Worship Bulletin
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
HOLY EUCHARIST
December 22, 2024 | 10:15 AM
Grace and peace to you in the name of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
PRELUDE The Only Son from Heaven
Melchior Schildt
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
PROCESSIONAL HYMN Herald, Sound the Note of Judgement Blue Hymnal #70
1. Herald, sound the note of judgment,
warning us of right and wrong,
turning us from sin and sadness
till once more we sing the song.
Refrain
Sound the trumpet! Tell the message!
Christ, the Savior King, has come!
2. Herald, sound the note of gladness;
tell the news that Christ is here;
make a pathway through the desert
for the one who brings God near. Refrain
3. Herald, sound the note of pardon—
those repenting are forgiven;
God receives his wayward children,
and to them new life is given. Refrain
4. Herald, sound the note of triumph;
Christ has come to share our life,
bringing God’s own love and power,
granting victory in our strife. Refrain
COLLECT FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Book of Common Prayer p.
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 Michah 5:2-5A
Reader: A reading from the Book of the Prophet Micah
You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of
the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to
the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
Canticle 15 Magnificat
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit re-|joices · in |God my |Savior; *
for he has looked with favor |on his |lowly |servant.
2 From this day all gene-|rations · will |call me |blessèd:*
the Almighty has done great things for me, and |holy |is
his |Name.
3 — He has |mercy · on |those who |fear him *
in |ev’ry |gene-|ration.
4 He has shown the |strength |of his |arm, *
he has scattered the |proud in |their con-|ceit.
5 He has cast down the |mighty |from their |thrones, *
and has |lifted |up the |lowly.
6 He has filled the |hungry |with good |things, *
and the rich |he has |sent a-way |empty.
7 He has come to the |help of · his |servant |Israel, *
for he has re-|membered · his |promise· of |mercy,
8 — The promise he |made |to our |fathers, *
to Abraham |and his |children · for |ever.
SECOND READING Hebrews 10:5-10
Reader: A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
When Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).”
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Taladh Chriosda
THE HOLY GOSPEL Luke 1:39-45
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
People: Glory be 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
SEQUENCE HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice Believers Blue Hymnal #68, v. 3
3. Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
arise, thou Sun so longed for,
above this darkened sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted,
we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth’s redemption,
and ever be with thee!
SERMON The Reverend Tammy Smith-Firestone
THE NICENE CREED Book of Common Prayer p.358
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 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Form IV Book of Common Prayer p.388
Leader: Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
CONFESSION OF SIN Book of Common Prayer p.360
Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
A period of silence is observed.
Celebrant 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.
Celebrant: 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.
THE PEACE
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The Ministers and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND OFFERTORY STATEMENT
Celebrant: Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name;
bring offerings and come into his courts. (Psalm 96:8)
THE LITURGY OF THE MEAL
OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
arr. Malcolm Archer
PRESENTATION HYMN People Look East (v. 4)
Angels announce to man and beast
Him who cometh from the East.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the Word, the Lord is coming.
People look East, today:
Love the Lord is on the way.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Celebrant: Let us pray.
God of life and Savior of all, receive these gifts we offer out of grateful hearts for your goodness and endless love. As you have first given us, we give back to the work of your earthly kingdom, that others may be blessed and know your transforming love. Continue to use us and our gifts as the means for healing grace. In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Eucharistic Prayer B
Book of Common Prayer p. 367
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.
Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth…
…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:
SANCTUS
Celebrant: Holy and gracious Father…
…Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption…
…through your Son Jesus Christ: 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.
People: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Celebrant: And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Celebrant and People:
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.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Celebrant breaks the bread.
Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People: Therefore let us keep the feast.
FRACTION ANTHEM Agnus Dei
THE INVITATION TO COMMUNION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECEIVING COMMUNION
Please follow the directions of the ushers. We go to the communion rail to receive. Respond to the words: “The Body of Christ, the Bread of Life” and “The Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation” with a hearty “Amen.” After receiving Communion it is appropriate to return to your seat to kneel or sit in silence for personal prayer and thanksgiving.
There are two options for reception. First is drinking from the common cup. When approaching the priest giving the bread or host, raise cupped hands to receive the bread. Consume and then take the cup by its base to tip to your lips to drink. Return to your seat by way of the side aisles.
The second option for reception is intinction (bread dipped into the wine). As the clergy person approaches, point to the chalice that the priest may take a wafer, intinct it in the wine, and give to you to consume. Return to your seat by way of the side aisles.
If you are unable to come forth to receive Communion, simply make it known to the usher and the clergy will come out to you to bring the bread and wine. The priest will instinct the bread into the wine and give it to you to consume.
If you are not communing, please consider coming forth for a blessing. As you approach the priest, cross your arms across your chest to indicate you desire a blessing.
COMMUNION ANTHEM Rorate Cæli
R. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness.
COMMUNION HYMN Blue Hymnal #640
Watchman, Tell us of the Night
1. Watchman, tell us of the night,
what its signs of promise are.
Traveller, o’er yon mountain’s height,
see that glory-beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveller, yes; it brings the day,
promised day of Israel.
2 Watchman, tell us of the night;
higher yet that star ascends.
Traveller, blessedness and light,
peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller, ages are its own;
see, it bursts o’er all the earth.
3. Watchman, tell us of the night,
for the morning seems to dawn.
Traveller, darkness takes its flight,
doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;
hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveller, lo! the Prince of Peace,
lo! the Son of God is come!
POST COMMUNION PRAYER Book of Common Prayer p. 366
Celebrant: Let us pray. Eternal God,
Celebrant and People:
heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
ADVENT BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN Lift up your Heads Blue Hymnal #436
1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold the King of glory waits!
The King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.
2. O blest the land, the city blest,
where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
to whom this King of triumph comes!
3. Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
4. Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee: here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel:
thy grace and love in me reveal.
5. So come, my Sovereign; enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin;thy Holy Spirit guide us on,
until the glorious crown be won.
DISMISSAL
Celebrant: Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
People: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE The Blessed Son from Heaven (BWV 601)
J. S. Bach
Advent and Christmas Services at St. John’s
Blue Christmas Wednesday, December 18 at 5:30pm
Christmas Pageant and Eucharist Tuesday, December 24 at 4:00pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Eucharist 7:30pm
Christmas Day Eucharist Wednesday, December 25 at 10:00am
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
2341 Floral Avenue, Chico, CA 95926
(530) 894-1971 · office@stjohnschico.org
The Very Reverend Tammy Smith-Firestone, Rector
Jeffrey Cooper, Director of Music
Hymn permission used by Rite Song a one-time use reprint license for congregational use
"Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License # A-735293. All rights reserved.”