An Advent Service of Lessons and Carols

APNTS ChapelDecember 12, 2013

Call to Worship

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,Born to set Thy people free.From our fears and sins release us;Let us find our rest in Thee.Israel’s Strength and Consolation,Hope of all the earth Thou art—Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,Joy of ev’ry longing heart!

Come, Thy people to deliver,Born a Child and yet a King,Born to reign in us forever,Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.By Thine own eternal SpiritRule in all our hearts alone.By thine all sufficient merit,Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 forever. Amen.

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

First Scripture Lesson

Isaiah 40:1-8

Carol

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”(v 1)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lowly exile hereUntil the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel!

Vignette Sermon #1

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Second Scripture Lesson

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Carol

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”(v 2)

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheerOur spirits by Thine advent here.Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death’s dark shadows put to flight.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel!

Vignette Sermon #2

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Third Scripture Lesson

Zechariah 9:9-10

Carol

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”(v 3)

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high And order all things far and nigh.To us the path of knowledge show,And cause us in her ways to go.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel!

Vignette Sermon #3

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Fourth Scripture Lesson

Haggai 2:6-9

Carol

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”(v 4)

O come, Desire of nations; bindAll peoples in one heart and mind.Bid envy, strife and sorrow cease;Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.Rejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel!

Vignette Sermon #4

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Fifth Scripture Lesson

Isaiah 35:1-6

Carol

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”(v 1)

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!

Vignette Sermon #5

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Sixth Scripture Lesson

Luke 1:26-35, 38

Carol

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”(v 2)

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exaltation.O sing, all ye bright hosts 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!

Vignette Sermon #6

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Seventh Scripture Lesson

Mark 1:1-15

Carol

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”(v 3)

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning.O 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!

Vignette Sermon #7

Dr. Modine

Carol

“Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,His name is called Emmanuel—God with us, revealed in us!His name is called Emmanuel.

Agape Offering

The Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!Praise Him all creatures here below!Praise Him above, ye heav’ly host!Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!Amen!

THE HOLY EUCHARISTCelebrant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.People: We lift them up unto the Lord.Celebrant: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.People: It is right to give our 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.You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for that day when justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, when nation shall not life up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Celebrant and People: 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.Celebrant: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to be a light to the nations.You scatter the proud in the imagination of their hearts and have mercy on those who fear you from generation to generation.

You put down the mighty from their thrones and exalt those of low degree.You fill the hungry with good things and the rich you send empty away.Your own Son came among us as a servant, to be Emmanuel, your presence with us.He humbled himself in obedience to your will and freely accepted death on a cross.By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:Celebrant and People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Celebrant: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.Make them to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN

Celebrant: The gifts of God, for the people of God. Come to His table, and receive of His grace.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECEIVING COMMUNIONThe ushers will invite you to come by rows. Please come forward through the center and kneel at the rail. The servers will come and give you the bread and the juice. Please hold it until everyone at the altar rail has been served. Then take the elements together when instructed, receive a blessing from the minister, and return to your seat through the outside rows.

Celebrant and People: Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of Your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To Him, to You, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Response Hymn

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,Born to set Thy people free.From our fears and sins release us;Let us find our rest in Thee.Israel’s Strength and Consolation,Hope of all the earth Thou art—Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,Joy of ev’ry longing heart!

Come, Thy people to deliver,Born a Child and yet a King,Born to reign in us forever,Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.By Thine own eternal SpiritRule in all our hearts alone.By thine all sufficient merit,Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Benediction

Dr. Modine