ST. COLUMBA
ANGLICAN-UNITED CHURCH
Second Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2024
United Service of the Word
The Rev. Bob Gilbert
†††††
Mission Statement
As followers of Jesus Christ, our church is a community called to love, honour, worship, and serve God. We invite others to share our Christian journey as we grow in faith and engage in ministry in our town and mission in our world.
9190 Granville Street
PO Box 1260, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0
Office Phone: 250-949-6247
E-mail: admin@stcolumbaporthardy.ca
Priest, The Rev. Sheila Cook
cell (250)-230-7433 scook@bc.anglican.ca
Wardens: Robert Fyles and Heather Jones
Treasurer: Judy Fyles
Music Ministry: Roldan Yuipco
Video: Ammie Yuipco
Community Partner: Cathie Wilson
www.stcolumbaporthardy.ca
~ Leader: regular font
~ All: bold font
~ Sung words: bold italics
~ Asterisk* stand as you are able
Welcome and Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS BEFORE GOD
Advent Candle Lighting
Peace
(The candle of hope is lit.)
Today we kindle the Advent candle of peace.
(The second candle is lit.)
We welcome the glow that causes us to pause, the glow that entices us to gather together, the glow that shines in hearts of goodwill.
Come, Holy Stranger, sharer of peace on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you.
We receive the light of peace.
*Hymn VU 6 A Candle Is Burning vv. 1, 2
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
a candle of hope in December’s dark night.
While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky
our hearts we prepare now, for Jesus is nigh.
A candle is burning, a candle of peace,
a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
for Jesus is coming to show us the way;
a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.
Words: Sandra Dean
Opening Prayer
Holy One, as the days grow shorter and the nights lengthen, be our inner light, we pray.
Keep glowing in our hearts so that what we think and say and do comes from a place of calm and compassion.
When so much distracts and disturbs, anchor us in your abiding peace and deep love.
Remind us that even while we live in this world, you are our everlasting home.
Bless our gathering together, that our minds may be calm and alert, and our hearts open to your grace.
Amen.
Jesse Tree/ Cedar of Lebanon
also includes laying or hanging of any White Gift (Hidden Gift) offering
*Opening Hymn MV 12 Come Touch Our Hearts vv.1, 2, 3, 5
Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
from failing embers build a blazing fire;
love strong enough to overturn injustice,
to seek a life more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.
Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
create a space for spirit to grow in us,
let life and beauty fill us, come touch and bless our souls.
Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
help us to open doors of understanding,
to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.
Come touch us now, this people who are gathered,
to break the bread and share the cup of peace;
that we may love you with our heart, our soul,
our mind, our strength, our all, come touch us with your grace.
Words and music: Gordon Light
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Hutlilala’s! Listen deeply as Scripture is proclaimed.
Malachi 3:1-4
…This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Luke 1:68-79 VU 900 Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)
Refrain: God shall fulfil the promise and bring the people peace.
Blessed be the God of Israel,
who has come to the people and set them free,
who has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
born of the house of the servant David.
Through the holy prophets of old God promised to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us,
to show the mercy promised to our ancestors,
to remember the holy covenant, the oath God swore to our ancestors Abraham and Sarah,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to serve God without fear, holy and righteous in God’s presence, all the days of our life.
R: God shall fulfil the promise and bring the people peace.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give the people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
R: God shall fulfil the promise and bring the people peace.
Philippians1:3-11
…This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
*Hymn VU 18 There’s A Voice in The Wilderness
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 God, our God, may go!
O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people
the coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish,
like grass our works decay,
the power and pomp of nations
shall pass like a dream away.
But the word of our God endureth,
the arm of the Lord is strong;
God stands in the midst of nations,
and soon will right the wrong.
God shall feed the flock like a shepherd,
the lambs so gently hold;
to pastures of peace will lead them,
and bring them safe to fold.
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 God, our, God may go!
*The Gospel
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:1-6
This is the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Prayers of the People
Prayer leader: In the wilderness,
Response: prepare the way of the Lord!
