THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Sermon by Pastor Dan
Liturgy led by Deacon Alan & Barbara
Lessons read by Barrie
Prayers of the People led by Deacon Alan
Announcements with Chuck
OPENING Hymn | THE FIRST NOEL
Verse 1
The first Noel, the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Chorus
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Verse 2
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Chorus
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
(REPEAT X 3)
Born is the King of Israel
© Words & Music: Public Domain
CCLI Song # 31047 – License # 3056976
The Invitatory
OPENING SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
Therefore stay awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning — lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
MARK 13:35-36
CONFESSION OF SIN
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Grant your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be always with you;
And with your spirit.
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Psalm 126 (New Coverdale Psalter)
When the Lord overturned the captivity of Zion,
then were we like those who dream.
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.”
Indeed, the Lord has done great things for us already,
whereof we rejoice.
Overturn our captivity, O Lord,
as when streams refresh the deserts of the south.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with songs of joy.
He who goes on his way weeping and bears good seed
shall doubtless come again with joy,
and bring his sheaves with him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
THE FIRST LESSON | Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13 (NKJV)
The First Lesson is taken from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 29:
Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were carried away captive — to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. […]
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters — that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
This is the Word of The Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle
The Magnificat | Luke 1:46-55
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
For he that is mighty has magnified me, and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him, throughout all generations.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the humble and meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He, remembering his mercy, has helped his servant Israel,
as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and his seed forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
THE SECOND LESSON | 2 Corinthians 4:5-18 (NKJV)
The Second Lesson is taken from Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians:
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This is the Word of The Lord.
Thanks be to God.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Prayers & Collects
The Lord be with you;
And with your spirit.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And 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 forever. Amen.
O Lord, show Your mercy upon us;
And grant us Your salvation.
O Lord, guide those who govern us;
And lead us in the way of justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
And make Your chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save Your people;
And bless Your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord;
And defend us by your mighty power.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And take not your Holy Spirit from us.
The Third Sunday In Advent
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE SECOND COLLECT, FOR PEACE
O God, the source of all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: Give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments, and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
THE THIRD COLLECT, FOR AID AGAINST ALL PERILS
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE GOSPEL | John 3:22-30 (NKJV)
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John, Chapter 3, beginning at the twenty-second verse.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified — behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
Pastor Daniel Endresen
Offertory Hymn | O Little Town of Bethlehem
Verse 1
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
Verse 2
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep
The angels keep their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
Verse 3
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in
Verse 4
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
© Words: Public Domain
CCLI Song # 2590723 – License # 3056976
Offerings
Send in your Offerings either by mail or Interac e-Transfer. Please refer to our weekly e-mail Parish Bulletin for detailed instructions.
The Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him all creatures here below,
Praise him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concluding Prayers
A PRAYER OF GENERAL THANKSGIVING
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
A PRAYER OF SAINT CHRYSOSTOM
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
THE GRACE
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Closing HYMN | O Holy Night
Verse 1
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Chorus
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night
O night divine
Verse 2
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Chorus
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night divine, O night divine
Adolphe Charles Adam | John Sullivan Dwight | Placide Cappeau
© Words & Music: Public Domain
CCLI Song # 32015 – License # 3056976
THE DISMISSAL
Now go in peace to love and serve The Lord.
Thanks be to God! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Please scroll down for a link to our ZOOM meeting, which will start at 3:15 PM.
PRAYER CHAPEL | 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Between the service and the ZOOM Fellowship meeting, you can call the following people for personal support and prayer. Their phone numbers are included in Deacon Alan’s weekly parish e-mail.
Do & Barrie
Pat & Sybil
Deacon Alan & Barbara
FELLOWSHIP & Advent Wreath Candle Lighting
ZOOM VIDEO MEETING
Catch up with us on ZOOM from 3:15 PM to 4:15 PM. Once you click on the link below, you will have the option to download the app on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Don’t have a microphone attached to your computer? You can watch the video on your PC and have the audio go through your regular phone.
If you would like to join by phone, call: (438) 809-7799
and dial the information below when prompted.
MEETING ID: 155 914 758
PASSWORD: 827461
New here? We’d like to Connect with you!
Or contact us directly by phone:
Pastor Dan
(514) 694-5544
Deacon Alan
(438) 406-4165