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Processional Hymn: #68 vs. 1-3

Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers

1 Rejoice! rejoice, believers,
and let your lights appear!
The evening is advancing,
and darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is arising,
and soon he will draw nigh;
up, watch with expectation!
at the midnight comes the cry.

2 See that your lamps are burning,
replenish them with oil;
look now for your salvation,
the end of sin and toil.
The marriage-feast is waiting,
the gates wide open stand;
rise up, ye heirs of glory,
the Bridegroom is at hand!

3 Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
arise, thou Sun so longed for,
above this darkened sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted,
we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth's redemption,
and ever be with thee!

Advent Song

Light the Advent candle one

Now the waiting has begun

We have started on our way

Time to think of Christmas day.

Chorus:

Candle, candle burning bright

Shining in the cold winter night

Candle, candle burning bright

Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

Bidding Prayer

Collect for Advent I

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.

Lesson I Genesis 3:1-15

Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden.

Hymnal #60 vs.1&5 Creator of the Stars of Night

1. Creator of the stars of night,
Your people's everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear your servants when they call.

5. Come in your holy might, we pray,
redeem us for eternal day;
defend us while we dwell below,
from all assaults of our foe.

Lesson II Isaiah 40:1-11

The Prophet proclaims good news to a people in exile.

Hymnal #65 vs.1&2 Prepare the Way, O Zion

Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story. Oh blest is Christ that came in God's most holy name. He brings God's rule, O Zion; he comes from heaven above. His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love. Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding. Oh blest is Christ that came in God's most holy name.

Lesson III Jeremiah 31:31-34

A new covenant is promised, which will be written in our hearts.

Hymnal #72 vs.1&4 Hark the Glad Sound!

1 Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,
the Savior promised long:
let every heart prepare a throne,
and every voice a song.

4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
thy welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven's eternal arches ring
with thy beloved Name.

Lesson IV Isaiah 6:1-11

God reveals his glory to the Prophet and calls him to be his

messenger.

Hymnal #324 vs.1&2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

1 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.

2 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.

Lesson V Micah 5:2-4

The one who is to rule Israel will be born in the village of

Bethlehem.

Hymnal #75 vs.1&3 There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Calling

1 There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low;
make straight all the crooked places
where the Lord our God may go!

3 but the word of our God endureth,
the arm of the Lord is strong;
he stands in the midst of nations,
and he will right the wrong.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,
the lambs he'll gently hold;
to pastures of peace he’ll lead them,
and bring them safe to his fold.

Gospel Lesson Luke 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will

bear the Son of the Most High.

Hymnal #54 vs.1&2 Savior of the Nations Come!

1. Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin's Son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O Heav'n and Earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

2. Wondrous birth! O wondrous child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in Heav’n enthroned.

Homily

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:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from 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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He 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.

Form II

In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their
own prayers, either silently or aloud.

I ask your prayers for God's people throughout the world;
for our Bishop(s)                              ; for this gathering; and for all
ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.

Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations;
and for the well-being of all people.
Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the
oppressed, and those in prison.
Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper
knowledge of him.
Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the departed [especially                             ].
Pray for those who have died.

Silence

  Members of the congregation may ask the prayers or the
  thanksgivings of those present

  I ask your prayers for                             .

  I ask your thanksgiving for                             .

  Silence

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored
[especially                              whom we remember today].
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Silence

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

Silence may be kept.

The Deacon or Celebrant says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says

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

The Peace

All stand.

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

Then the Ministers and People may greet one another in the
name of the Lord.

Offertory: Adult Choir Anthem

Doxology:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer B

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

People:  We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:  It is right to give God 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.

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:

Hymnal #S 129:   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 thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in you Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: 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 for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,

We await his coming in glory;

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send you Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under you Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where with ask your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

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.

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.
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.

Fraction: Hymnal #634 (spoken in unison)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; 
therefore let us keep the feast.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Hymnal #S 164 Lamb of God Agnus Dei

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer, redeemer of the world,
give us your peace, give us your peace.

Communion: LEVAS #13

My Lord, What a Morning

My Lord, what a morning, My Lord, what a morning,

O my Lord, what a morning, When the stars begin to fall.

1. You’ll hear the trumpet sound, To wake the nations

underground, Looking to my God’s right hand, When

the stars begin to fall.

2. You’ll hear the sinner mourn, To wake the nations

underground, Looking to my God’s right hand, When

the stars begin to fall.

3. You’ll hear the Christian shout, To wake the nations

underground, Looking to my God’s right hand, When

the stars begin to fall.

Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Birthdays: 

Our birthdays for this upcoming week are:

Liz Weir, Kristie McMahon, Michael Rowe, Sadie Poepperling, Norah Tony Castanzo, Seth Pinches, Dominic Castanzo, AnnaBeth Fish Feltner

Let us Pray: 

O God, our times are in your hand:  Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year.  Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Prayer for those we love:

Let us Pray: 

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Seasonal Blessing for Advent

Recessional: Hymnal #616 vs. 1-4

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

1 Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

4 Kings shall bow down before him,
and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore him,
his praise all people sing;
to him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.

Dismissal