The Fourth Sunday in Advent

Year B

20 December 2020

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A Service of Word and Sacrament

Welcome and Parish Announcements Prelude

……………………. The Entrance Rite ………………………. The Lighting of the Advent Candle Verger Today we light the fourth candle of Advent, the Virgin Mary’s Candle, who submitted herself to God’s will and bore Christ Jesus into the world with joy. Chris, Jackie, Caroline and Will Waller will pray the following prayer and then light the Virgin Mary’s Candle: Let us pray. God our Father, the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of your Son. Even in her fear, she said yes to your call with joy. Help us, whom you call to serve you, to share with her in your great work of bringing to the world your love and healing. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the Light who is coming into the world. Amen. Processional Hymn 65 Please stand Prepare the Way, O Zion

Welcome to Christchurch, as we worship during this unique season in our life together!

Please keep proper physical distance. Everyone 5 years and older is required to wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth throughout the entire service. If you are unable

to wear a mask that covers both your nose and mouth for any reason, we invite you to join our service via livestream at home or in our parking lot by visiting www.christchurchanglican.net.

Children are invited to follow the Crucifer to our Children’s Worship services. Children from 5 years old to 2nd grade will turn left at the altar and children from 3rd to 5th grade will turn right at the altar. All children will return at the Peace to join their families for Holy Eucharist.

Children under 5 are invited to join children’s church in the Chi Rho House with a parent, be taken to our

nursery near Canterbury Hall, remain with their family in service, or any combination thereof.

Communion will be available today in three forms – Spiritual Communion, physical Communion during the 9:30a.m. service, and Communion at the rail from 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

If you are visiting with us, welcome to Christchurch – you bless us with your presence!

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The Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (BCP 599) Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with your spirit. Celebrant Let us pray. Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Opening Acclamation (BCP 145) Celebrant Surely the Lord is coming soon. People Amen. Come Lord Jesus! The Collect for Purity (BCP 106) Celebrant 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 56 vv. 7-8 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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…………... The Liturgy of the Word ……………

The Old Testament Please be seated 2 Samuel 7:1-17 1 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Lector The Word of the Lord People Thanks be to God. The Gospel Please stand Luke 1:26-38 Gospeler The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Gospeler The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. The Homily Please be seated The Reverend Morgan W.T. Clark

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The Nicene Creed Please stand (BCP 109) We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten 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 from the Holy Spirit and 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, 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. The Prayers of the People (BCP 110) Please be seated The Confession of Sin Please stand Celebrant and People (BCP 112) Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker and judge of us all: We acknowledge and lament our many sins and offenses, which we have committed by thought, word, and deed against your divine majesty, provoking most justly your righteous anger against us. We are deeply sorry for these our transgressions; the burden of them is more than we can bear. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may evermore serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Absolution The Comfortable Words (BCP 113) The Celebrant may the say one or more of the following sentences, first saying Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15 If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

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The Peace Celebrant The Peace of the Lord be always with you. People And with your spirit. Please maintain proper physical distancing as you greet one another in the name of the Lord, perhaps by means of kind waves or joyful peace signs! Welcome and Parish Announcements Please be seated

…………… The Holy Communion ……………

At the Setting of the Table Sleepers, Wake! J.S. Bach

"Sleepers, wake!" A voice astounds us, the shout of rampart guards surrounds us:

"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!" Midnight's peace their cry has broken, their urgent summons clearly spoken: "The time has come, O maidens wise!

Rise up, and give us light; the Bridegroom is in sight.

Alleluia! Your lamps prepare and hasten there,

that you the wedding feast may share."

Zion hears the watchmen singing; her heart with joyful hope is springing,

she wakes and hurries through the night. Forth he comes, her Bridegroom glorious in strength of grace, in truth victorious: her star is risen, her light grows bright.

Now come, most worthy Lord, God's Son, Incarnate Word,

Alleluia! We follow all

and heed your call to come into the banquet hall.

Lamb of God, the heavens adore you; let saints and angels sing before you,

as harps and cymbals swell the sound. Twelve great pearls, the city's portals:

through them we stream to join the immortals as we with joy your throne surround.

