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Episode 12

December 18, 2022 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Entrance #497 How Bright Appears the Morning Star

Sequence #265 The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came

Offertory Anthem Ave, Ave, The Angel Sang (Lau)

Communion O Come, Divine Messiah

Post-Communion

#54Savior of the Nations, Come

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.

FIRST READING Isaiah 7:10-16

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as

heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore 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. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For 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.”

PSALM 80:1-7, 17-19 Qui regis Israel 1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *

shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up your strength and come to help us.

3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

4 O LORD God of hosts, *

how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; * you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, * the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.

17 And so will we never turn away from you; * give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

18 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

ST. PETER’S BY-THE-SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH

72 Central Street | Narragansett, RI 02882 | 401.783.4623 | www.stpetersbythesea.com

SECOND READING Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL Matthew 1:18-25

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. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But 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. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

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In this week’s parish cycle of prayer, we pray for:

Lynne Phipps; Ed Pigott & Deb Heggie Pigott; and David, Eileen, & Liam Po-Chedley.

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St. Peter's by-the-Sea
An Episcopal Church located in Narragansett, Rhode Island

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Craig Swan

The Reverend Craig Swan is a life-long Episcopalian. Having experienced a call to ordained ministry during his freshman year in college, Fr. Swan pursued a multi-field major in Sociology and Psychology with a concentration in Religion during his years at St. Lawrence University.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Fr. Swan matriculated to Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University where he received his Master’s in Divinity. After Divinity School, Fr. Swan pursued his interest in youth ministry by working with at-risk youth, first in New Haven, CT through the Dixwell Community House and then with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

It was when he grew frustrated with the fact that he could not share his greatest joy - the love of God for each of us - with the children he was called to care for, that he began the formal journey to ordination. Ordained in 2000, Fr. Swan continued his devotion to youth ministry and children’s protection in the Diocese of Massachusetts where he served as the Assistant Rector and Director of Youth Ministries at the Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill and as a Massachusetts Diocesan Safe Church Trainer.

In 2003, Fr. Swan was called to be the Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in Camillus, New York. For 12 years he faithfully served this parish, leading them out of $200,000 in debt while he and his wife, Maureen, guided their two daughters – Chelsea and Kayleigh - through adolescence and cheered for them throughout their 8 years as members of the West Genesee Wild Cat Marching Band. While working in Camillus, Fr. Swan developed skills in mutual ministry review, parish consultation, creative worship and spiritual direction.

Called to St. Peter’s by-the-Sea in 2015, Fr. Swan has continued his work in Safe Church and now utilizes his protective services background as a Title IV (clergy misconduct) Intake Officer for the Diocese of Rhode Island. Within the parish he enjoys working collaboratively with musicians and lay leaders towards the development of creative and meaningful worship. He also has found a new passion: teaching the faith through courses on the sacraments and Bible Study.

When Fr. Swan is not at St. Peter’s, he can be found most mornings either working out or swimming at the South County YMCA. A native Southern New Englander, Fr. Swan roots for all teams New England: the Patriots, the Red Sox, and UConn Basketball.