THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SOLEMN CHORAL EUCHARIST WITH SERMON AND HYMNS
Welcome to The Historic Saint Agnes Episcopal Church! We are glad to have you worship with us.
Additional information about Historic Saint Agnes and our ministries may be found
online here at www.stagnesepiscopalchurch.org and on social media (FB, IG) @historicsaintagnes.
Our Rector, Fr. Denrick E. Rolle, is today’s Celebrant and Preacher.
Our mass, Communion Service is either in E-flat by Frank Adlam or Robert Cruickshank, is sung with hymns , is sung with hymns which can be found in the red Hymnal 1940 online. Follow along in the Book of Common Prayer (Prayer Book online).
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ORDER OF WORSHIP
The Organ Prelude
The Processional to the Altar, Organ Voluntary
At the ringing of the chimes the congregation will stand. The Voluntary is played as the procession moves to the altar, once in place:
Introit Hymn: 321, Margaret
The Opening Acclamations
Celebrant: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
People: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Celebrant: Rejoice! The Lord is at hand.
People: Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.
THE PENITENTIAL RITE
The Summary of the Law (Book of Common Prayer - Page 351)
The Exhortation (Book of Common Prayer - Page 352)
Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
(PLEASE KNEEL FOR THE CONFESSION OF SIN)
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.
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 KYRIE (NINEFOLD) Hymnal 1940 #710
Lord, have mercy upon us,
Lord, have mercy upon us,
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us,
Christ, have mercy upon us,
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us,
Lord, have mercy upon us,
Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Absolution (Book of Common Prayer - Page 352)
AT THE COLLECT
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Collect for the Day
Celebrant:
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.
People: Amen.
The congregation is seated
THE WORD OF GOD
At the end of each lesson, in response to the reader "The Word of the Lord" or "Here Ends the Reading", the people respond: “Thanks be to God”
FIRST LESSON Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9 Ecce Deus (Prayer Book pg. 86)
The First Song of Isaiah 12:2-6
At the end of the Psalm/Canticle, the Gloria Patri:
Celebrant: + Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Philippians 4:4-7
SEQUENCE HYMN No. 440, Watchman
sung by all standing
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 11:2-11
Celebrant: + The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory be to Thee, Lord Christ
SERMON HYMN No. 9, Merton
THE SERMON The Reverend Fr. Denrick E. Rolle
The congregation stands following the sermon
THE NICENE CREED. Prayer Book pg. 358
THE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL
On the last two Sundays we lit purple candles. Today, we will light the third candle which means “JOY”. The First Week of Advent we focused our attention on the HOYFUL LONGING AND GROWING ANTICIPATION we feel as we wait for the coming of Jesus. The Second Week of Advent our key word was PREPARATION. We concentrated on getting ourselves ready for the coming of Jesus. During this Third week of Advent our key word is REJOICING. We rejoice in anticipation of Christmas. We should try sharing this joy with others in what we say and do. The THIRD Sunday is also known as “GAUDETE”.
Leader: Let us pray
Oh Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the dark ness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Through Christ our Lord.
People: Amen
Leader: In a Way, it is surprising to see how often the Scriptures speak of joy. Surprising be cause so often we think of the Good News as not news (because we have heard it so often) and not good (but rather hard and joyless). Most of us are probably more aware of the Gospel message of self-denial and carrying the cross than we are of minding His followers to live in love, Jesus says; “All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete.” A little later, preparing His disciples for His departure, He states; “I tell you truly, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned to joy.” St. Paul affirms that you should be central to the Christian’s attitude, and he also underlines the reason why. “Rejoice in the Lord always I say it again. Rejoice. Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord himself is near.” Our joy is rooted in the reality of the Lord’s Presence, in His gift of the Spirit to us. Because He is near, because His gentle love envelopes us, joy— even amid the anxiety and turmoil of life — should be ours.
All: Jesus, author and finisher of faith, enlighten and strengthen our faith; make it more lively, more practical, and grant us the grace to make our life conformable to your teachings. Amen.
Leader: “Behold, a young maiden shall conceive and bear a son”
People: “And shall call His name Emmanuel”
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Form II, Prayer Book pg. 387
THE PEACE Prayer Book pg. 393
Following the exchange, the congregation will be seated
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
The Offertory Sentence (PB, page 376)
Celebrant: Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High. Psalm 50:14
OFFERTORY SELECTIONS Give Online
THE OFFERTORY HYMNS 1, STUTTGART; 544; 595
THE OFFERTORY PRAYER/INTENTION OF THE MASS
Celebrant and people:
Father, we offer you these gifts which have been given to us, this bread, this wine, this money. With them we offer ourselves, our lives and work. As this bread and wine become the Body and Blood of our Lord, so may we and all Your Holy Church become more effective instruments of your reconciling love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Celebrant:
Pray, brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.
People:
May the Lord receive this sacrifice at your hands to the praise and glory of His Name, to our benefit and to that of His Holy Church.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Eucharistic Prayer C, Prayer Book pg. 369
COMMUNION HYMNS 429, Summer; 196; 208; 202; 203; 211
POST COMMUNION PRAYER Prayer Book pg. 365
Celebrant and People:
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
THE BLESSING and DISMISSAL
Celebrant:
May the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, + Son and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
People: Amen.
Please stand.
THE DISMISSAL
Celebrant: Let us go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
RECESSIONAL HYMN 522
ORGAN VOLUNTARY
The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