No eye has known the sight, no ear heard such delight:

Alleluia! Therefore we sing to greet our King;

for ever let our praises ring.

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The Great Thanksgiving - Anglican Standard Text (BCP 115) Please stand Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with your spirit. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them up to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise. It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life: that when he shall come again in power and great glory to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing. 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 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. All praise and glory is yours, O God our heavenly Father, for in your tender mercy, you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption. He made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and he instituted, and in his Holy Gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. So now, O merciful Father, in your great goodness, we ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine, that we, receiving them according to your Son our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood. For on the night that he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And here we offer and present to you, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice. We humbly pray that all who partake of this Holy Communion may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, be filled with your grace and heavenly benediction, and be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. 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. AMEN.

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The Lord’s Prayer (BCP 118) And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to 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 forever and ever. Amen. The Breaking of the Bread (BCP 118) Celebrant Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia! Invitation to Communion Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God. Please be seated

Instruction for Receiving Communion All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are welcome to receive the real and living presence of Christ in this Holy Communion in one of three ways. 1. 1. Spiritual Communion. If you prefer not to receive Physical Communion, you are invited to make what the Early

Church called “Spiritual Communion,” also described as a participation in the “Sacrament of Desire.” You can be assured, as you pray this prayer, aloud or in your heart, that you have made your communion:

Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around the altar of Christchurch and every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

2. Physical Communion now.

∙ If you would like to receive physical communion during this morning’s service, please come forward, lower your mask as you come near the priest, and raise your mask as you return to your pew or chair.

∙ If you are in or around your car, please come to the central side walk or to the tent. You may ask for multiple pieces of the Bread with which to communicate those in your car, giving it to them with the words, “The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven.” These multiple pieces will not be intincted.

∙ Please maintain proper physical distance from other households. ∙ You may also indicate that you would prefer a blessing in lieu of Communion by crossing your arms over your

chest. 3. Physical Communion later this morning at the Rail.

∙ You may come to the Church between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. ∙ Signs will direct you to enter through the Gospel transept door (the side door closest to the church office building).

Please maintain proper social distancing if you find yourself waiting in a line at this door. ∙ When the family in front of you has left the rail, come into the church, sanitizing your hands as you do. Come to

the center of the rail, remove any mask you may be wearing, and receive while standing. You will then depart through the Epistle doors and out through the columbarium, again sanitizing your hands as you depart.

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Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away. At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, "Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Communion Music Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

Refrain O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight. Refrain

Communion Music O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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 every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king, born to reign in us for ever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.

Communion Music Come Thou Long-expected Jesus

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Post Communion Prayer Please be seated (BCP 120) Celebrant and People Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us, through this Sacrament, of your favor and goodness towards us: that we are true members of the mystical body of your Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of your everlasting kingdom. And we humbly ask you, heavenly Father, to assist us with your grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all the good works that you have prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. The Blessing for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Recessional Hymn 72 Please Stand Hark! The Glad Sound!

Communion Music House of God Forever

God is my shepherd I won't be wanting I won't be wanting He makes me rest In fields of green With quiet streams Even though I walk Through the valley Of death and dying I will not fear Cause you are with me You are with me

Your shepherd's staff Comforts me You are my feast In the presence of enemies Surely goodness Will follow me Follow me In the house of God forever

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Dismissal

Serving in the Liturgy

The Reverend Morgan W.T. Clark The Very Reverend Andrew M. Rowell Thomas Bowers Mose Stuart Dick Brewbaker and Trey Stark Michael Stewart, Tripp Clements, Tom Saunders, Matt Owen, Bob Hill, and Bill Palmer

Celebrant Assisting

Music Director and Organist Verger

Lectors and Chalice Bearers Ushers

(All Hymns) CCCI # 2635367

Phase Three Worship Schedule Holy Eucharist: 9:30 a.m. Sunday

(Socially distanced in the Church, Canterbury Hall, and under the Tent, as well as Live-streamed in your home or in our parking lot) Communion at the Rail: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sunday

The Very Rev. Andrew M. Rowell - Rector The Rev. Morgan W.T. Clark - Associate Rector

The Rev. Alan L. Reid - Pastoral Associate

8800 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 Phone: (334) 387-0566 Fax: (334) 387-0567

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