reminding us of this refective time in the church’s year, much of our music this season is in a minor key, but is never mournful. These are balanced, however, with songs of hope and joy, light and action. Advent calls on us to follow God’s lead in turning the world upside down.
• 14 •
Community Prayer List
For those who sufer in mind, body, or spirit, especially for Arthur Bowers, Scott Weidler, Penny Lumsden, Sally Hanes, Charlie, Mark Quigley & Maya Gillerman, Sean, Charlie, Nora, Dave Pascoe, Candi Pascoe, Stella Pascoe, Walter Eisin, Roshni Mathew, and for those whose hurt, burdens, and fears go unspoken. For those on our long-term prayer list: Nina Chinn, Jim Crandall, Juleigh Ruby, Stephen Moriarty, Peg Deppe, Lionel Edes, and Kay Victorson. For all those on the front line of this pandemic. For our brothers and sisters in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Renk, Sudan, and throughout Latin America and East Africa. For those who celebrate birthdays this week 12/13 - Nicola Stevens-Contey 12/14 - Spencer Daas, Travis Haughton, Prince Stokes, Anton Youngberg 12/15 - Phoebe Edstrom, Virginia Eisele, Heather Summers 12/16 - Alison Becker 12/17 - Teo Flores, Colby Maddox 12/18 - Eric Futran, Beth Morgan, Thomas Ruby 12/19 - Kim Belton For those who celebrate anniversaries this week 12/17 - Jessica Anne and Kurt Chiang 12/18 - Aubrey Schefey and Chris Schilling 12/19 - Carol Reese and Jeanne Wirpsa For those who have died Especially for George Port and Charlotte "Chuckie" Laconetti. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Church Staf
Interim Rector Associate Rector The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Applegate The Rev. Andrew Rutledge [email protected] [email protected]
Director of Operations Director of Music Andrew Freeman Colin Collette [email protected] [email protected]
Children’s Formation Director Priest Associate Polly Tangora The Rev. Courtney Reid [email protected]
www.allsaintschicago.org | 4550 N. Hermitage Ave. Chicago,• 15 • IL 60640 | 773.561.0111 | [email protected]