Dec. 6, 2020 | Second Sunday of Advent

Holy Eucharist Rite II

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God.

Let us pray. Jesus, you are peace even when there is hatred. Help us to forgive like you when we are hurt or wounded. Bring peace into our hearts we pray. Amen.

The first and second candles are lighted.

Opening Song There’s a voice in the wilderness crying

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod: Prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God!

The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low;

Make straight all the crooked places, where the Lord our God may go!

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up to the heights and sing! Proclaim to a desolate people the coming of their king.

Like the flowers of the field they perish, like grass our works decay, The power and pomp of nations shall pass like a dream away.

But the word of our God endureth, the arm of the Lord is strong; He stands in the midst of nations, and He will right the wrong.

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, the lambs he’ll gently hold; to pastures of peace he’ll lead them, and bring them safe to his fold.

The Collects

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, responsively by half-verse

You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, * you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.

You have forgiven the iniquity of your people * and blotted out all their sins.

I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *

for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him. Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, * that his glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring up from the earth, * and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, * and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness shall go before him, * and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

A Reading from the Second Letter of Peter Gospel song                 O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The Gospel

Response before: Glory to you, Lord Christ. Response after: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon       A period of silence follows the sermon.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People                    Response: Come, O Lord, and save us.

At the end: To you, O Lord.

The Confession and Absolution

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 neighbors 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.

The Peace

The Holy Communion: Eucharistic Prayer B

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 God thanks and praise.

Eucharistic prayer continues . . . to proclaim the glory of your Name:

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

Eucharistic prayer continues . . . Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

Eucharistic prayer continues . . . By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread Prayer for Spiritual Communion

Holy God: Together with your faithful people gathered at every altar of your Church this day, we offer you thanks and praise. We believe that you are truly present in this Holy Sacrament. Since we cannot at this time receive Communion, we pray you to come into our hearts as we meditate on your Body and Blood. We unite ourselves with you and embrace you with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Amen.

Music at Communion Mend by Nate Bennett

Post-communion prayer

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing

Closing Song    Prepare the way, O Zion

Prepare the way, O Zion; your Christ is drawing near! Let ev’ry hill and valley a level way appear.

Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story. Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

Fling wide your gates, O Zion; your Savior’s rule embrace. His tidings of salvation proclaim in ev’ry place.

All lands will bow before him, their voices will adore him. Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name.

The Dismissal