The Great O Antiphons: A Service for Advent 1
Opening Prayer
The Spirit and the church cry out:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
All those who await his appearance pray:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The whole creation pleads:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
A candle burns, the first marker of our Advent journey.
As we set out, may we travel full of hope.
As we set out, God of journeys, let your hope travel with us.
Opening Hymn – O Come, O Come Emmanuel
The First Antiphon: O Wisdom!
O Wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, you reign over all things to the ends of the earth: come and teach us how to live.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Sapientia by Malcolm Guite
I cannot think unless I have been thought
Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken;
I cannot teach except as I am taught
Or break the bread except as I am broken.
O Mind behind the mind through which I seek,
O Light within the light by which I see,
O Word beneath the words with which I speak,
O founding, unfound Wisdom, finding me,
O sounding Song whose depth is sounding me,
O Memory of time, reminding me,
My Ground of Being, always grounding me,
My Maker’s Bounding Line, defining me:
Come, hidden Wisdom, come with all you bring,
Come to me now, disguised as everything.
A brief silence for reflection
The Readings
A Reading from the Book of Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence –
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil –
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
and do not remember iniquity forever.
Now consider, we are all your people.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be the God.
Psalm 80.1-7, 16-18
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn – Magnificat
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 13.24-37
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
“But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Guest speaker - Joan Merton
May the words that are written here and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope, a word that is living in all of our hearts right now. Our hope is in God, and in his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge over all things. He is the one through whom God has promised to save and redeem his people.
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds”. As we begin our journey in Advent this vivid imagery clearly pictured the messianic hope of the early church. The exalted Jesus was to return in glory. This message of expectation is found again and again in the New Testament, as a generation waited for the coming of the Lord. It is impossible to miss this message from Matthew to Revelation.
Has the sound died out? It appears that multitudes of Christians no longer look for the coming of Christ in such a literal fashion. Today we look for a world of wonders that science and industry will provide.
A short rather dated quote in the Interpreter’s Bible says, “We are kept in a state of nervous excitement with prophecies of a world of tomorrow, a paradise of chromium and ceramics, of helicopters and television, of egg-shaped automobiles and layer cake houses, of skyscrapers made of glass and clothing made of soy beans! What a trade! Heaven for earth, God for gadgets, the coming of Christ in the life of the world for the coming of a salesman’s paradise!”
Yes the heavens of Jesus’ time and later times have passed away. The old earth has passed away but the words of Jesus have not passed away. They are as clear and pertinent today as they were two thousand years ago.
“Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13: 33) Earlier in the passage the response that Jesus gives on Mount Olivet indicates that signs of the impending tribulation and destruction of the temple will be pervasive. Will the center of religious life be destroyed, when will it be destroyed and what happens when the temple is destroyed? These are questions that not only the early church had but questions that prevail today.
Then the year 2020 arrives and with it a devastating pandemic begins to spread over the entire earth. In March our church like many other churches closed to in-person worship. To many people it must have seemed like the destruction of the temple was happening even though buildings remained intact. It gave us time to realize that church was not the building and that God is not and will not always be where we expect to find God. We find God in everything it means to be human.
The things we enjoyed at church were taken from us; prayers, hymns, music, the Eucharist, hugs, dear friends and coffee time all disappeared. Clergy had to scramble to find other ways to be church that did not involve gathering in a building and they did. Thankfully they continue to find new ways to be the church every day.
There are so many virtual church services available every Sunday and even an evening prayer service Monday to Friday. Meetings continue via Zoom and once you have attended a couple of Zoom meetings you begin to get comfortable with that technology. It is so nice to hear someone’s voice that you haven’t heard for a while and to see their smiling face without a mask even if it is on a computer screen.
Although we have lost many things because of the virus we need to remember that in the midst of it all, the call to watch, wait, and work remains! May we all hold on to the HOPE that was given to us by Christ as we continue through 2020 awaiting science to refine a vaccine that will hopefully allow us to return to normal in the near future.
As the star of hope rises in this season, let it penetrate the darkness that is ours and make us ready to receive the glad news that unto us a Saviour is born! Amen
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say the Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God,
the Creator, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
the only Child of God,
eternally begotten of the Creator,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in being with the Creator:
Through the Redeemer all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
Jesus Christ the Redeemer
came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human.
For our sake Jesus was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
suffered, died and was buried,
and, on the third day, rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures,
ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus Christ will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and the Reign of God will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Sanctifier, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from God the Creator
and Jesus Christ the Redeemer,
who with the Creator and the Redeemer,
is worshipped and glorified
and 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.
The Prayers of the People
Watchful at all times, let us pray for strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer. That God may bring in a kingdom with justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That God may establish among the nations a sceptre of righteousness,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That we may seek Christ in the Scriptures and recognize him in the breaking of the bread,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That God may bind up the brokenhearted, restore the sick, and raise up all who have fallen,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That the light of God’s coming may dawn on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That, with all the saints in light, we may shine forth as lights for the world,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
We commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of our heavenly God.
Silence
Almighty God,
as your blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ
first came to seek and to save the lost;
so may he come again to find in us
the completion of his redeeming work;
for he is now alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends in Christ,
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to the table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Silence
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 neighbour 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 might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God will speak peace to his people, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Offertory Hymn – Just As I Am (BCP #615)
Prayer over the Gifts
**Although not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would encourage you to set your offering of money aside so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services resume, to mail your offering to the church, or to make donations online. Please remember ministry is still taking place.
Let us pray.
Gracious God, your word to us is food indeed. Receive all we offer you this day, and let your loving-kindness be our comfort, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your living Word. Amen.
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
And deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Doxology
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.
Blessing
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Almighty God bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Closing Hymn – Light of the World by Lauren Daigle
Dismissal
As we await our coming Saviour,
go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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