December 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

The Booklet Second Sunday of Advent A Celebration of Holy Eucharist

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Welcome/Bienvenue

Welcome to St. Albans, worshipping in and livestreaming from beautiful downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Join us in person by registering at www.stalbanschurch.ca/in-person; or online via livestream at www.facebook.com/saintalbans or YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/UCdwV9f01mc4ymXD16YdNUBA. Our French-language sister community worships at noon on Sundays, in person and online at www.facebook.com/CommunauteStBernard.

Welcome

Land Acknowledgement

St Alban’s gathers on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people. We remember the Indigenous peoples on whose land we are gathered, wherever we are. Our acknowledgement is also a statement of our commitment to the ongoing work of reconciliation with our Indigenous neighbours.

Greeting

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.

The Opening Prayer

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.

Peace: The Second Advent Candle

First Reader Today is the second Sunday in Advent. Along with the prophets and people through the ages, we dream of a world of peace and justice. We share John the Baptizer’s dream of making crooked paths

straight, of making a smooth highway broad enough for all God’s people to move on together in peace and harmony.

Second Reader Our actions can help build that highway. God’s dream can become our dream. Last week we lit the first Advent candle, reminding us to hope while we wait.

The second reader lights the first candle.

First Reader The flame of this second candle reminds us that God’s dreams can become real and burn brightly in our world

The first reader lights the second candle.

All Loving God, give us the desire, the willingness, and the courage to be part of your dream for a world of peace and justice. We pray in the name of Jesus, your dream come true. Amen.

O Come Emmanuel | Translator: J. M. Neale (1851)

O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel. Oh come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s aboad Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Hope of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our Prince of Peace

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

We pray silently.

God of timeless grace, you fill us with joyful expectation: make us ready for the message that prepares the way, so that with uprightness of heart and holy joy we may eagerly await the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

We Proclaim the Word

Each Sunday we read from sections of the Bible: the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and the Gospel. These same readings will be proclaimed to over a billion Christians around the world today.

The First Reading | Baruch 5:1-9

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendour everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.” Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing

that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.

Song of Zechariah | Luke 1:68-79

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his 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 dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The Second Reading | Philippians 1:3-11

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight -to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.

River | Leon Bridges

Been traveling these wide roads for so long My heart’s been far from you Ten-thousand miles gone Oh, I wanna come near and give ya Every part of me But there is blood on my hands And my lips aren’t clean

In my darkness I remember Momma’s words reoccur to me “Surrender to the good Lord And he’ll wipe your slate clean”

Take me to your river I wanna go Oh, go on Take me to your river I wanna know

Tip me in your smooth waters I go in As a man with many crimes Come up for air As my sins flow down the Jordan

Oh, I wanna come near and give ya Every part of me But there is blood on my hands And my lips aren’t clean

Take me to your river I wanna go Oh, go on Take me to your river I wanna know

I wanna know I wanna go, wanna go, wanna go I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know, wanna know

The Gospel | Luke 3:1-6

Le Seigneur soit avec vous. The Lord be with you. And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness. ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily | The Rev. Simone Hurkmans

Open Space

This is a time to for us to respond in our own way to what we have heard and to prepare for the prayers that follow. Please feel free to comment with any reflections, discuss with anyone in your home, or simply rest in what was shared. If you would like to offer prayers as part of our prayers of the people, please use the comments to do so.

The Affirmation of Faith

This week’s affirmation of faith comes to us from the Anglican Church in New Zealand.

You, O God, are supreme and holy. You create our world and give us life. Your purpose overarches everything we do. You have always been with us. You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, good beyond all measure. You came to us before we came to you. You have revealed and provedyour love for us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again.You are with us now. You are God. You, O God, are Holy Spirit. You empower us to be your gospel in the world. You reconcile and heal; you overcome death. You are our God. We worship you.

Prayers of the People

Confession and Absolution

Through our confession, we acknowledge our brokenness before each other and before God, and our need for the forgiveness and reconciliation, which is offered to us by God’s grace.

Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to the table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Silence is kept.

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.

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. Amen.

The Peace

In the sharing of the Peace we celebrate our reconciliation with God and extend the gift of peace to one another (Matt 5:23-24). We are also reminded that it is in meeting others that we meet Christ.

