Monday, December 8, 2014

Order for the Eucharist on Advent 3 (14 December 2014)

The Third sunday of Advent
14 December 2014

The Gathering of the Community

Introductory Responses

Arise, shine, our light is coming;
the glory of the Lord is rising upon us.
Though night still covers the earth
and darkness covers the nations,
over us will the Lord arise,
over us will the glory of God appear.

Seasonal Processional Hymn

‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’  Common Praise #89 vv. 1, 6, 7

Collect

During the Collect the Advent Wreath is lit.

Let us pray.

O God of Isaiah and John the Baptist,
through all such faithful ones
you proclaim the unfolding of future joy and renewed life.
Strengthen our hearts to believe your advent promise
that we will walk in the way of Christ,
whose coming is certain and whose day draws near.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (61.1-4, 8-11).

            The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the 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 favour, 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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 126 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

1  When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
            then were we like those who dream.
2  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
            and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, *
            ”The Lord has done great things for them.”

Refrain:  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

3  The Lord has done great things for us, *
            and we are glad indeed.
4  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
            like the watercourses of the Negev.
5  Those who sowed with tears *
            will reap with songs of joy.
6  Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
            will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Refrain:  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

The Second Reading

A Reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (5.16-24).

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for 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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘Comfort, Comfort Ye My People’  Common Praise #106

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (1.6-8, 19-28).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might 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 [Jewish authorities] 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.

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

The Homily

An Affirmation of Faith

We are called to proclaim the truth and let us believe:

It is not true that this world
and its people are doomed to die and to be lost.
This is true:  I have come that they may have life
in all its abundance.

It is not true that we must accept
inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty,
death and destruction.
This is true:  The deaf hear, the dead are raised to life,
the poor are hearing the good news.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word
and that war and destruction have come to stay forever.
This is true:  Death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more.

It is not true that we are simply victims
of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world.
This is true:  The Lord whom we seek
will suddenly come to the temple;
and the Lord is like a refining fire.

It is not true that our dreams of liberation, of human dignity,
are not meant for this earth and for this history.
This is true:  It is already time for us to wake from sleep.
For the night is far gone, the day is at hand. [ii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Hark, a Herald Voice Is Sounding’  Common Praise #108

Prayer over the Gifts

God of abundance,
we bring before you
the precious fruits of your creation,
and with them our very lives.
Teach us patience and hope
as we care for all those in need
until the coming of your Son,
our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [iii]

Thanksgiving at the Table

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 our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who in the fullness of time came among us in our flesh,
and opened to us the way of salvation.
Now we watch for the day when he will come again
in power and great triumph to judge this world,
so that we, without shame or fear,
may 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. [iv]

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. [v]

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember
your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us.  Bless this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

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.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen. [vii]

The Breaking of the Bread

God of promise,
you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.
Happy are those who are called
to the supper of the Lamb. [viii]

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘Creator of the Stars of Night’  Common Praise #96

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

God for whom we wait,
in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day
when the hungry will be fed with good things.
Send us forth to make known your deeds
and to proclaim the greatness of your name,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [ix]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘When the King Shall Come Again’  Common Praise #109

Dismissal

The Deacon sends the People forth with an appropriate Dismissal.


[i] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Advent 1 to the Baptism of Christ’ (Year B), 2.
 [ii] Alan Boesak as quoted by Janet Morley, ed., Bread for Tomorrow:  Prayers for the Church Year (1992), 31.
 [iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64 alt.
 [iv] The Book or Alternative Services (1985), 219 alt.
 [v] Common Praise #722.
 [vi] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 110.
 [vii] Common Praise #744.
 [viii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 212.
 [ix]
Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65 alt.

No comments: