Second Sunday of Advent.
December 10th 2023
" Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light".
Romans 13:12
Preservice Hymn - All Are Welcome (see song sheet)
A Time of Silence
Please use this time of silence to quiet your spirit. Take this silent time to set aside the weights or challenges of your life and enter into the silence.
The presiding celebrant greets the community
Welcome to Worship at St. Michaels, Canmore we hope you find here a
community of disciples of Jesus, seeking to walk in the way of God’s Spirit.
Visitors- are invited to self-identify if they wish to.
About our Worship -- Our worship service follows the pattern of the historic Book of
Common Prayer and each Sunday we celebrate Holy Communion. No matter who you
are, who you love or where you come from, you are welcome to come and receive the
Bread of Life!
Our Worship Focus Today -Today’s readings for Advent 2 – Today’s Readings sound the
Advent theme of the Second Coming of Christ and his Judgement. Isaiah, like John the
Baptist, heralds what God is about to do. We who await God’s intervention in this
world are not to lose faith but to be patient and always be ready.
The Gathering of the Community & the Lighting of the Second Candle
This Sunday we light the second candle, the candle of PEACE. We light it knowing full
well that peace is elusive, and in some parts of the world, it is almost completely
absent. Yet in this season of Advent, we trust that God is never absent from us. God
is always preparing something new. And even where there is war and discord, whether
between countries, within families, or within our own hearts, God is present, gently
leading us to new possibilities.
All - Loving God, in this time of preparation and planning, we thank you for
the hope and peace you unfailingly offer us. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach
us the peace that comes from justice. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you
that we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.
The Candle is lit.
Gathering Hymn - The Jordan Bank CP#103
The Collect of the Day
– said by all. God of power and mercy, you call us once again
to celebrate the coming of your Son. Remove those things which hinder love of you,
that when he comes, he may find us waiting in awe and wonder for him who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word. The First Reading from the Book of ISAIAH (40:1-11) (Pew Bible p511)
Hear what the Spirit says to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
The Psalm - Psalm 85:1-2,8-13 – BAS P.818
Said responsively by half of the verse.
The Second Reading: A Reading from 2 PETER 3:8-15a (Pew Bible P.861)
Hear what the Spirit says to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn – I hear a sound … (see song sheet)
The Holy Gospel- to Mark 1:1-8 (Pew.Bible p.707)
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
All: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of the Christ
All: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon- ‘… just the beginning.’ – Rev. Bryan
The Apostle’s Creed -
Celebrant: Let us confess the faith of our Baptisms as we say -
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
The Intercessions
– please stand, sit, or kneel sit and please join in the response as indicated by the Intercessor. Response – Hear our prayer.
At the end of the prayers:
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Call To Confession
When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness,
and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us
confess our sins.
Silence for a time
Merciful God, we have sinned and what we have thought and said, in the
wrong we have done and in the good we have not done. We have sinned in
ignorance: we have sinned in weakness: we have sinned through our own
deliberate fault. We are truly sorry. We repent and return to you.
Forgive us for our Saviour Christ’s sake and renew our lives to the glory
of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins, open our eyes to God’s truth, strengthen us to do God’s will and
give us the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen.
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Your generosity is changing lives
The strength of St. Michael's can be found in your generosity & commitment.
Offertory Hymn – Waiting in Silence (see song sheet)
Prayer Over the Gifts
(said by all) God of hope, renew in us the joy of your salvation
and make us a living sacrifice to you, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving - Eucharistic Prayer EP #3
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.
How can we thank you, O God? For sun and moon and stars, for breath and life and
all things good, for you steadfast promise and your faithful love, for the day that is
surely coming when all things will be made new. With saints, with angels, and with the
whole creation, we join the ancient and eternal hymn:
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.
We give you thanks, Holy God, for Jesus, who came to be your living Word, to baptize
with Spirit and fire, to feed the hungry, to humble the mighty, and to announce the
good news of your coming realm. With thanksgiving, we remember how, when the
hour had come, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.
He said to them, I will not eat this Passover again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of
God. Then Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to
them, saying ,This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.+
After supper, he took a cup, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new
covenant in my blood. I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes. +
With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you sharing this holy meal, remembering
Christ’s dying and rising, and praying: Come Lord Jesus!
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Pour out you Holy Spirit upon us – this bread, this cup, these people – Christ’s body
and blood, given in love for the world. Make us one in the Spirit, one in the church,
and one with Christ our Lord.
Make us gentle, joyful, thankful people, serving our neighbours, worshiping you alone.
Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory. Even now a
voice is crying in the wilderness: Prepare the Way of the Lord!
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and
honour are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
BAS p.211
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
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 Breaking of the Bread and Communion
Celebrant: “I am the bread of life ,” says the Lord. “Whoever comes to me
will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
All: Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Communion Hymn - Ancient Words & The River (see song sheet)
Prayer after Communion
(said by all)
Merciful God, may this eucharist free us from our sins, fill us with unending joy, and prepare us for the birthday of our Saviour. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is Lord now and for ever. Amen.
The Doxology - (BAS P.214)
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.
The Blessing-
May 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 may the blessing of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you now and always.
Announcements & PWRDF Thank offerings.
Closing Hymn - Closing Hymn – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus CP88
The Sending and Blessing
Priest: Go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia!
All - Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Worship Music - CCLI #2280968
Thank you for your visit to our beautiful little mountain church. Praising the Lord and worshipping him along with our brothers and sisters is a fellowship like no other. You’re always welcome to come back and join us!
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St Michael Anglican Church