When exchanging the Peace with fellow parishioners (if you are attending in person), please remember that physical contact with those outside your bubble group is sadly not permitted during this Yellow phase. Share a sign of peace with others around you by other means such as bowing or waving. If you are online, share a sign of peace online or in your home. La paix du Seigneur soit toujours avec vous The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Share a sign of peace online or in your home.

We Celebrate the Eucharist

Offering

All that we have is a gift from God. Please consider a donation to St. Albans, via e-transfer to donate@stalbanschurch.ca, or with a secure credit card donation at www.stalbanschurch.ca/connect/donations (password StAlbans) If you’d prefer to give in person, please place your offering in the plate located near the pods. To receive an electronic tax receipt, please provide your postal address and email. Thank you!

O Day of Peace | Carl P. Daw Jr.

O day of peace that dimly shines through all our hopes and prayers and dreams, guide us to justice, truth, and love, delivered from our selfish schemes. May swords of hate fall from our hands, our hearts from envy find release, till by God’s grace our warring world shall see Christ’s promised land of peace. Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, nor shall the fierce devour the small; as beasts and cattle calmly graze, a little child shall lead them all. Then enemies shall learn to love, all creatures find their true accord; the hope of peace shall be fulfilled, for all the earth shall know the Lord

The Prayer over the Gifts

God our strength, we are nothing without you. Receive all we offer you this day as you sustain us with your mercy; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right to give you thanks and praise, O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe, you are worthy of glory and praise. Glory to you for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home; by your will they were created and have their being. Glory to you for ever and ever.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill; you made us the stewards of creation. Glory to you for ever and ever.

But we turn against you, and betray your trust; and we turn against one another. Again and again you call us to return. Through the prophets and sages you reveal your righteous law. In the fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. By his death he opened to us the way of freedom and peace. Glory to you for ever and ever.

Therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth of your glory are full Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Holy, holy, holy, Lord …

Blessed are you, Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, gave it to his friends, and said, “Take this, and eat it:

this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper, he took the cup of wine; he gave you thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Glory to you for ever and ever.

Gracious God, we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ, we proclaim his resurrection and ascension, and we look with expectation for his coming as Lord of all the nations. We who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring you these gifts. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this offering of your Church, that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the divine life of Christ our Lord. Glory to you for ever and ever.

Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth and make it your new creation. Gather your Church together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, where peace and justice are revealed, that we, with all your people, of every language, race, and nation, may share the banquet you have promised;

through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all honour and glory are yours, creator of all. Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Please feel free to use the language of your choice

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 Breaking of the Bread

God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.

Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Communion

During Communion, Rev. Simone & Rev. Caz will come to you with the bread and wine. Leave your mask on as you receive the bread, and

remove it to consume the host once Simone has moved on. If you are unable to receive the wheat wafer, a rice wafer is also available; please let Simone know. If you prefer not to receive the wine, please cross your arms over your chest.

The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Dear friends, wherever you may be, receive Christ; in communion with the saints and the gathering of God’s people, unseen yet present with us now.

We receive you Lord Jesus Christ, we welcome your presence in us, and together proclaim our love for you; with our hearts, minds, our souls, and our strength; with the saints we worship you, with the angels we adore you, with your whole Church we proclaim your reign. Come to us, though many, and make us one in you. Amen.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness | Thomas O. Chisholm

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God Creator There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou ages not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me Summer and winter and springtime and harvest Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me Pardon for wrongs and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings for all with 10,000 beside

We Are Sent

Closing Prayer

Let us pray.

We pray silently.

Faithful God, we thank you for feeding us with this heavenly banquet. Help us always to hear the prophet's call to turn our hearts to you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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.

Community Announcements

Blessing

Open Up | The Brilliance

You heard the cry of our hearts And you came down Freely you gave us your love Showing us how

Make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred let me show love Where there is darkness may we shine light and

May your love cause us to open up Cause us to open up our hearts May your light cause us to shine so bright That we bring hope into the dark

All that we do without love It means nothing Grant us the courage to give As you’re calling

Make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred let me show love Where there is darkness let me shine light and May your love cause us to open up Cause us to open our hearts May your light cause us to shine so bright That we bring hope into the dark Hope for the hopeless, your love is Strength in our weakness, your love is May we love, as you love

Sending

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

After the Service

When the service ends, please join us for coffee hour to catch up with folks. We know it’s tempting to hug and get close, but please continue to wear a mask and maintain distancing when chatting with others.

