First Week of Advent
**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
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 – Lord of All Hopefulness (BCP #506)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with
you all.
And
also with you.
Collect for Purity
The Trisagion
Collect of the Day (p.268)
Let us pray.
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which
your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility, that on the last day, when
he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Readings
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah 33.14-16
The days are surely
coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of
Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a
righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and
righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will
live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is
our righteousness.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be the God.
Psalm 25.1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
do
not let me be put to shame;
do
not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to
shame;
let
them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach
me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for
you are the God of my salvation;
for
you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your
steadfast love,
for
they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my
transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for
your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and
teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love
and faithfulness,
for
those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
A reading from the First Letter from Paul to
the Thessalonians 3.9-13
How can we thank God
enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of
you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and
restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and
Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make
you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound
in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may
be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all
his saints.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Gradual
Hymn – Wait for the Lord, Whose Day is Near (BCP
#94)
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke 21.25-36
Glory
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
“There will be signs
in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused
by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and
foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will
be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and
great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a
parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves
you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when
you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have
taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“Be on guard so that
your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the
worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a
trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be
alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these
things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.
How
many of you have found that time has been weird these last couple of years?
I
know I have. Cass and I often joke at home that time is meaningless now.
But
then, time has never really been very straightforward.
I
remember how, as a kid, school years would drag on, but summers would fly by.
When
something good was going to happen – like a sleepover at grandma’s, or my
birthday, or Christmas – it seemed like time would move so slowly.
Now,
well, it feels like time flies by. I blink and it’s like weeks have flown by.
As
an adult, there’s never enough time to get everything done, or with a loved
one, or with your children.
Time
might feel feather-light or brick-heavy, depending on whether it is a joyful
time or a dreadful time.
Even
in the Gospel readings throughout Advent, time is strange, going backwards,
with the narrative running in reverse order.
This
week, the end is where we start from, reflecting on the texts for the First
Sunday in Advent while living in the last week of the church year.
The
series of readings from Luke opens with the teaching of Jesus (shortly before
his death and resurrection in Jerusalem), followed by John’s prophecy in the
wilderness (prior to the beginning of Jesus’ adult ministry), and concluding
with Mary’s song (as she and Elizabeth celebrate the impending births of their
sons).
This
first week of Advent, marks the start of the new church calendar.
The
turning of the calendar year is often marked by reflection on what has been and
resolve for a new future.
The
kitchen calendar, one month to a page, each with squares waiting to be filled
in with the stuff of daily life, has a clear beginning and a clear ending.
On
December 31 the old calendar is taken down and on January 1 a new calendar
takes its place.
Changes
in the church’s calendar are not so abrupt – endings and beginnings flow into
one another, an ever-circling spiral of God-given times and seasons.
Jesus,
in Luke 21, reminds his followers that God is not constrained by the chronos
time represented by calendar and clock, the sort of time that keeps everything
from happening at once. In God’s kairos time, past and future are woven
together for the sake of today.
Today’s
passage contains many references to the future.
There
will be signs causing people to fear what is coming upon the world.
The
powers of the heavens will be shaken and people will see the Son of Humanity
coming in a cloud with power and glory.
All
these things will begin to take place and will come upon all who live on the
face of the earth.
Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
But
to whom does this future belong?
Judgment,
terrors, cosmic signs of the end times. This might seem like a strange way to
begin the season of Advent. After all, Advent is a time to prepare our hearts
in joyful anticipation of Christ’s birth.
How
can this apocalyptic end-time prophecy of Jesus coming “with power and great
glory” introduce Christians’ annual commemoration of Jesus coming as a helpless
infant?
Instead
of armies of angels as we have in the birth narrative, we hear of Jerusalem
surrounded by human armies bringing desolation.
During
Advent, we celebrate God-with-us – the Emmanuel who comes into the world. So why
preface this with talk of “fear and foreboding of what is coming on the world”?
What
does any of this have to do with Advent and Christmas?
Our
thoughts are already turned toward putting up the Christmas tree and decorating
our homes, and everywhere we go there are reminders that Christmas is coming.
Frankly,
on this first Sunday in Advent, we all would rather hear a message about Mary,
Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Why does the church encourage us to consider this passage
today?
Because
the church understands that many of us need a wake-up call at this time of
year. It is so easy to become distracted by the shopping, the stressful traffic
jams, and the endless parties that we miss out on the "peace on earth and
good will to all people."
We
forget to watch the time – too much time shopping, not enough time with family;
too much time rushing around, not enough time pausing and reflecting.
“Five
hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes – How do you measure, measure
a year?” In this song from Rent, the idea of measuring a year in the clockwork
passage of minutes gives way to more evocative measures – sunsets, cups of
coffee, laughter, even strife, and finally in “seasons of love.”
This
is how Paul measured his relationship with the Thessalonians – in abounding
love, deep affection, great joy, and a longing to be together.
It
is God who sustains us and who directs our way to one another. Paul’s word of
blessing to the Thessalonians is also ours, that we increase and abound in love
and that our hearts be strengthened in holiness as we anticipate the coming of
the Lord Jesus with all the saints.
As
the church year turns from last days to the anticipated coming of God among
God’s people the psalmist reminds us that nothing – past, present, or future – is
beyond our soul’s lifting up.
We
put our trust in the gracious and merciful God of our salvation, a God of
compassion, steadfast love, and faithfulness.
The
season of Advent is a spiritual wake-up call. Through the reading of the
scripture lessons, you can almost hear the alarm clock ringing.
Now,
not only does Advent try to wake us up, but it also invites us to look in two
directions – back upon the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and forward to Jesus'
return as he brings God's kingdom on earth to fulfillment.
Advent
is a season in which we remember that we are a people of hope.
