December 17, 2023 The Third Sunday of Advent

 Prelude “But Who May Abide” from Messiah (Handel) Timothy Hoyt, Soloist 

Entrance Hymn #59 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding 

Canticle #437 (10:15am) Tell Out, My Soul 

Sequence Hymn #601 O Day of God, Draw Nigh 

Offertory Anthem Awaken and Prepare Us (Hayes) 

Communion Anthem O Come, Divine Messiah 

Post-Communion Hymn #72 Hark! The Glad Sound! 

 THE COLLECT OF THE DAY 

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. 

FIRST READING Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah. 

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 

For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. 

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. Reader The Word of the Lord. 

People Thanks 

 CANTICLE 15 (8:00am) The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55 

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 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 

A Reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. 

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Reader 

The Word of the Lord. 

People Thanks be to God. 

GOSPEL John 1:6-8,19-28 Priest 

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. 

People  Glory to you, Lord Christ. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Priest The Gospel of the Lord. 

People Praise to you, Lord Christ