Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 19,2021

Voluntary “People, look East” Wayne Wold

Welcome Hymn 65 “Prepare the way, O Zion” Bereden väg för Herran

Opening Acclamation and Lighting of Advent Candle (booklet)

Song of Praise: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (stanzas 1 and 3) ( in booklet) The Collect of the Day Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Reading Micah 5:2-5a

You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace.

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people All Thanks be to God.

Canticle 15 The Song of Mary Luke 1 46-55 Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor 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.

Second Reading Hebrews 10:5-10

When Christ came into the world, he said,

"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me;

in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)."

When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people All Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Luke 1: 39-55

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

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Christ The Sermon Rev. Dr. Nina R. Pooley Anthem People, look East” Besançon Carol Melody/Malcolm Archer

1. People, look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make you house fair as you are able, trim the hearth, and set the table. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Guest is on the way. 2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Rose is on the way.

3. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim one more light the bowl shall brim. Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Star is on the way. 4. Angels, announce to man and beast Him who cometh from the East. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming People, look East, and sing today: Love the Lord is on the way.

Eleanor Farjeon

Affirmation of Faith (booklet, page 3)

The Prayers of the People

Those on our prayer list: Ken & Diane E; David W; Patrick W; Noreen R; Margaret W; Jill; Jennifer; Martie E; Tommie C; David B; Todd M; Kimberly E; Mary P; Janice F; Sokpha I; The Family of Todd Morin Those who have died: Todd Morin, father of Alex and Grant Morin Hymn “Prepare the way of the Lord” (See booklet, page 7)

The Great Thanksgiving (See booklet, page 5)

Communion Anthem “Ave Maria” Simon Lindley

Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum, et benedictus fructus ventris, tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae, Ora nobis peccatoribus, ora, ora. Amen. “Wait for the Lord” Jacques Bérthier

Closing Hymn 56 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni Emmanuel Announcements

Voluntary “Gabriel’s Message” Michael Bedford

PARISH NOTICES

WHO ARE WE? St. Stephen’s Parish is a community of people who together seek to serve our community, drawing strength and joy from worshipping together. We don’t all believe the same, act the same, vote the same, or dress the same – but we strive to love the same, as Christ loved and served all people.

ST. STEPHEN’S TABLE - Gifts in thanksgiving or in memory can be made by sending a donation to the church with the name of the person to be honored or remembered. You can also make a donation online! Just go to our website, select “Support Our Ministries,” and follow the prompts to the list of gift opportunities. Select “St. Stephen’s Table” and follow the directions.

ADVENT COMPLINE PRAYER SERVICE, Wednesday at 6:30

p.m. on Zoom December 15th.Contact the office for the Zoom link.

MICAH IS COMING: “live-streamed” on Sunday, January 9, 2022

at 10:00 a.m. To get the link, please go to

berkshireinterfaithorganizing.org and click on “REGISTER NOW

FOR MICAH 2021”. Minimum donation to get the link is $5.00. BIO

is asking for a $40.00 minimum if you can afford it. You can also pay

by check to BIO and mail to PO Box 1133, Pittsfield, MA 01202. See

Paula Morey or Susan Wojtasik for more information.

LIVING GREEN TIP Adjust the Temperature: Adjusting the temperature in your home by just one

degree can save you 10% on your energy use over the year. This is another great

saving for you and great help for the planet.

Bottles/Cans Toter Craig Reynolds Cardboard-Breakdown Don Phipps

ST. STEPHEN’S CHRISTMAS 2021 Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, there will be three (3) services:

3:00 p.m. Youth Led Family Service with music and video 6:00 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve service with Handbells, musical prelude beginning at 5:40 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service with vocal quartet, musical prelude beginning at 8:40 p.m.

