The Church of St. John the Divine
Advent Evening Worship
December 1, 2013
We, people of God, celebrate Christ in the heart of Victoria through joyful worship,
building inclusive community, and putting faith into action.
Stewards
Elizabeth McAuley .......................... People’s Warden
Barry Salter .....................................................Deputy
Jim Harlick .................................. Envelope Secretary
Doug Mitchell ................................... Rector’s Warden
Jamie Lawson .................................................. Deputy
Patrick Anderson ..........................................Treasurer
Staff Supporting the Ministry of St. John’s
The Rev. Alastair McCollum ........................................................................................ Rector
The Rev. Canon Karen Fast .......................................................................... Associate Priest
David Stratkauskas ........................................................................................ Music Director
Craig Hiebert.............................................................................Family Ministry Coordinator
Catherine MacKenzie............................................................................Parish Administrator
Carol-Ann Zenger........................................................ Reception and Facilities Coordinator
Honorary Assistants
The Rt. Rev. R. Barry Jenks / The Rev. Derek Dunwoody / The Rev. Dr. Larry Scyner
St. John’s acknowledges these ancestral lands of the Songhees people.
1611 Quadra Street, Victoria, B.C., V8W 2L5
Tel. 250-383-7169 / Fax 250-381-3573
www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca
e-mail [email protected]
Welcome
Song
Christ, be our light
1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.
3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed. (refrain)
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church
gathered today.
4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone. (refrain)
5. Many the gifts, many the people,
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come. (refrain)
2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
make us your living voice. (refrain)
Words and music: © 1993 Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
All rights reserved. Used with permission. Reprinted under Onelicense.net #A-719605
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Bidding
Leader
It is time for us to wake out of sleep, for deliverance is nearer
to us now than it was when first we believed. It is far on in the
night; day is near. Let us therefore cast off the deeds of
darkness and put on our armour as soldiers of the light.
The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ be with you
All
and also with you.
Leader
My brothers and sisters, we enter today the solemn season of
Advent in which the Church bids us prepare to celebrate the
coming of Christ; a coming that we recall in the Child of
Bethlehem; a coming that we experience in the gift of his
Spirit, in the bread of the Eucharist, in the joy of human lives
that are shared; a coming we wait for when God gathers up
all things in Christ. Let us in this holy season reflect on the
coming of Christ who brings light to the world. Let us leave
behind the darkness of sin, walk in the light that shines on our
path, and renew within ourselves the hope of glory to which
he beckons us. And as we turn towards the light, let us have
on our hearts all those who see no light, for whom all is
darkness and despair. Let us pray that they too may be
illumined by Christ who is our light.
(The whole congregation prays silently.)
All
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
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that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
2. Hark! The herald’s voice is calling
in the desert far and near,
calling us to new repentance
since the reign of God is here.
Oh, the warning call obey!
Now prepare for Christ a way;
let the valleys rise to meet him
and the hills bow down to greet him.
Psalm 42
3. Make ye straight what long was crooked;
make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble
as befits Messiah’s reign.
For the glory of the Lord
now o’er earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that God’s word is never broken.
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A Story of Light and Darkness
Part 1
Reader
Genesis 1:1–5
Reader A
In the beginning,
God allowed for chaos,
for troubled dreams,
and uncertain sounds,
and fear in the darkness.
Then when the chaos was most threatening
and hope was bleakest,
God said, ‘Let there be light’
All
And there was light
(first candle is lit)
Leader
So, remember the chaos, the uncertainty,
the confusion in which you once floundered,
and give thanks for the light.
(silence)
Song
O come, O come, Emmanuel
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
2. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law,
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Rejoice…
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Part 2
Reader
Exodus 3:7-10 and 13:20-22
Reader B
In the course of time,
God allowed for a journey
from ourselves to other people,
from restriction to freedom,
from a forgotten place to a promised land.
And when the journey was hardest,
and the way ahead unclear,
and the temptation to turn back most alluring,
God said, ‘Let there be light’
All
And there was light.
(second candle is lit)
Leader
So remember your journey
and how far you have travelled,
and give thanks for the light.
(silence)
Junior Choir
Joshua fought the battle
Part 3
Reader
John 1:1-5, 14
Reader C
Later yet,
God allowed for the special:
for friendship to grow,
for truth to be discovered,
for faith to become real.
Trad., arr. B Printz
On the mountain top
and in quiet places,
God blessed us, saying, ‘Let there be light’
All
And there was light
(third candle is lit)
Leader
So remember not why,
but how and when and where you’ve been blessed,
and give thanks for the light.
(silence)
Song
O come, O come, Emmanuel
3. O come, O Dayspring from on high
and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadow put to flight.
4. O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our bitter conflict cease,
and be for us our Prince of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Rejoice…
Part 4
Reader
Psalm 13:1-4
Reader D And then,
when the light was brightest,
and life was good,
despite our better judgement,
but in solidarity with all humankind,
we chased shadows,
and chose darkness.
