The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22nd, 2024
You are welcome to print this liturgy at home and bring it with you on Sunday.
The Sentence of the Day
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. (Luke 1:45)
The Gathering of the People
In the name of God: Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life.
Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, the love at our beginning and without end, in our midst and with us.
God is with us, here we find new life.
Let us give thanks for the coming of God’s reign of justice and love.
Jesus Christ is good news for the poor, release for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind and liberty for those who are oppressed.
The Confession
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. I will confess my sins to the Lord, I will not conceal my wrongdoings.
Silence is kept.
God forgives and heals us.
We need your healing, merciful God: give us true repentance. Some sins are plain to us; some escape us, some we cannot face. Forgive us; set us free to hear your word to us; set us free to serve you.
The Absolution
God forgives you. Forgive others; Forgive yourself.
Silence is kept.
Through Christ, God has put away your sin: approach your God in peace.
Silent Processional
Song of Praise
Magnificat (arr. Rain for Roots)
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
For he who is mighty
Has done great things for me!
Holy, holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy is His name
The Collect of the Day
From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002)
Let us pray. O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Lord. May our hearts leap with joy and our mouths be filled with songs of praise to welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen.
The First Lesson Micah 5:2-5a
As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces,
one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you.
His origin is from remote times, from ancient days.
Therefore, he will give them up
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth.
The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
They will dwell secure,
because he will surely become great throughout the earth;
he will become one of peace.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 96
O sing to the Lord a new *song;
sing to the Lord, all the *earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his *name;
tell of his salvation from day to *day.
Declare his glory among the *nations,
his marvelous works among all the *peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be *praised;
he is to be revered above all *gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are *idols,
but the Lord made the *heavens.
Honor and majesty are before *him;
strength and beauty are in his *sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the *peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and *strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his *name;
bring an offering, and come into his *courts.
Worship the Lord in holy *splendor;
tremble before him, all the *earth.
Say among the nations, "The Lord is *king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be *moved.
He will judge the peoples with *equity."
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth re*joice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills *it;
let the field exult, and everything *in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for *joy
before the Lord; for he is *coming,
for he is coming to judge the *earth.
He will judge the world with *righteousness,
and the peoples with his *truth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the *Son,
and to the Holy *Spirit,
as it was in the be*ginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. A*men.
The Second Lesson Hebrews 10:5-10
Therefore, when he comes into the world he says,
You didn’t want a sacrifice or an offering,
but you prepared a body for me;
you weren’t pleased with entirely burned offerings or a sin offering.
So then I said,
“Look, I’ve come to do your will, God.
This has been written about me in the scroll.”
He says above, You didn’t want and you weren’t pleased with a sacrifice or an offering or with entirely burned offerings or a purification offering, which are offered because the Law requires them. Then he said, Look, I’ve come to do your will. He puts an end to the first to establish the second. We have been made holy by God’s will through the offering of Jesus Christ’s body once for all.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Magnificat (arr. Rain for Roots)
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
The Gospel Reading Luke 1:39-45
+ This is the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Gospel Acclamation
Magnificat (arr. Rain for Roots)
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
My soul magnifies the Lord
My spirit rejoices in God
Homily Rev. Danny Bryant
A Creed from the United Church of Canada
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
The Prayers of the People
adapted from the Church of Scotland
In the promise which is everywhere about us
Hold us, God.
In the longing for a new world and new living
Cradle us, God.
In the need to see Advent’s revelation in our world
Direct us, God.
In the silence of memories that haunt us
Comfort us, God.
In the hunger for justice that aches in us
Feed us, God.
In the yearning for love in each of our days
Reassure us, God.
In the setting out of truth in our political world
Aid us, God.
In the call for peace in our weary world
Hear us, God.
In the search for healing in our broken world
Find us, God.
In the gathering round the table
Gather with us, God.
In the breaking of bread and spilling of wine
Share with us, God.
In the community of faith
Reveal yourself, God.
And now we pray for ourselves and for others:
You may add your own prayers, silently or aloud.
In the name of Christ we pray:
Amen.
The Peace
The peace of God be with you all.
In God’s justice is our peace.
Song of Preparation
Mercy For All (Joseph Bradshaw)
When Joseph of Judah first heard the news
That his wife’s baby boy was the king of the Jews
He thought long and hard and decided to go
Till the angel of God came to him and said, “No”
So Joe packed his bag and his new wife, Mary
And those two that left town would come back to town three
The third was the child who could set us all free
From the migrants down south to the rich shining sea
He has pulled down the princes, exalted the low
Fed the hungry good things, said the rich had to go
He called up on Peter, and he called up on Paul
He said mercy’s upon us, yes mercy for all
He called out to Simon, “Come fishing with me”
Did he carry a net, pole or water for three?
Still, Peter he came—except those hours before dawn
When he passed up the buck, as our man, he passed on
Struck down mighty Saul, “Son, stop using my name.
