1

FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT: LOVE

Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord.

Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

The Almighty has done great things for us.

And Holy is his Name.

The Lord has mercy on those who fear him.

From generation to generation.

He continually shows His strength.

And scatters the proud in their conceit.

He casts the mighty from their thrones.

And lifts up the lowly.

He fills the hungry with good things.

The rich he sends away empty.

He comes to the help of His servant Israel.

He remembers His promise of mercy.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

Gracious and loving God, we remember before you all the nations of your world beseeching you to bring us peace.

Help us to renounce our selfish desires and turn our hearts toward one another. Guide our leaders. Bless our

institutions. Heal our sick. Help us to distribute food to all who hunger. Fulfill our hope and save us through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

2

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 20, 2020

10:00 a.m.

PRELUDE

OPENING ACCLAMATION (BCP p. 355)

The people standing, the Celebrant says

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

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR PURITY (BCP p. 355)

The Celebrant may say

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are

hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may

perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

HOLY GOD S 100

3

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY (BCP p. 357)

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus

Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and

reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

FIRST READING: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

The people sit.

A Reading from the Second book of Samuel.

1Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all

his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a

house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all

that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you.”

4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant

David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not

lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but

I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about

among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of

Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not

built me a house of cedar?” 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus

says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be

prince over my people Israel; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut

off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name

4

of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will

plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and

evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges

over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD

declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 16Your house and your kingdom

shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

Silence may follow.

PSALM 89:1-4, 19-26

Remain seated

1 Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing; *

from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.

2 For I am persuaded that your love is established for ever; *

you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens.

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; *

I have sworn an oath to David my servant:

4 'I will establish your line for ever, *

and preserve your throne for all generations.'"

19 You spoke once in a vision and said to your faithful people: *

"I have set the crown upon a warrior

and have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20 I have found David my servant; *

with my holy oil have I anointed him.

21 My hand will hold him fast *

and my arm will make him strong.

22 No enemy shall deceive him, *

nor any wicked man bring him down.

23 I will crush his foes before him *

and strike down those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and love shall be with him, *

and he shall be victorious through my Name.

5

25 I shall make his dominion extend *

from the Great Sea to the River.

26 He will say to me, 'You are my Father, *

SECOND READING: Romans 16:25-27

The people sit.

A Reading from Paul's letter to the Church in Rome.

25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation

of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long

ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the

Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of

faith—27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE Blessed be the God of Israel WLP 889

6

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38

All stand.

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

7

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called

Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!

The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what

sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you

have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you will name him Jesus.

32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will

give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob

forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can

this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon

you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born

will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old

age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be

barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your

word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

HOMILY The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Story

NICENE CREED (BCP p. 358)

All stand.

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,

8

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.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

All remain standing.

The Lord is glorious and exalted.

Lord, shine in our hearts and lives.

God's people are often in distress and sorrow.

Lord, show your might and deliver us from evil.

Lord, we do not always feel your presence.

Savior of the world, let your face shine on us.

9

The Lord is the shepherd of his people Israel.

Lord, lead us in our way and guide us in our walk.

In this Advent season we wait expectantly.

Emmanuel, invade our lives.

Based on Psalm 80:1—7

Harry Boonstra (hboonstr@calvin.edu) is former theological editor of RW and emeritus theological librarian of Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids,

Michigan. This prayer has been slightly modified from its original form.

CONFESSION OF SIN (BCP p. 359)

The Deacon or Celebrant says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept

Minister and People

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 Priest stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus

Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in

eternal life. Amen.

mailto:hboonstr@calvin.edu

10

PEACE

All stand.

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

ANTHEM Magnificat Charles Villiers Stanford

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His name.

And his mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations.

He has shewed strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of

their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He remembering His mercy hath holpen His servant Israel, as He promised to His

forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

SURSUM CORDA (BCP p. 367)

The People remain standing.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts.

People We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People It is right to give him thanks and praise.

11

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us

heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph

to judge the world, we may without shame or fear 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:

Celebrant and People

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.

The People stand or kneel.

The Celebrant continues

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to

us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the

prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days

you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the

world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you.

In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of

death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had

given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is

my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them,

and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for

you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the

remembrance of me.” Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

12

Celebrant and People

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,

We await his coming in glory;

The Celebrant continues

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to

you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be

the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your

Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy

Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us

to that heavenly country where, with [__________ and] all your saints, we may enter the

everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the

firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is

yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER (BCP p. 363)

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

People and Celebrant

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 forever. Amen.

13

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

COMMUNION How Great Thou Art LEVAS 60

14

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER (BCP p. 365)

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Lord God, we thank you for giving us our daily bread. Through the power of your Holy

Spirit, give us grateful hearts so that we may live generous lives. Strengthen us so that we

15

may choose to love one another with honor and respect. Encourage us so that we may

always offer you the best of what we have. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SOLEMN ADVENT PRAYER

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 he 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 Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you

and remain with you for ever. Amen.

16

CLOSING O come, O come, Emmanuel H 56

17

DISMISSAL

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People Thanks be to God.

CONCLUDING VOLUNTARY

18

MORNING PRAYERS

Deaths

Adam Hasenfratz

Virginia McCubbin

Illness and Other Problems

Lisa

Edith

Johnny

Alexis

Raye Lynn

The family of Adam Hasenfratz

Jimmy

Virginia

Michele

Tommy

Jeff

Mallory

Jason

The family of Virginia McCubbin

Church Families in the Cycle of Prayer

John and Elizabeth Bolt

Lisa and Heather Brunson-Elliott

School Families in the Cycle of Prayer

Robert and Rachel Burwell

John and Megan Cannon

In Thanksgiving for

Dr. Marc Gillinov and his team

Daily Sunday Prayer Rota

St. Matthew’s in Enid

Church of the Holy Spirit, Uruguay

A Prayer for Discernment

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with us as we consider

the renewal and mission of our congregation. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory.

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it, and the

grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.