The Parish of Saint John the

Divinewww.stjohndivine.caPhone: 705.472.6070

December 22, 2019 - 10:30 a.m.Mission Statement

St. John the Divine is a welcoming, nurturing and worshiping community which demonstrates by word

and deed the love of Jesus Christ for all creation.

Acknowledgment of Indigenous Territory

We acknowledge that this church is situated upon traditional territories. We gather today in the traditional territory of the Nipissing First Nation and Robinson-Huron Treaty Lands. We recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST The Book of Alternative Services

Celebrant Rev. Beth Hewson

Opening Hymn:388 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. People: And also with you

Collect for Purity

Celebrant: 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

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Together: Heavenly Father, who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour, now fill us with you grace, that we in all things may embrace your will and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Conversation with the Young People

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PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Lector: A reading from Isaiah 7: 10-16

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Lector: The word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God

Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth2   before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.Stir up your might, and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;   let your face shine, that we may be saved.4 O Lord God of hosts how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

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5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.6 You make us the scorn of our neighbours; our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

Together: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd; you have led us to the kingdom of your Father’s love. Forgive our careless indifference to your loving care for all your creatures, and remake us in the likeness of your new and risen life. We ask this in your name.

Lector: A reading from Romans 1: 1-7

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give

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you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Lector: The word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God

Gradual Hymn #94 Wait for the lord

Holy Gospel: Matthew 1: 18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but

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had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Interactive Sermon The Congregation

The Apostles’ CreedCelebrant: Let us confess the faith of our baptism as we say,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 Spiritand 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 Layreader: (In joyful expectation let us pray to our Saviour and Redeemer, as we say, “Lord Jesus, come soon!”)

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Layreader: O Wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, you reign over all things to the ends of the earth: come and teach us how to live) as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Layreader: O Lord and head of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and you gave the law on Sinai: come with outstretched arm and ransom us, as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Layreader: O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations, all kings will keep silence before you and all peoples will summon you to their aid: come, set us free and delay no more, as we say Lord Jesus, come soon!

Layreader: O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open and none can shut, you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison, as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon

Layreader: O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and briht Sun of righteousness: come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, And in our parish we pray for . . . . . as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Layreader: O King of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one: come and save the creature you fashioned from clay, In the Anglican Communion Cycle we pray for Christians and the work of the ecumenical movement, His Holiness

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Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and His All Holiness Archbishop Bartholomew of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, the Revd Dr. Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Bishop Abrahams, General Secretary World Methodist Council and the Reverend Ferguson, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Church. In the Algoma Diocese we pray for St. James’, Gravenhurst and the Rev. Heather Manuel and the Rev. Canon Tom James as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Layreader: O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, Lord our God, as we say, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Together we pray: Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you, and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests.Fulfil now our desires and petitions, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come eternal life; for you, Father, are good and loving, and we glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Confession Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, God is

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steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Celebrant: 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 name. Amen.

Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The PeaceCelebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.

Offertory Hymn: #109 When the King Shall Come Again

Prayer over the Gifts

Gracious God, by the power of the Spirit who sanctified the mother of your Son, make holy all we offer you this day. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

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Eucharistic Prayer #2

Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Celebrant We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. He is your living Word, through whom you have created all things. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. In fulfilment of your will he stretched out his hands in suffering, to bring release to those who place their hope in you; and so he won for you a holy people. He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows, and to give up his life on the cross, that he might shatter the chains of evil and death, and banish the darkness of sin and despair. By his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence. Now with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

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heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Celebrant: Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread and gave you thanks, saying, “Take, and eat: this is my body which is broken for you.” In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory of me.” Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon the offering of your holy Church. Gather into one all who share in these sacred mysteries, filling them with the Holy Spirit and confirming their faith in the truth, that together we may praise you and give you glory through your Servant, Jesus Christ. All glory and honour are yours, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and forever. Amen

(Take a position of prayer)

Celebrant: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your

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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 forever. Amen.

The Breaking of Bread Celebrant: God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.All: Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lamb of God You take away the sin of the world, Have mercy on us. (2x) Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world Grant us peace, grant us peace

Hymns During Communion

Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us break bread together on our knees, (2x). When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees, (2x)When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,O Lord, have mercy on me.

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Let us praise God together on our knees, (2x)When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,O Lord, have mercy on me.

#122 In The Bleak Mid Winter Hymn book# 572 Let There Be Light Hymn book

Give ThanksGive thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy OneGive thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His

Son (2x)And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am richBecause of what the Lord has done for us" (2x)

Give thanks (3x)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Together we pray: Faithful God, in this sacrament we receive the promise of salvation. May we, like the Virgin Mary, be obedient to your will. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

DOXOLOGY

Celebrant: Glory to God, Whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

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Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, Forever and ever. Amen

Blessing/Announcements/Dismissal Recessional Hymn:

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Chorus: Go tell it on the mountain,Over the hills and everywhere;Go tell it on the mountainThat Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watchingO’er silent flocks by night,Behold, throughout the heavensThere shone a holy light. Chorus The Shepherds feared and trembledWhen, lo! above the earthRang out the angel chorusThat hailed our Savior’s birth. Chorus Down in a lowly mangerThe humble Christ was bornAnd God sent us salvationThat blessed Christmas morn. Chorus

Events:Dec 22nd: 7:00 pm Christmas Carol Sing-a- Long at Christ Church

Dec. 24: 7:00 pm St. John’s Christmas Eve Service

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Last day to purchase tickets for a Christmas Basket that has everything you need for Christmas dinner. The tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. The draw will be after church today.

Stocking stuffers or gift ideas Gift cards for are being sold for Orchards and Home Hardware. Orchards gives 20% and Home Hardware offers 25% value of the card to the church. You receive the full value of the card. Please see Ginette Boucher.

Tickets are available for the Turkey Dinner which is Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $16 for adults, $10 for students, children under six $5. See Irv

for tickets or call the church office at 705-472-6070.

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Larry and Danielle would like to thank the congregation for their support in achieving St. John’s goal of The Whole Farm through PWRDF.

The committee will come up with a new goal by the first of Lent. In the mean time everyone should feel free to look over the poster and give a gift to some deserving family around the world. You can partner up with another family for a more expensive gift.

Thursday, January 9, 2020: There will be a layreader’s meeting starting at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Church.

Vestry Meeting: The vestry meeting will be held Feb 2 right after church in the Parish Hall. All groups submitting reports are asked to send them electronically to Dawn by January 9. Please label the reports Vestry Meeting and the name of the group. For instance Vestry Meeting – ACW. The vestry booklet has to be ready and in the hands of the congregation by Jan. 19th.

The Coldest Night Walk will be held Saturday, Feb. 22,2020. Sign up sheets will be available soon.

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