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Prelude & Welcome/ Announcements

Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Song:  Hope is a Star vs. 4 (CCLI #1884009)
    Love is a flame that burns in our heart. Jesus has come
    and will never depart.
(refrain) When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Prayer

Opening Hymn: CP # 123 Once in Royal David’s City 

The Grace
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit always be with you.  And also with you.

Collect Prayer
Heavenly Father, who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour, now fill us with your grace, that we in all things may embrace your will and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The Readings
Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55; Luke 1:39-45

Homily - The Reverend Canon Ruthanne Ward

Choir Anthem – There’s a Light Upon the Mountains – M.L. Wostenholm

Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and the great commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.

Prayers of the People

Confession & Absolution

In the spirit of penitent hearts, waiting for the return of the Prince of Peace, let us bring our confession before the God who loves and forgives us.      Silence is kept.

You bring our fear into the light of love;
We prefer to hide in the shadows.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
You promise healing for the earth;
We turn our backs on our common world.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
You come near in the vulnerable word made flesh;
We worship distant idols of celebrity and power.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our Saviour forgive you your sins and make you holy to serve him in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.  And also with you.

Offertory Hymn: CP #121 (vs.1-4) O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

Prayer Over the Gifts
Gracious God, by the power of the Spirit who sanctified the mother of your Son, make holy all we offer you this day. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen

The Great Thanksgiving (Eucharistic Prayer written by Stephen Fearing)

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.

God of our salvation,
we do not deserve your love and yet you lavish it upon us…
… the very incarnation of your being on this earth.

With all of creation, with all peoples in every time and place
we join the ever lasting chorus:
  
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.  Hosanna in the highest.

We remember how you called your servant Mary to bear your son…
… For as long as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the resurrection of our living saviour until he comes again.

As we wait, during this blessed rest known as the season of Advent,
we proclaim the mystery of faith.

   Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. 

We give thanks … loving Creator now and forever.  Amen

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. 

The Breaking of the Bread
God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.
Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

The gifts of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God.

Communion Hymn:  CP #117 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Prayer after Communion 
Faithful God, in this sacrament we receive the promise of salvation. May we, like the Virgin Mary, be obedient to your will. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

The Doxology
Glory to God, whose power working in us can do more than we can ask or imagine.  Glory to God from generation to generation, in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever.  Amen.

The Blessing

Closing Hymn:  CP #362 (vs. 1,2,4) Tell Out, My Soul

The Dismissal