the fourth sunday of advent

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 22, 2024

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn:     O Come, All Ye Faithful                 #83 st. 1-3     

Hymn         Light Four Candles to Watch for Messiah           v. 4

The Opening Acclamation                                                BCP p. 355

  Presider:    Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  People:       And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Collect for Purity                                                              BCP p. 355

The Collect for Advent IV

God our Redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our Savior, so we may be ready to meet him when he comes as our Judge; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Summary of the Law                                                   BCP p.351

The Confession of Sin

Almighty and most merciful Father,

we have wandered and strayed from your ways

   like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires

   of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things

  that we ought to have done;

and we have done those things

   that we ought not to have done;

and we cannot save ourselves.

But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.

Spare those who confess their faults.

Restore those who are penitent,

according to your promises declared to mankind

   in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,

to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

The Collect for Advent III

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, 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 First Reading                                                           2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 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 and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 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 to be prince over my people Israel; 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. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 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. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

              Reader:  The Word of the Lord.                  People:  Thanks be to God.

Canticle 15: The Magnificat    

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; 

          for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: 

          the Almighty has done great things for me,

          and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him 

          in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, 

          he has scattered the proud in their conceit

.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, 

          and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, 

          and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, 

          for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, 

          to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

          as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.

The Second Reading:                                     Romans 16:25-27

Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith–to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

   Reader:      The Word of the Lord.           People:    Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn   The Angel Gabriel Came From Heaven   #265

The Holy Gospel                                                          Luke 1:26-38

People:         Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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 ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

   Reader:        The Gospel of the Lord.                       People:      Praise to you, Lord Christ.                                 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE          

Guided by the light of Christ, let us pray for the coming dawn of joy, healing, and comfort for all people.

Your eternal reign has come into the world. Inspire us anew with the call of the Gospel, and send us to proclaim its message of hope to those in need. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You created the mystery and beauty of the earth. Replenish rivers, lakes, seas, and all bodies of water, so that plants, animals, and humans can have life and be refreshed. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You bring down the powerful and raise up the lowly. Where war rages, transform hatred with forgiveness and peace. Where fear rules, make your all-powerful Presence known. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You remember us with mercy, Lord, as you have done for all generations. Fill us, comfort us, strengthen us, and enlighten us. Make your will known to all in need. We pray especially for refugees; for the people of Ukraine, and the Middle East, for victims of terrorism, and for Cathy, Craig, Deon, Don, Helena, Jeanne,  Judy, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Nancy, Ray, Ron, Zach, and others? (pause).  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You called Mary to bear your Son. We pray for pregnant women, for mothers and fathers of infants and small children, and especially for couples who bear the pain of infertility, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Your Kingdom has no end. With your servants throughout time, women and men, old and young, unite us forever in your reign of peace and joy. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We raise our prayers to you, O God, in the name of the one who is, who was, and who is to come, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer                                                              BCP p. 364

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive The Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

And since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.

Amen

Closing Hymn                  Tell Out My Soul                              #438

The Blessing

May the peace of God, that passes all understanding 

Keep our hearts and minds in the love of God,

And of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

And may the blessing of God Almighty:

The Father, and the + Son, and the Holy Spirit

Be with us, and remain with us always.

Amen.

The Dismissal 

Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People:        Thanks be to God.