We
are the Christmas people.
We
sing to Emmanuel because God is with us.
When
we sense that we are lost in the darkness, Advent reminds us that we are not
alone. The God of hope is with us.
Jesus
warns us not to get distracted by the worries of this world. Lift up your eyes
and look upward toward God because even in the midst of difficult times our
Lord comes to us.
Over
time, the celebration of Christmas has changed. What started out as a season of
hope and promise and joy and peace has turned into a time of stress, traffic
jams, and shopping lists.
As
we move into this Christmas season, let us not get so single-mindedly
over-preparing for Christmas that we forget God’s vision for the world – that
we don’t let time pass us by without pausing, reflecting, praying, and loving ourselves
and each other.
Gracious
God, for this season we are grateful. Wake us up. In the midst of the busy-ness
of this season, help us take the time to hear your voice, sense your presence,
worship you, and serve you in both word and deed.
Amen.
Special Hymn - Seasons of Love, from Rent - Listen Here
Affirmation of Faith
Let
us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say 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.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped 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
In joyful expectation let us pray to our Saviour and Redeemer, saying, “Lord Jesus come soon.”
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 Lord, and head of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and you gave the law on Sinai: come with outstretched arm and ransom us.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations, all kings will keep silence before you and all peoples will summon you to their aid: come, set us free and delay no more.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness: come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O King of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one: come and save the creature you fashioned from clay.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, Lord our God.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
Compassionate One, we look to the stormy sky of political unrest, help us to pay attention to the cries for mercy, peace and justice among us.
Come Holy Spirit Come!
Earth keeper, we look to the polluted sky of an ailing planet, help us pay attention to the ways we can mend and tend the earth, your creation.
Come Holy Spirit Come!
We pray for all those affected by floods not only in British Columbia but on our East Coast as well. We pray for the remaining hostages in Haiti, praying for a safe and immediate release. We pray for all areas of the world where there is war and conflict and for those countries experiencing high rates of Covid cases. This morning we pray for those who have asked our prayers.
Eternal God, forever a mystery to us, beyond human comprehension, inscrutable in Your ways. We long to penetrate Your mystery, understand Your ways, glimpse Your glory.
We dance around the edges of Your mystery, wondering if we can collect clues to Your Being, sense Your nature, imagine Your thoughts.
We hear the glad tidings of this season, announcing Your Advent to this world, Your self disclosure to our humanity, Your participation in our life experiences.
We want to believe and receive, but we like Mary, feel unworthy of such good news, and incapable of responding.
Guide us, O God, out of our darkness and doubt, as we confess our sins and need of You, as we wait in wonder and worship, as we sing the songs and pray the prayers of this season.
Come to us as Love, drawing us closer to You, and closer to each other.
Come to us as Life, born to us, in us, for us! 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 neighbours 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.
As we speak the truth of our lives, God who is
faithful and just, restores us and brings us home again and again.
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.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And
also with you.
Offertory
Hymn – Keening for the Dawn by Steve Bell
Prayer over the Gifts (p. 269)
**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.
God of love and power, your word stirs within us
the expectation of the coming of your Son. Accept all we offer you this day,
and sustain us with your promise of eternal life. We ask this in the name of
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This service was created for in-person worship. For those
worshiping on your own, you may either read the Eucharistic prayer, or skip
ahead to the Lord's Prayer.
Eucharistic Prayer 2 (p. 196)
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.
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and Redeemer.
He is your living Word,
through whom you have created all things.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
he took flesh of the Virgin Mary
and shared our human nature.
He lived and died as one of us,
to reconcile us to you,
the God and Father of all.
In fulfilment of your will
he stretched out his hands in suffering,
to bring release to those who place their hope
in you;
and so he won for you a holy people.
He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows,
and to give up his life on the cross,
that he might shatter the chains of evil and
death,
and banish the darkness of sin and despair.
By his resurrection
he brings us into the light of your presence.
Now with all creation we raise our voices
to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy and gracious God,
accept our praise,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who on the night he was handed over
to suffering and death,
took bread and gave you thanks,
saying, “Take, and eat:
this is my body which is broken for you.”
In the same way he took the cup,
saying, “This is my blood which is shed for
you.
When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”
Remembering, therefore, his death and
resurrection,
we offer you this bread and this cup,
giving thanks that you have made us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit
upon the offering of your holy Church.
Gather into one
all who share in these sacred mysteries,
filling them with the Holy Spirit
and confirming their faith in the truth,
that together we may praise you
and give you glory
through your Servant, Jesus Christ.
All glory and honour are yours,
Father and Son,
with the Holy Spirit
in the holy Church,
now and for ever.
Amen.
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to 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.
Breaking of the Bread
This is the body of Christ.
Behold what you are.
Become what you receive.
Amen.
Communion
This is the table of Christ. It is made ready
for those who love him, and for those who want to love him more. Come, whether
you have much faith or little, have tried to follow, or are afraid that you
have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will that those who want to meet him,
might meet him here.
These are the gifts of God for the People of
God.
Thanks
be to God.
Share
in the Eucharist
Prayer After Communion (p. 296)
As we have feasted around the table, let us
pray.
God for whom we wait, you have fed us with the
bread of eternal life. Keep us ever watchful, that we may be ready to stand
before the Son of man. We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen.
Doxology
Almighty God, we give you thanks that while we
are still far off, you met us in your Son and you brought us home. Dying and
rising, you restored us to life, gave us grace, and opened the way of Glory,
and so we say:
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
The peace of God, which passes all
understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and
of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of the Holy and Undivided
Trinity be with you and remain with you always, in the name of God, ☩ Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Closing Hymn – Eternal Father,
Strong to Save (BCP #567)
Dismissal
As
we await our coming Saviour,
go
in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
