Podchaser Logo Rate on Podchaser

Episode 58

December 3, 2023 The First Sunday of Advent

 ST. PETER’S BY-THE-SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH 72 Central Street | Narragansett, RI 02882 | 401.783.4623 | www.stpetersbythesea.com 

 Entrance Hymn #57 Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending 

Sequence Hymn #454 Jesus Came, Adored By Angels 


Offertory Anthem Waiting For A King (Martin) 


Communion Anthem Creator of the Stars of Night 


Post-Communion Hymn #73 The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns 


THE COLLECT OF THE DAY 


Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 


FIRST READING Isaiah 64:1-9 


A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah. 


O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence--as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil--to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 


You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. Reader 

The Word of the Lord. 

People  Thanks be to God. 

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

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

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Craig Swan

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.