Welcome to worship at St Paul’s, Box Hill Sunday 20th December – Fourth Sunday of Advent 8.30am - Organ Worship at St Paul’s During the last step of restrictions • Book by Thursday morning. • Volunteers – please book early • Please book online No pre-registrations via our website: in January stpaulsboxhill.org.au Call the office for further information or assistance: 9899 0623 Prison Fellowship / Angel Tree 2020 THANK YOU! We have been able to supply gifts to ALL the children, but this was the easy part!
Please keep praying for these families, that they may receive the gift of faith, the gift of redemption and the promise of eternal life.
Freewill Offerings Four options for donating: • Offerings may be placed in the bowl during Communion • REG, through the LLL (direct debit or transfer) • Transfer to our St Paul’s account • Credit card (see our website)
See the Sunday Paper for more details, or contact the office.
Christmas Services - 2020 Thur 24 Dec (Registrations open Sat 12 Dec) Family Service 4.00pm & 5.30pm Lessons & Carols 7.00pm, 8.30pm and 10.00pm Midnight Mass 11.30pm (with HC) Fri 25 Dec Online service (YouTube) Sunday 27 Dec 9.30am (with HC) Thur 31 Dec 7.30pm on Zoom: Meditation & Fellowship Sunday 3 Jan (onwards) 8.30am & 10.30am (both with HC) Filming Notice This service will be streamed today, and also broadcast on CH31. Please speak with the ushers if you have any questions. Welcome to worship at St Paul’s, Box Hill Sunday 20th December – Fourth Sunday of Advent 8.30am - Organ Welcome
Worship is led by Pastor Neville Otto Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge that almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, has first given the land on which we meet today to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We thank God for the land’s traditional custodians, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. The Invocation In the name of the Triune God; † Father, † Son and † Holy Spirit. Amen. Advent Candle The Candle Lighting Song We light the advent candles against the summer bright, To welcome our Lord Jesus who is the world’s true light, To welcome our Lord Jesus who is the world’s true light. Four candles burning brightly Announce that Christ has come, Prepare my heart, believe it, And give the Christ child room, Prepare my heart, believe it, And give the Christ child room.
© Sue Westhorp Used by permission As light comes from these candles, may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us, warming our hearts and brightening our way. May Christ our Saviour bring life into the darkness of this world, and to us, as we wait for his coming. Amen. Opening Hymn Hark the glad sound TIS 269 (Tune: TIS 596) 1. Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long; let every heart prepare a throne and every voice a song. 4. He comes the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure, and with the treasures of his grace to enrich the humble poor. 6. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, your welcome shall proclaim, and heaven's exalted arches ring with your beloved name.
Philip Doddridge 1702-51 In the public domain The Confession of Sins Friends in Christ: Our Lord says: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’. So let’s confess our sins to God our Father, because Jesus Christ has come to forgive us our sins.
Please kneel or sit for the confession. The Confession of Sins Heavenly Father, we confess that we are born sinners, and can’t free ourselves from this bondage. Daily, we have sinned against you in our thoughts, in our words and in our actions, by what we have done, and what we have failed to do. … For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, please look on us with mercy. Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved. Amen. The Absolution … … Peace be with you. Amen.
Please share the peace with those around you. Advent Kyrie Saviour of the World Sue Westhorp Jesus, Saviour of the world, come in mercy, set us free, We look to you to help and save us. By your cross and precious blood, you redeemed your people, Lord. We look to you to help and save us. When you come in glory, Lord, make us to be one with you. We look to you to help and save us.
