ST. COLUMBA
ANGLICAN-UNITED CHURCH
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22, 2024
Anglican Service of the Word
Worship leader: Robert Fyles
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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: 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: Love
(The first three candles are lit.)
Today we kindle the Advent candle of Love.
(The fourth candle is lit.)
We welcome the warmth that lightens the winter chill, the warmth of passionate embrace, the warmth that comes from the heart of God.
Come, Holy Stranger, messenger of love on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you.
We receive the light of love.
*Hymn VU 6 A Candle Is Burning vv. 1-4
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.
A candle is burning, a candle of love,
a candle to point us to heaven above.
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
For Jesus is bringing God’s Love to our earth.
Words: Sandra Dean
Advent Preface
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
Will you not give us life again,
That your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
And grant us your salvation.
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Jesse Tree/ Cedar of Lebanon
*Opening Hymn VU 1 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (new words)
O come, O come, Emmanuel
Refresh us at your life-giving well.
All people long to feel your grace,
Pour out your Spirit on every place.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel,
shall come to thee wherever you may dwell.
O come to us, our Everlasting Home,
Your people lost and broken, roam,
And seek a place of welcome and peace,
From war and violence, may they know release.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel,
shall come to thee wherever you may dwell.
O come Beloved, hear your peoples’ plea -
The wounded soul, the homeless refugee.
May `Welcome’ be our own heart’s call,
‘Till there be room and justice for us all.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel,
shall come to thee wherever you may dwell.
Words by Juanita L. Austin
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Hutlilala’s! Listen deeply as Scripture is proclaimed.
Canticle 18a Luke 1:47-55 BAS 86
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; *
for he has looked with favour 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.
Amen.
Hebrews 10: 5-10
…This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
*Hymn MV 120 My Soul Cries Out
My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev'ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Words and arrangement: Rory Cooney
*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 1:39-45
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Why I hate Christmas (mostly) by Patti Rodgers
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Affirmation of Faith: Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Prayer leader: Let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, have mercy.
*The Lord’s Prayer
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)
*Offertory Hymn VU 55 In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
a breast full of milk, and a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him -- give my heart.
*Response VU 581 When We are Living v2
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
we belong to God; we belong to God.
Prayer Over the Gifts
*Hymn VU 43 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
o'er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Saviour's birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent our salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
Commissioning & Benediction
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
*Three-fold Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God! Amen! Gilakas’la!
Announcements
- Coffee following the service! Lunch downstairs if you wish
- Canned and dried food are always appreciated
- Mission Focus: Our Place, Victoria
- December 24 7 PM Lessons and Carols
- December 29 10:30 AM Hymn Sing
Liturgical sources:
Advent Candle lighting by Don Stiles, GatheringWorship.ca 2018
The Book of Alternative Services (BAS). Copyright © 1985 by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. All rights reserved. Reproduced under license from ABC Publishing, Anglican Book Centre, a ministry of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, from Anglican Liturgical Library. Further copying is prohibited.
Sermon: by Patti Rodgers from Broadview’s Best Christmas Sermon Ever Contest, runner-up. © December 5, 2024 https://broadview.org/why-i-hate-christmas-mostly/
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.
Cup of Wine and A Piece of Bread 115 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (alternative words) Words: Juanita L. Austin, 2017; Music: 15th century plainsong melody; arrangement: Healey Willan. Words copyright © 2017 Juanita L. Austin. Arrangement copyright © Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Music, public domain. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 words (#105863). All rights reserved.
More Voices 120 My Soul Cries Out Words: Rory Cooney, 1990; Music: traditional melody, Ireland; Arrangement Rory Cooney. 1990. Music: Public Domain. Words and arrangement copyright © 1990 GIA Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#00762). All rights reserved.
Voices United 55 In the Bleak Midwinter Words: Christina Georgina Rossetti, ca. 1872; Music: Gustav Theodor Holst, 1906. Copyright: Public domain.
Voices United 581 When We Are Living Verse 2 only English translation verses 2-4 George Lockwood 1987. Music: Spanish melody; harmony Carlton R. Young 1989. Translation and harmony copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under CCLI License # 11033010 (4968810) or ONE LICENSE #A-720359 Harmony (#00901) and translation verses 2-4 (#15060). All rights reserved.
Voices United 43 Go, Tell It on the Mountain Words: John Wesley Work II, 1907; Music: African-American spiritual 19th century arr. United Reformed Church (U.K.). Words and music: Copyright, public domain. Arrangement: © United Reformed Church. Used by permission of Oxford University Press. Later publications state the arrangement as public domain.
