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A SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE & HOPE
“A BLUE CHRISTMAS”
December 9, 2015
Holy Trinity Church, Thornhill
Established in 1830
140 Brooke Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 1Y9 Phone: 905 889 5931 ● Fax: 905 889 5632
www.holytrinity-thornhill.ca ● [email protected]
“Something good is happening here!!”
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Officiant
Incumbent The Rev. Canon Stephen Fields
Parish Nurse
Susan Rodgers, R.N.
Healing & Wellness Committee Iverson Grimes
Bonnie Kennedy Eugene Liburd Robert Ogilvie Cathy Pearson
Linda Robertson Jane Winstanley
Organist
Elaine Pudwell
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OPENING SENTENCE
My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest
in hope. Psalm 16.9
THE GREETING
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
WELCOME
HYMN: 89 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vv 1, 4 & 6 )
O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
O come, thou Rod of Jesse’s stem from every foe deliver them
That trust your mighty power to save, and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
O come, O Dayspring from oh high and come us by your drawing nigh
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES IN THE ADVENT WREATH
Leader: During the season of Advent, we celebrate the hope, peace, love and
joy which we have in Christ. The First Candle speaks of HOPE - because
God keeps his promises to us.
The Candle of Hope is lit.
The Second Candle speaks of the PEACE we seek. Jesus is the ‘Prince of
Peace’ and he calls his children to work for peace in his name.
The Candle of Peace is lit.
The Third Candle speaks of the JOY we share. The Holy Spirit fills our
hearts and minds with the presence the God.
The Candle of Joy is lit.
The Fourth Candle speaks of the LOVE we show to each other. Jesus gave
everything for us and led us to know the forgiving love of God.
The Candle of Love is lit.
ORDER OF SERVICE
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We now will light our last candle, the CHRIST CANDLE, to remember the
birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On that holy night the angels
sang and, like the shepherds, we are filled with wonder and amazement.
The Christ Candle is lit.
Lord, you came as a tiny, fragile baby; yet we know that you reveal the
image of God and you are with us. May the flame of this candle remind us
that you are the light of the world and that if we follow you, we will never
walk in darkness, but will have the true light of life.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Priest: God our Comforter, in this Holy Season we are invited to receive
good news of joy because people who once walked in darkness have seen a
great light. May we who have suffered loss in our lives once again
experience joy and see your light. May the light that is the Holy Child of
Bethlehem illumine our hearts; through him who is Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
THE FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:2b-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived
in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied
the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at
the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their
burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you
have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping
warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the
fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon
his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this
time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Hymn: 98 Hark The Glad Sound!
Hark! the glad sound! The Savior comes, the Savior promised long:
Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
Christ comes, the prisoners to release in Satan's bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst, the iron fetters yield.
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Christ comes, the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure;
And from the treasuries of grace to bless the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring with thy beloved Name.
THE GOSPEL
Reader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Reader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (1:26-
38)
All: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called
Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings,
favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not
be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to
him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for
ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can
this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come
upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your
relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth
month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with
God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her .
Reader: The Gospel of Christ.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
REFLECTION
LITANY OF REMEMBRANCE AND HOPE
Leader: In the spirit of this season we approach the God of all hope and
grace praying. “Hear our prayer.”
For the peace proclaimed by the Christmas angels, to come throughout the
whole world; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
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Leader: For all in our world who know pain and loneliness as a constant
companion, and for those who live without hope, that they may hear and
receive the glad tidings of your love for them; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For our family and friends, and all who share our pain and grief,
that they may know your peace and love; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For ourselves, that we do not try to minimize our loss during this
time but that in our vulnerability we might meet you, who came to us as a
vulnerable child; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For things done and left undone, that we might be forgiven and
restored; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For every loss and grief we bear; for those we love but see no
longer, that nothing good in their lives would be lost but will be of much
value to the world; God of hope,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord.
People: And let light perpetual shine upon them.
Leader: May the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God rest in
peace and rise in glory.
People: Amen.
THE PEACE
Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Please greet one another with a sign of peace.
THE OFFERTORY: TRIMMING THE CHRISTMAS TREE (A Tree of Hope)
As the altar is being set, we invite you to come forward to hang a white dove
on the Christmas tree in memory of those you love but see no longer.
Instrumental music during the candle lighting ‘It Came Upon The Midnight
Clear’ and other selections as required.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS (Page 580)
Celebrant: God of mercy, accept the worship we offer you this day. Increase,
we pray, our faith, deepen our hope, and confirm us in your eternal love. We
ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 1 (Page 193)
Celebrant: The Lord is with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for
you created all things. You formed us in your own image: male and female
you created us. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to
care for us, but opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a
covenant with Israel, and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave
the promise of a blessing to all nations. Through Moses you led your people
from bondage into freedom; through the prophets you renewed your
promise of salvation. Therefore, with them, and with all your saints who
have served you in every age, we give thanks and raise our voices to
proclaim the glory of your name.
All: 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.
Please kneel or sit as you are able.
Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise.
In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and
Father of all. He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and
sinners; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of
your kingdom to the poor and to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your
gracious will.
On the night he freely gave himself to death, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his
disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this
for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he
gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
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Gracious God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by
raising him to life you give us life for evermore. Therefore we proclaim our
hope.
All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus,
come in glory.
Recalling his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming
again in glory, we offer you, Father, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy
Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table
may be one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our
Lord. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, all glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Malotte)
Celebrant: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
People: 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD – 5 (page 212)
Celebrant: God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.
People: Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.
THE COMMUNION
Instrumental music during Communion: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and
other selections as required.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (page 585)
Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the
spiritual food and drink of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and
have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this
sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our
inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor
crying, but fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our
Saviour. Amen.
THE BLESSING
Be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of your
life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
All: Amen.
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RECESSIONAL HYMN 136 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.
“Fear not, said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind,
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.
“To you, in David’s town this day is born of David’s line,
The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign.
“The heav’nly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid.
Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song.
“All glory be to God on high, and to the world be peace;
Good will henceforth from heaven to earth begin, and never cease.”
Minister: This act of worship is ended! Our service in the world continues!
Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
Following the service please join us in the reception room
for a time of refreshments and fellowship.
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