All this killing you’re doing, you’re doing in vain.
So I’m making you blind, cause I think you can tell:
All this killing you’re doing is giving me hell.”
He has pulled down the princes, exalted the low
Fed the hungry good things, said the rich had to go
He called up on Peter, and he called up on Paul
He said mercy’s upon us, yes mercy for all
Could you ever believe that this was the way
That the Lord up above chose to make his big play?
Not by sending an army or ship down from Mars
But a small baby boy who was born neath the stars
He has pulled down the princes, exalted the low
Fed the hungry good things, said the rich had to go
He called up on Peter, and he called up on Paul
He said mercy’s upon us, yes mercy for all
Mercy’s upon us, yes mercy for all
Mercy’s upon us, yes mercy for all
Presentation Hymn
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
About Communion
On the night Jesus washed his disciples feet and promised to overcome the troubles of this world, he gave his friends a meal to remember their belonging to him and to one another. Friends of Jesus have continued to celebrate this communion meal since that night, and this table is open to all who desire the belonging and peace of Christ.
Gluten free wafers and grape juice are available if you have those health needs. An usher will invite you to approach the kneelers to receive the meal. If for any reason you’re not prepared to join us, you’re welcome to remain in your seat. If coming to the front is physically difficult for you, please let an usher know and the elements will be brought to you. If you’d like to come up and simply receive a blessing, you can put your arms across your chest and a prayer of peace will be prayed over you.
The Great Thanksgiving
from the New Zealand Prayerbook
The Spirit of God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to heaven
where Christ in glory reigns.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.
It is right indeed to give you thanks most loving God, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the first born from the dead, the pioneer of our salvation, who is with us always, one of us, yet from the heart of God. For with your whole created universe, we praise you for your unfailing gift of life. We thank you that you make us human and stay with us even when we turn from you to sin.
God’s love is shown to us: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In that love, dear God, righteous and strong to save, you came among us in Jesus Christ, our crucified and living Lord. You make all things new. In Christ’s suffering and cross you reveal your glory and reconcile all peoples to yourself, their true and living God. We give you thanks because Christ the Sun of Righteousness has dawned as our deliverance, and as your power to renew the world in love and justice.
In your mercy you are now our God. Through Christ you gather us, new-born in your Spirit, a people after your own heart. We entrust ourselves to you, for you alone do justice to all people, living and departed.
Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.
Therefore with saints and martyrs, apostles and prophets, with all the redeemed, joyfully we praise you and say:
Holy, holy, holy: God of mercy, giver of life; earth and sea and sky and all that lives, declare your presence and your glory.
All glory to you, Giver of life sufficient and full for all creation. Accept our praises, living God, for Jesus Christ, the one perfect offering for the world, who on the night that he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this to remember me.
After supper he took the cup; 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, to forgive sin. Do this as often as you drink it to remember me.
Therefore, God of all creation, in the suffering and death of Jesus our redeemer, we meet you in your glory. We lift up the cup of salvation and call upon your name. Here and now, with this bread and wine, we celebrate your great acts of liberation, ever present and living in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come.
Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
May Christ ascended in majesty be our new and living way, our access to you, Father, and source of all new life. In Christ we offer ourselves to do your will.
Empower our celebration with your Holy Spirit, feed us with your life, fire us with your love, confront us with your justice, and make us one in the body of Christ with all who share your gifts of love.
Through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Creator God. Amen.
As Christ teaches us, we pray:
The Lord’s Prayer
You are welcome to pray in any language.
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. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre, venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre. Amén.
The Breaking of the Bread
The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We being many are one body, for we all share in one bread.
The Invitation
Bread and wine; the gifts of God for the people of God.
May we who share these gifts be found in Christ and Christ in us.
Communion Music
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the king of angels;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the father, now in flesh appearing.
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times did'st give the Law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
The Great Silence
When all have received communion, ministers and people keep silence for reflection.
Prayer After Communion
Let us pray.
We praise and thank you, Creator God, for you have not left us alone. Each year you come to us, Emmanuel, God with us in a manger. Each time you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share. In time or out of time you will be revealed and we shall see you face to face. Give us courage, God our strength, to see your Christ in all who suffer, to be hands to the helpless, food for the hungry, and rescue for the oppressed. Amen.
The Blessing
The Recessional
Come Light Our Hearts (Sandra McCracket)
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
Truly our hope is in you, truly our hope is in you
O Lord of life, our only hope
Your radiance shines
On all who look to you in the dark, Emmanuel, come
Come light our hearts
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
Truly our hope is in you, truly our hope is in you
O joy above all other loves
In you we find more than enough
We come as we are, O heal and restore
Come light our hearts
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
For you, O Lord our souls in stillness wait
Truly our hope is in you, truly our hope is in you
Truly our hope is in you
The Dismissal
Grace be with you.
Thanks be to God.
Go in peace.
Amen. We go in the name of Christ.