(candles extinguished)
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Leader
So, remember how and when and where
and perhaps why you have wandered
from the light.
(silence)
Reader
Psalm 13:5-6
Reader A
Because God loves us,
there will be light again.
Not first in chaos,
not first on the journey,
not first for the special place,
but on the ground
and in a hidden place,
God will come,
offering a baby’s hand,
to greet us.
(candles are re-lit)
Jr. Choir
And God shall wipe away all tears
Conclusion
Reader
Luke 12:35-38
Leader
Lord Jesus Christ,
who chose, at Bethlehem, to meet us,
make us ready to lose and leave
all that makes us proud and sufficient.
All
Let our knees bend to you,
our hearts cradle you,
our lips sing you songs of love.
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Eleanor Daley
Junior Choir
Leader
Sing Hosanna
Traditional
The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light.
Come, O Lord, comfort the soul of your servant.
All
Even so, Lord, come.
Leader
O Lord Jesus Christ, come
All
at evening time, with light,
Leader
and in the morning, with your glory,
All
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Leader
He who receives our prayers says:
Surely I come quickly.
I am the root and offspring of David,
I am the bright and morning star.
All
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Leader
May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.
All
Amen.
Dismissal and Blessing
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Hymn
People, Look East
1. People, look east to see at last
hopes fulfilled from ages past:
now in the promise of the morning,
see, a brighter day is dawning,
rich with the visions long foretold,
prophets’ dreams from days of old.
2. God reaffirms the gracious call:
words of welcome meant for all;
comfort enough for all our sorrows;
justice shaping new tomorrows.
Mercy bears fruit in lives restored,
freed to praise and serve the Lord.
3. Now, with the coming of the light,
darkest fears are put to flight;
see how the clouds of gloom are clearing,
blown aside by hope’s appearing.
Jesus, the Light of all our days,
comes and sets our hearts ablaze.
4. Born of our race, a child so small—
hail the promised Lord of all!
Nailed to a cross for our salvation,
he shall rule God’s new creation.
Lift up your eyes, and look again:
see, he comes in power to reign!
Words: Martin Leckebusch (b. 1962); Sing Praise no. 15, © Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-719605.
Material for this service is taken from the Church of England’s Times and Seasons liturgy, and
from the Iona Community’s resource Cloth for the Cradle. Permission has been granted to use
this material, with thanks.
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Christmas at St. John the Divine
Advent Celebrations - Sunday, December 1
An evening of family-friendly activity, food, and worship to mark the start of the Advent season.
4:00 p.m. Advent Crafts
Wreaths, Advent candles and symbolic Christmas decorations.
Cost: $5 per family to cover materials.
5:00 p.m. Potluck Supper
Bring a dish of food to share (beverages provided).
followed by…
6:30 p.m. Advent Worship for All Ages
Choral and congregational music and readings for the season of Advent,
featuring the St. John’s junior and adult choirs.
Refreshments afterwards.
An Advent Evensong – Sunday, December 8
8:00 p.m.
A quiet service of beautiful choral music, Advent hymns and readings.
A Traditionally Untraditional Christmas Pageant –
Saturday, December 14
One performance at 5:00 p.m.
Come and enter the surprisingly active Judean countryside and suburbs of Bethlehem.
Join shepherds, townsfolk and The Wise as we all journey towards an astounding discovery.
All ages welcome –
costumes and opportunities to participate are available for all children on the night.
To be a part of the rehearsed cast or crew for this production, email [email protected]
Noel! Noel! – festive Christmas music for the Organ Sunday, December 15
7:30 p.m.
Christine Purvis, on St. John’s magnificent 4-manual Casavant pipe organ.
$10 suggested donation
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Pinnacle Brass presents A Classy, Brassy Christmas –
Friday, December 20
7:30 p.m.
Net proceeds to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund to help local families in need.
Tickets: $20
Victoria Bach Ensemble – Bach at Christmas
Saturday, December 21
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15/$10
Lessons and Carols for Christmas – Sunday, December 22
7:30 p.m.
The traditional service of music and readings for Christmas,
with choral and participatory carols, candlelight, and yummy treats to follow.
Christmas Eve - Tuesday, December 24
4:00 p.m. Family Eucharist with Children’s Participation
Bring the whole family and rejoice at the birth of Christ.
Children, especially, are invited to participate in the telling of the Christmas story
in word and song.
11:00 p.m. Midnight Mass
With traditional music, carols and candle-light.
The Chamber Choir of St. John the Divine.
Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (BAS)
Sunday, December 29
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion (BCP)
10:00 a.m. Contemporary Eucharist (BAS)
Sunday, January 5 - Feast of The Epiphany
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (BCP)
10:00 a.m. Contemporary Eucharist (BAS)
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