Christmas Day, Saturday December 25 – enjoy the National Cathedral’s streaming service from your home. Sunday, December 26, 2021 – Eucharist and Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

The church office will be closed from 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 23 until Monday, January 3, 2022

MINISTERS OF THE CELEBRATION

CELEBRANT Rev. Dr. Nina R. Pooley LECTORS Barbara McShane, Susan LeBourdais

PRAYERS Susan LeBourdais

ALTAR GUILD Joan Evans, Kris Rogers

PASTORAL CARE VISITOR Sharon Billetter

GREETERS Craig & Christine Reynolds, Sandy Soule

VESTRY GREETER John Culver

SINGERS Sarah Novak, Soprano, Gwen Davis, Alto

Matthew Behnke, tenor, Jeffrey Hine, tenor

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained through ONE LICENSE, License #A-711743. All rights reserved

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

Office Hours: Monday –Tuesday 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Closed Friday. Worship: Wednesday: December 22nd , Compline Prayer, 6:30 p.m., Zoom. Sunday: December 26th, Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary and streaming. St. Stephen’s Table: Thurs December 23rd, Grab and Go,4:30 p.m. Friday December 24th No Table. AA Meetings: Monday and Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday thru Friday at noon; Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER LIST In our Parish prayers, we pray for: Ken & Diane E; David W; Patrick W; Noreen R; Margaret W; Jill; Alex; Jennifer; Keith; Martie E; Tommie C; Kimberly E; David B; Janice F; Mary P; Sokapha I; The Family of Todd Morin Those who have died: Todd Morin, father of Alex and Grant Morin And those serving in the armed forces and their families: MAJ Andrew B., CPT Nichols P., 1LT Curran J.D., Lance CPL Chad L., SPC Amanda D., Pvt. Corey F.D., Army Ranger Sean J., Micah H.

We pray for our community: Local Food Programs Pittsfield City Government The Governor of Massachusetts St. Stephen’s Teaching and Learning Team St. Stephen’s Parish Life Team In our Diocesan cycle of prayer we pray for

St. Matthew’s, Worcester; Safe Church Officer, The Rev. Tanya R. Wallace Berkshire Interfaith Organizing (BIO); Church Pension Group (CPG) In our Anglican cycle of prayer we pray for:

Sunday: Church of the Province of Central Africa Monday: Diocese of Ikwuano (Nigeria) Tuesday: Diocese of llaje (Nigeria) Wednesday: Diocese of lle-Oluji (Nigeria) Thursday: Diocese of llesa (Nigeria) Friday: Diocese of llesa South West (Nigeria) Saturday: Diocese of North East India (North India)

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church 67 East Street + Park Square

Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-448-8276

mail@ststephenspittsfield.org (e-mail) ststephenspittsfieldnews@gmail.com (news items)

www.ststephenspittsfield.org

VESTRY

Erin Sullivan, Co. Warden Craig Reynolds, Co. Warden Angela Moon, Clerk Leah Luczynski, Treasurer Valerie Andersen John Culver Louise Penney Wendy Coakley Mark Miller Chris Plankey

Our Staff

The Rev. Dr. Nina R. Pooley, Rector Joy Mullen, Director of Music Nina Pooley@RevNina.org jmullen@ststephenspittsfield.org

Sarah Morrison, Parish Administrator Dan Moon smorrison@ststephenspittsfield.org Director of St Stephen’s Table dmoon@pittsfield.net

William Frazier, Pastoral Leader Bert Boos, Office Assistant wfrazier413@gmail.com bboos@ststephensfield.org

Weekday Sextons-Berkshire County ARC Sunday Sexton Roy Stillman

Thee Diocese of Western Massachusetts The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas Fisher

800-322-8513 www.diocesewma.org

Welcome to Worship at St. Stephen’s

It's good to be worshipping together in the sanctuary! Thank you for your understanding and patience as we observe the following protocols: Masks: Please wear a mask at all times in the building. If you do not have one, the greeter can provide one for you. Please maintain appropriate social distance.

Contact Information: Preregistration is no longer required, but a greeter or usher may ask you for your contact information is you haven’t worshipped with us recently. This is strictly a precautionary measure should the church need to respond to a contact tracing request from public health officials.

Children are always welcome at worship!! While there's no nursery offered at this time, Family Seating has been set aside for those with children and younger teens (in the last rows of the sanctuary). Parents, please come and go as your child needs to - though we ask that children be accompanied at all times.

Singing: We are thrilled to be able to sing hymns finally! Please keep your mask on while you sing and sing gently. While less than perfect, it’s so wonderful to be able to sing again!