Dec. 13, 2020 | Third Sunday of Advent

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Other family members: Thanks be to God.

Leader: Let us pray.

Jesus, you are joy even in the saddest times. Help us to praise you when we are upset or grieving. Shine joy into our hearts we pray. Amen.

Three candles are lighted.

Opening Song: Canticle of the Turning My soul cries out with a joyful shout That the God of my heart is great

And my spirit sings of the Wondrous things That you bring to the ones who wait

You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight And my weakness you did not spurn

So from east to west shall my name be blest Could the world be about to turn?

My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn

Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn!

Though I am small, my God, my all, you Work great things in me

And your mercy will last from the Depths Of the past to the end of the age to be Your very name puts the proud to shame And to those who would for you yearn You will show your might

Put the strong to flight

For the world is about to turn

My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn

Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn!

Celebrant         Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People             And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

The Collects

A Reading from the prophet Isaiah The Song of Mary, the Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading from First Thessalonians Gospel song                        O come, O come, Emmanuel

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Cathy: The Sermon

A period of silence follows the sermon.

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: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. 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. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He 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.

The Prayers of the People

Response: Come, O Lord, and save us.

The Confession

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.

The Absolution The Peace

Holy Communion: Eucharistic Prayer B The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.      We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.….

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, 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.

…Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

The Lord’s Prayer

The Breaking of Bread and the Invitation

Music at Communion Christ be our light O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar!

Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness Longing for truth, we turn to You.

Make us Your own, Your holy people Light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Post-Communion Prayer

Christ, be our light!

Shine in Your church gathered today. Many the gift, many the people Many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another Making Your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!

Shine in Your church gathered today.

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin. Amen.

May the Christ whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the holy and undivided Trinity, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Closing O for a thousand tongues to sing

Oh for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise The glories of my God and King The triumphs of His grace

My gracious Master and my God Assist me to proclaim To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of Thy name

Jesus! the name that charms our fears That bids our sorrows cease ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears ’Tis life and health and peace