ST. COLUMBA
ANGLICAN UNITED CHURCH
Advent 3
Holy Communion
December 15, 2024
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
(250)-230-7433 scook@bc.anglican.ca
Wardens: Robert Fyles and Heather Jones
Treasurer: Judy Fyles
Music Ministry: Judy Fyles
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
† at this symbol in the service, the sign of the cross may be made.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bringing good tidings to the afflicted. -Isaiah 61.1
Welcome and Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
The Gathering of the Community
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Advent Candle Lighting
Joy (The first two candles are lit.)
Today we kindle the Advent candle of joy.
(The third candle is lit.)
We welcome the spark that dances with the Holy Spirit, the spark that fires and inspires our souls, the spark of creativity and wonder.
Come, Holy Stranger, evangelist of joy on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you.
We receive the light of joy.
*Hymn VU 6 A Candle is Burning vv. 1-3
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.
A candle is burning, a candle of joy,
a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
Words: Sandra Dean
Collect of the Day
Jesse Tree- Cedar of Lebanon
The Proclamation of the Word
Hutłilala's! Let us listen as God’s Word is proclaimed!
Canticle 3 VU 880 Isaiah 12:2-6
Refrain (said): Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid,
for you, God, are my strength and might; you show yourself my saviour.
R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
With joy we draw water from the wells of salvation.
Give thanks and call on God’s name.
Make known God’s deeds among the nations;
proclaim that God’s name is exalted.
Sing praises to God, whose work is glorious; let it be known in all the earth.
Shout for joy, you who dwell in Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is majestic among you.
R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7
...The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
*Hymn VU 20 On Jordan’s Bank
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lamb is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of Kings.
Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
make straight the way for God within;
and let each heart prepare a home
where such a mighty guest may come.
In you, we find abundant life,
our refuge in the midst of strife;
without your grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,
and help us rise to fall no more.
O let your face upon us shine,
and fill the world with love divine.
All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won;
and praise to God whom we adore,
with Holy Spirit evermore.
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
….. the reading, Luke 3:7-18
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection
*Hymn VU 44 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold,
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven's all-gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not
the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise, and cease your strife,
to hear the angels sing.
For, lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
*Affirmation of our Faith- 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
Response: Hear our prayer.
Confession
…a moment of silence…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 neighbours 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 Holy name. Amen.
Absolution
The Peace
Friends, Christ is our Peace, our infinite Peace. May the peace of God be always with you.
And also with you.
(We all share a sign of peace together.)
THE SACRED MEAL IS SHARED
*Offertory Hymn VU 29 Hark the Glad Sound
Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long:
let every heart prepare a throne;
and every voice a song.
He comes, the prisoners to release
in Satan's bondage held;
the gates of brass before him burst,
the iron fetters yield.
He comes, the broken heart to bind,
the bleeding soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to bless the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
your welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven's eternal arches ring
with your beloved name.
*Response VU 541 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit One! Amen
*Prayer over the Gifts
Eucharist Prayer
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God our creator.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right in all times and in all places to thank and praise you Creator of all....
...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.
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.
We give thanks to you for Jesus, whose first bed was a feed trough. ...
...All honour and glory are yours, †Creator, Christ and Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
And now as our Saviour has taught us, we are bold to pray,
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. And 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.
Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord. “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him!
Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
The elements are given out and we celebrate communion as one.
Jesus Christ, the bread of Life. (We take the host.)
Jesus Christ the cup of our salvation. (We take the wine/juice)
Prayer after Communion
*Hymn VU 326 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of God's grace.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner’s ears,
'tis life and health and peace.
He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
Hear him, you deaf, you voiceless ones,
your tongues again employ,
you blind, behold your Saviour comes,
and leap, you lame, for joy!
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of your name.
*Doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
*Blessing
*Three-fold Amen
*Dismissal
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Announcements
- Coffee following the service!
- Canned and dried food are always appreciated
- Mission Focus: Our Place, Victoria
Services:
- December 22 10:30 AM
- December 24 7 PM Lessons and Carols
- December 29 10:30 AM Hymn Sing
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS:
Micah 5:2-5c
Canticle 18 (Luke 1:46-55), or Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-35 (46-55)
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:11
Gilakas’la!
Liturgical sources:
Prayers of the People: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3215812/Prayers_of_the_People_Advent_3C.pdf
Bible Versions: NRSVUE/Bible Gateway
Eucharist Prayer: Salal and Cedar: A Watershed Community, Vancouver, BC, salalandcedar.com Adapted.
Blessing, attributed to The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong.
All other Prayers from: the Anglican Book of Alternative Services. Copyright © 1985 by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.
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 podcast with permission on file from Sandra Dean. All rights reserved.
Voices United 20 On Jordan’s Bank Words: Latin, Charles Coffin 1763 translated John Chandler 1837, altered; Music: Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg 1690; Arr. W. H. Havergal 1864; desc. Hal Hopson 1979. Words and music: copyright, public domain. Descant copyright © 1979 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#87098 descant). All rights reserved.
Voices United 44 It Came upon the Midnight Clear Words: Edmund Hamilton Sears, 1849 alt. Music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850. Copyright: Public domain.
Voices United 29 Hark the Glad Sound Words: Philip Doddridge, 1738; Music: Thomas Haweis, 1792; adaptation Samuel Webbe, 1808; descant John Wilson. Words, Music, Adaptation: Copyright, public domain. Descant: © 1996 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#72594). All rights reserved.
Voices United 541 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Words: Thomas Ken ca. 1674 Music: Genevan Psalter 1551 Copyright: Public domain.
Voices United 326 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Words: Charles Wesley 1739, alt. Music: Carl Gotthelf Glaser ca. 1828; adaptation and harmony Lowell Mason 1839. Copyright: Public domain.