Announcements

Celebrating a Grant for our Young Adult Speaker Series

Great news! Thanks to Chad and Robyn, St Albans Young Adult Speaker Series has been awarded a $4,500 grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada's Say Yes! to Kids Fund. This gift will go towards providing speaker fees and technological equipment to further this amazing initiative. We had a great turnout for our first hybrid online/in-person event on November 17 featuring Jody-Ann Anderson, and we look forward to our next event in the new year.

Christmas Carol Sing-Along, Dec. 19 at 4pm

Take some comfort and joy in the season of Advent by joining us for our annual Christmas Carol Sing-Along on Sunday, December 19 at 4 pm. Lift your voices on Zoom, Facebook Live, or in-person; a freewill offering will benefit Centre 454. Zoom: Email info@stalbanschurch.ca for a link Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintalbans In-Person Registration: details soon! PWRDF Response to B.C. Flooding The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund is accepting donations towards an emergency response in B.C. There are many ways to support these communities; visit the PWRDF website at www.pwrdf.org/pwrdf-accepting-donations-for-b-c/

Thursdays: Morning Prayer/Bible Study The study group meets on Zoom each Thursday at 9 am. Join us to pray and to study Gospel and Psalm readings for the upcoming Sunday; a lovely way to start the day. The Zoom link – https://bit.ly/3k7yekT– is the same each week. Meeting ID: 821 0277 5595 Passcode: 574469

Three Thursdays in Advent: God and the Pandemic

How is God revealed? What does renewal look like? Our study group with the Rev. Dr. Caz Ducros will unpack N. T. Wright’s God in the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus, for Advent. Join us on Zoom, Thursdays from Dec. 2 to Dec. 16 at 7:30pm. Questions? Called to be a part of the discussion? Email Rev. Caz.

Christmas at St. Albans

Sunday, December 19 4pm Carol Service and 454 Benefit; Zoom and in-person

Christmas Eve Services 4pm St-Bernard Veille de Noël, en personne et sur Zoom 7pm Intergenerational Eucharist, Zoom and in-person 9pm Candlelight Eucharist, livestream and in-person

Christmas Day 9am Service of the Word, on Zoom only

Boxing Day 10:30am Holy Eucharist, livestream or in-person at

Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St.

Christmas II 10am Holy Eucharist 12h00 St-Bernard Eucharistie en français

St. Albans Contacts

The Rev. Simone Hurkmans, Incumbent revsimone@stalbanschurch.ca

The Rev. Dr. Caroline (Caz) Ducros, Assistant Curate revcaz@stalbanschurch.ca

Chad Cecil, Music and Young Adult Pastor chad@stalbanschurch.ca

Annie MacTavish, Church Administrator office@stalbanschurch.ca

Lila Ibrahim, Children and Youth lila@stalbanschurch.ca

Nick Busch, Online Coordinator nick@stalbanschurch.ca

St. Albans Church

454 King Edward Ave at Daly Ottawa, ON K1N 7M8

613-236-0342 office@stalbanschurch.ca

Church Administration Hours W and F, 10 – 4

2021 Pledge Campaign

Once a year, we ask that our community members and supporters prayerfully consider their contribution to our mission over the coming year. Please be a part of our 2021 pledge campaign!

1. Please complete our online Pledge Form at https://bit.ly/3raNUIH

a) Make a financial pledge for the coming year; and

b) Let us know about ministries and activities in which you would like to be further involved.

2. Go to https://bit.ly/3CUel7K to watch this awesome video that Nick put together for us.

3. Read the 2022 Financial Enclosure at https://bit.ly/3pa5R7I for further information on how your financial donations are used.

Now is the time to re-commit ourselves to St Albans mission, to be a Christ-centred, Spirit-led community in the heart of the city. So that we can adapt to changing circumstances. So we can face the future in faith and confidence.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact any member of our Giving Team:

Ron Chaplin, People’s Warden, rchaplin@netrover.com;

Michelle Sorenson, Deputy Warden, michelle.sorenson@ualberta.ca;

Evey Hornbeck, Parish Council, evey.hornbeck@gmail.com, and

Simone Hurkmans, Incumbent, revsimone@stalbanschurch.ca.