Words: © 1997 David Schubert Music: © 1997 Sue Collyer Used with permission The Greeting The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray for God to be with us: The Prayer of the Day Thank you, loving heavenly Father, for coming with power to the Virgin Mary and making her the mother of our Lord. Come to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we receive your saving word with open hearts and rejoice in our Saviour. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Especially for children The First Reading – 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 God's promise to David 1 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.” … 4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. … 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. … 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning … 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” Response This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm Canticle: Song of Mary
Cantor: My soul is praising the Lord my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
All: My soul is praising the Lord my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. He has looked with favour on his lowly servant; from this day all generations will call me blest The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name God has mercy on those who fear him from generation to generation My soul is praising the Lord my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour The Lord has shown strength with his arm and scattered the proud in their conceit casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly
My soul is praising the Lord my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty he has come to the aid of his servant Israel to remember his promise of mercy the promise he made to our forbears to Abram and his children forever My soul is praising the Lord my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour Sue Collyer Used with Permission The Second Reading – Romans 16:25-27 God reveals his age-long purpose in Jesus 25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. Response This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Alleluia Verse (John 1:9) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (Mary said:) Here am I, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Holy Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 God's call to Mary
The Holy Gospel according to Luke, chapter 1. Glory to you, O Lord. 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. … 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” … 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” … 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Response: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. The Address Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary in Fremington (CC BY-SA 4.0) Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary in Fremington (CC BY-SA 4.0) Mary makes an amazing response: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Every one of us can recognise times in life when we feel vulnerable. For example: • COVID-19 • Sickness & death • Separation • Challenge and trial • Great and rapid change • What else would you add? Growing Through Times of Change resource
St Paul’s Lutheran Church website: www.stpaulsboxhill.org.au/index.php/ resources/growing-through-times-of-change The Angel Gabriel comes to announce good news: Promise: sheer gift: promise from God … is it enough? Are God’s promises – his Word – enough for you? “You shall name him Jesus (Luke 1:31) for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21) He is “Immanuel which means ‘God with us” (Matt 1:23) And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14) For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
How do you respond? Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary in Fremington (CC BY-SA 4.0)
“May it be to me as you have said.” Dare we, in the midst of life, let the pregnant Word be planted in us? Dare we, in all our uncertainty and in all the opposition the world brings against our faith, ask God to be born in us today? O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel
The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy *catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
* or: Christian; ‘catholic’ here means ‘universal’ Hymn The angel Gabriel TIS 302
You may bring your freewill offering forward during communion. Thank you to those who have given their offering via REG / online. 1. The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; ’All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 2. ‘for known a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honour thee, thy Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold; most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria! 3. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, ’To me be as it pleased God,’ she said, ‘my soul shall laud and magnify his holy name’: most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 4. of her, Immanuel, the Christ was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say ’most highly favoured lady’, Gloria!
Basque Carol, paraphrased by Sabine Baring-Gould 1834-1924 The Offering Prayer Lord, just as Mary accepted the message from the angel, may we also hear your word with open hearts and rejoice in Christ our Saviour. Let this good news change our lives, always ready to serve you with all we are and all we have. Amen. Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS):
Hands of love in a world that hurts. The Prayer of the Church The Preface Holy, Holy, Holy (sung) Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The Words of Institution The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. The Peace The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen. Lamb of God (Polish Lullaby) Lamb of God, you take away our sins have mercy, mercy on us. Lamb of God, Redeemer of all, you take away the sins that bind us, you take away the sins that divide us. Give us peace. Welcome to guests with us today! Holy Communion is for baptised Christians. Lutherans confess that in this meal Christ gives us His true body and blood, through the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of sins. If you share these beliefs, you are invited to receive Holy Communion. Alternatively, you are very welcome to come forward to receive an individual blessing. The Distribution
You may bring your freewill offering forward during communion. Distribution Hymn Behold a Rose is growing TIS 294 1. Behold, a rose is growing, of loveliest form and grace, as prophets sang, foreknowing; it springs from Jesse’s race, and comes a perfect flower, in midst of coldest winter, at deepest midnight hour. 2. Isaiah had foretold it in words of promise sure, and Mary’s arms enfold it- a gentle maiden pure. Through God’s eternal will this child to her is given at midnight calm and still. 3. This rose, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendour the darkness everywhere. As human, yet true God, from sin and death he saves us and lightens every load. 4. O Saviour, child of Mary, you felt our human woe; O Saviour, King of glory, you all our weakness know. Lead us at last, we pray, to the full joys of heaven and into endless day. Anon., German, 15th cent. Tr. vv 1-3 Harriet Reynolds Spaeth 1845-1925 v.4 John Caspar Mattes (1914) alt. Vocal Duet A tender shoot Colin Davey A tender shoot has started up from a root of grace, as ancient seers imparted from Jesse’s holy race: It blooms without blight in the cold mid-winter, turning darkness into light This shoot Isaiah taught us, from Jesse’s root should spring; The Virgin Mary brought us the branch of which we sing; Our God of endless might gave her this child to save us Thus turning darkness into light. Colin Davey Otto Goldschmidt (1829-1907) tr. William Bartholomew (1793-1867)
The Dismissal Prayer of Thanksgiving God our Father, you fill the hungry with good things and send the self-satisfied away empty. In this holy meal you have filled us with the word and the bread of life of your Son Jesus Christ. … Make us hunger now for his coming into the hearts and the homes of all. Fill us with his spirit of service and self- forgetting love, that through us, he may become near to people. We ask this in his precious name. Amen. The Blessing The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favour, † and give you peace. Amen. Closing Sentences Go now, and celebrate God’s love all your days. Offer yourself as the servant of the Lord and allow God’s Word to be fulfilled in you. In the name of Christ. Amen. Closing Hymn Tell out my soul TIS 161 1. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. 2. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy name – the Lord, the Mighty One. 4. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children’s children Timothy Dudley Smith 1926- and for evermore! Based on Luke 1:46-55 © Hope Publishing Company, USA Thank you for worshipping with us! Please join us again.