*The Lord’s Prayer SFGP 12
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 Peace
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
(We share a sign of peace with one another)
Invitation to the Offering
*Offertory Hymn VU 684 Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Make me a channel of your peace:
where there is hatred let me bring your love;
where there is injury your healing power,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.
O Spirit grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace:
where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, only light;
and where there's sadness, ever joy.
O Spirit grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we're born to eternal life.
*Response VU 540 Grant Us, God, the Grace
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.
Prayer Over The Gifts
*Hymn MV 213 Take Up His Song
Take up his song of peace, and go into the world.
Take up his song of peace in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in peace, lay them down, and take up his song.
Take up his song of hope, and go into the world.
Take up his song of hope in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in hope, lay them down, and take up his song.
Take up his song of faith, and go into the world.
Take up his song of faith in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in faith, lay them down, and take up his song.
Take up his song of love, and go into the world.
Take up his song of love in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in love, lay them down, and take up his song.
Words and music: Laura A Herman; arr. Robin King.
Commissioning & Benediction
In the name of the Creator, the Holy Spirit, and the Only Begotten One, may we go forth to spread the warming and peace of what we have received this day.
May the light, love, and wisdom of God guide our way. Amen.
*Three-fold Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God! Amen! Gilakas’la!
Announcements
- Coffee (and lunch if you wish) following the service!
- Canned and dried food for our Blessing Box and hampers are always appreciated
- Sunday December 15th, Holy Communion, is at 3pm
- Sunday December 22nd and 29th at 10:30 am
- Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols 7:00 pm
- Mission Focus: North Island Gazette Christmas Hamper Fund, final day to donate is today
Liturgical sources:
Opening Prayer, Juanita Austin, adapted in Gathering, Advent, Year C, 2021, p. 32
Commissioning and Benediction, Jani Francis in Gathering, Advent 2021 (Year C), p. 35
Music copyright:
Words for hymns reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 or CCLI License # 11033010. All rights reserved.
Voices United 6 A Candle Is Burning Words: Sandra Dean, 1986; Music: James R. Murray, 1887. Words copyright © 1986 Sandra Dean. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission on file from Sandra Dean. All rights reserved.
More Voices 12 Come Touch Our Hearts Words and music: Gordon Light, 2002. Arrangement: Andrew Donaldson, 2002. Words and music copyright © 2002 Common Cup Company. Arrangement copyright © 2002 Andrew Donaldson. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 Words and music (#118062) arrangement (#109452). All rights reserved.
Voices United 900 Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) Luke 1: 68-79 Refrain Words: Michael Perry © 1973, Music: Hal H. Hopson. © 1983 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#06177). All rights reserved.
Voices United 18 There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Words: Copyright, public domain. Music copyright © 1938 Henry Hugh Bancroft (1904-1988), estate administrated by Brian Burrows. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#308CW21). All rights reserved.
Songs for a Gospel People 12 The Lord’s Prayer Setting: Darryl Nixon, 1987. © SFAGP, 1987. Words: International Committee on English in the Liturgy, 1986. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission on file (Wood Lake Books and ICEL). All rights reserved.
Voices United 684 Make Me a Channel of Your Peace Words: attributed to St. Francis, 1220; Music: Sebastian Temple, 1967; arrangement Betty Pulkingham, 1976. Words: Public Domain. Music copyright © 1968 Franciscan Communications Centre / OCP. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#80478). All rights reserved.
Voices United 540 Grant Us, God, the Grace Words: anonymous; Music: attributed Christian F. Witt, P, Psalmodia Sacra, 1715; adaptation Henry John Gauntlett, 1861. Words and music copyright: Public domain.
More Voices 213 Take Up His Song Words and music: Laura A Herman, 2005; arr. Robin King, 2006. Words and music copyright © 2005 Laura A. Herman. Arrangement copyright © 2006 Robin King. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission on file from Laura Herman Stewart and Robin King. All rights reserved.
