Next Sunday Morning Service

Sunday, December 10, 2023
Second Sunday of Advent
Holy Eucharist

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The church bell is rung after the prelude.

Organ prelude selected and played by Karlaine Livingston

There will be a short period of silence before the service begins.

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Entrance Hymn (The Hymnal 1982)

This page will be updated during the week.

Presider: Blessed are you, holy and living One
People: You come to your people and set them free.

Presider: Let us pray.

Presider and people: 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.

Song of Praise 85 (Enriching Our Music 1)

Presider: God be with you.
People: And also with you.

Presider: Let us pray.

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent

Creator of the world, you are the potter, we are the clay, and you form us in your image. Shape our spirits by Christ’s transforming power, that as one people we may live out your compassion and justice, whole and sound in the realm of your peace.

Amen.

The First Reading - Isaiah 64:1-8

Reader: A reading from Isaiah

1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 2 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! 3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 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. 5 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.

6 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. 7 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. 8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 80

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; * shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us.

3 Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

4 O God of hosts, * how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; * you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved..

16 Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, * those whom you have made so strong for yourself.

17 And so will we never turn away from you, * give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

18 Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

The Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Reader: A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

People: Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn 637 (The Hymnal 1982)

The Holy Gospel - Mark 13:24-37

Reader: The Holy Gospel according to Mark

People: Glory to you, O Christ.

24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 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.

28 “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. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 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. 35 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, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Reader: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon: The Rev. Bruce L. MacDuffie

Nicene Creed

Presider and people: 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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, 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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Presider: Creator of the stars in the sky, the sun, and the moon, You are the light by which we wake and work.