THE WORD OF THE LORD

 

Prelude                   “Prelude in B-flat minor”          J.S. Bach


Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy   

Reader                God of Abraham and Sarah, and all the patriarchs of old, you are our Father too. Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of David. Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth to make our hearts ready for your Holy Spirit to make his home among us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the light who is coming into the world.

 

All    Lord Jesus, light of the world,

born in David’s city of Bethlehem,

born like him to be a king:

be born in our hearts at Christmas,

be King of our lives today. Amen.

 

ONE PURPLE CANDLE IS LIT.

 

Opening Hymn

 

 

 

Opening Acclamation

Presider   Blessed are you, holy and living One.

People     You come to your people and set them free.  Amen.

 

Collect for Purity 

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.

 

The Collect of the Day
Presider   The Lord be with you.

People       And also with you.

Presider   Let us pray.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

 

The First Lesson: Isaiah (64:1-9):                                            

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah.

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

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. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.

      

The Word of the Lord.                                         

People   Thanks be to God.

 

 

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18                         

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 Lord 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 man of your right hand, *

the son of man 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 Lord God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

 

 

The Second Lesson1 Corinthians 1:3-9                                          

A Reading from Paul’s First Letter to the  Corinthians.                          

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

 

The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

 

 

The Gospel Acclamation     “O come, O come, Emmanuel”

 

 

 

The Holy Gospel     Mark 13:24-37

Gospeller      The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People           Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 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.

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

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

 

Gospeller      The Gospel of the Lord.                        

People           Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

The Sermon                                                           Rev. Anne

You can listen to Anne’s sermon here.

 

The Nicene Creed

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.

 

The Prayers of the People                                                                               

Intercessor      In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray to Jesus.

Come to your Church as Lord and judge.

We pray especially for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Susan, Jennifer and Porter, our Bishops; Fran, Anne, Susan, Walter, Joy, Mary, and Nicole, our staff; Stacy, our seminarian; and for Ascension Church in Beraud, Haiti. …

Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Intercessor    Come to our community as lover of all people.

We pray for St. Thomas’ outreach partners: Second Story; SHARE, Falls Church McLean Children’s Center, Cornerstones in Reston, FACETS…

Show your love and compassion for all people through us.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Intercessor      Come to your world as King of the nations.

We pray for especially Donald, our President, Joe, our President-Elect, and Ralph, our Governor …

Before you rulers will stand in silence.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Intercessor      Come to the suffering as Savior and comforter.

We pray for … those who have asked for our prayers: Walter, Ethan, David, Chris, the Mitchell family, Andrei, Jane, Thomas, Kait, Johnny, Emma, Cheryl, Julie, Caroline, George, David, Anne, Philippa, Bob, and those suffering from COVID 19

Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress,

and set us free to serve you for ever.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

 

Intercessor      Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.

We remember …

Give us with all the faithful departed a share in your victory over evil and death.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Intercessor      Come as one who celebrated with joy the wedding at Cana.

We give thanks for Audrey Adair, Walt Lazear, and Sylvia Ghorbani as they celebrate their birthdays this week; 

Remind us always that all good gifts come from you and make us thankful.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Intercessor      Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.

Lift us up to meet you, that with Thomas and all your saints and angels, and those who have

died especially Dick Eimas, and those who you would name,

that we may live and reign with you in your new creation.

Maranatha:

People     Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Silence is kept.

 

 Intercessor    Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay;

give new courage to your people, who trust in your love.

By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom

on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

People     Amen.

 

The Advent Wreath Lighting and Prayers of the People were adapted from Common Worship in the Church of England, located here, by The Very Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith. 

 

Intercessor:     Together let us pray for St Thomas Church.

All: Almighty God, by your Spirit the whole body of your Church is governed and sanctified, hear our prayer for St Thomas, build in us a renewed vision of your Church; shape our life according to your will; empower us with the gifts to make us one that together we may grow as a church in the spiritual strength of community and reach out to include all people in Christ’s love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Confession of Sin

Presider   Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.  A time of silence.

All     God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

 

Absolution

Presider   Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

 

Offertory Sentence

Presider   Walk in love, as Christ loves us, and gave himself an offering and a sacrifice to God.

 

During this unprecedented time, giving is crucial to our health and viability. Please consider this a time of reflection and an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing ministries of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Contributions can be mailed to the church office (8991 Brook Road, McLean, VA 22102 ) or given online here.  Thank you!

 

Offertory Hymn

 

The Lord’s Prayer
Presider

The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Presider Let us pray.

Presider 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 Peace
Presider The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

 

The Blessing 
Be of good courage, never be afraid

Because God who created you, Is always with you

And loves you fiercely.

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Be upon you and remain with you always. AMEN.  

 

The Dismissal

Presider Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People Thanks be to God.

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