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 flight. 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 offspring 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 • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 The Second Lesson 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 Guffey, 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 offer, 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 offer, 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 offer, 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 Offertory 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.