The Anglican Parish of Christ Church

12116-102 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5N 0L6

P. 780.488.1118

www.christchurchedmonton.org

The Third Sunday in Advent  

December 17, 2023

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring  good tidings to the afflicted. Isaiah 61:1.

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (The Book of Alternative Services) Celebrant: The Reverend Armand Mercier

Clergy: The Venerable Susan Oliver

Preacher: Dr. Jamie Hurlburt

Crucifer: Chris Glenn

Reader: David Gay

Prayer Scribe: Shirley Edwards

Chalice Administrators: Margie King, Anne Smith, and

David Gay

Sidespersons: Greg Heaton and Ronald Laginski Music Director: Tammy-Jo Mortensen

Sunday School: Jamie Hurlburt, Karianne Rillera

and Anne Smith

Nursery: Helen Ward and Jessica Nattrass Coffee Hosts: B.J. and Rob Bussiere, Amelia & Simon

The flowers in the church today are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Esther from Hamish, David, and Bruce.

Prelude: Es ist ein Ros’ Entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming)  Johannes Brahms

Processional Hymn #91 People, Look East! The Time Is Near The Gathering of the Community

Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and  the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Almighty God,

All: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you  no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts  by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly  love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through  Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kyrie

Celebrant: Let us pray.

God of power and mercy, you call us once again to celebrate the  coming of your Son. Remove those things which hinder love of  you, that when he comes, he may find us waiting in awe and  wonder for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy  Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

People: Amen.

Children’s Talk

The Lighting of the Advent Wreath

#368 He Came Down

He came down that we may have joy; 

he came down that we may have joy; 

he came down that we may have joy, 

hallelujah for evermore. (Repeat)

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 

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 favour, 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. 

Choir: A Maiden Most Gentle – Andrew Carter 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 

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. 

Gradual Hymn #104 Joy Shall Come 

Joy shall come, even to the wilderness, 

and the parched land shall then know great gladness; 

as the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom, 

deserts like a garden blossom.

For living springs shall give cool water, 

in the desert streams shall flow; 

for living springs shall give cool water, 

in the desert streams shall flow. 

Reader: The Lord be with you. 

People: And also with you.

Reader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to  St. John (1:6-8, 19-28)

People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus 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. 

Reader: The Gospel of Christ

People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gradual Hymn #104 Joy Shall Come 

Joy shall come, even to the wilderness, 

and the parched land shall then know great gladness; 

as the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom, 

deserts like a garden blossom. 

For living springs shall give cool water, 

in the desert streams shall flow; 

for living springs shall give cool water, 

in the desert streams shall flow. 

Sermon: Dr. Jamie Hurlburt

The Apostle’s Creed

All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven  and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was  conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin  Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was  buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again.  He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the  Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the  forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life  everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in  mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us  confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Celebrant: Most merciful God,

All: 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 neighbours 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.

Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you  from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness  and keep you in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

The Peace (Please stand)

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

The Celebration of the Eucharist

Offertory Hymn: #100 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

Prayer over the Gifts (Please stand)

Celebrant: God of hope,

All: renew in us the joy of your salvation and make us a living  sacrifice to you, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you. BAS, pg. 196 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: We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your  beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. ……. By  his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence. Now  with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your  name.

Sanctus

Celebrant: Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our  Saviour Jesus Christ; …… All glory and honour are yours,  Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now  and for ever.

People: Amen.

Celebrant: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, All: 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.

Celebrant: God of promise, you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom. All: Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

Celebrant: The gifts of God for the People of God.

People: Thanks be to God.

Lamb of God

The Communion

Those who wish to share in Holy Communion are invited to come forward. Music during Communion

Choir: The Glory of the Father – Egil Hovland

Choir: No Wind At the Window – Trad. Irish/John Bell

Prayer after Communion (Please stand)

Celebrant: Merciful God,

All: may this eucharist free us from our sins, fill us with  unending joy, and prepare us for the birthday of our  Saviour. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is  Lord now and for ever. Amen.

Celebrant: Glory of God,  

All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we  can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to  generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and  ever. Amen.

Blessing

Announcements

The Dismissal

Celebrant: Go forth in the name of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.

Recessional Hymn: #97 Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring Postlude: A Virgin Pure – Nicolas Lebegue

This week we pray for: Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Armed Forces, the Rt.  Rev. Nigel Shaw. Immanuel, Wetaskiwin: Hugh Matheson (s. Fiona Brownlee),  Rector. Buyé Diocese, Bigombo Parish: Simeon Ntirandekura, Rector. Métis Nation  of Alberta.

Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE  LICENSE with license #A-707445. All rights reserved.

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church, Edmonton, Alberta

Bishop | The Right Reverend Stephen London

Parish Clergy

The Venerable Susan Oliver | sue@christchurchedm.ca

The Reverend Armand Mercier | armand@christchurchedm.ca

The Reverend Dr. Arlene Young| arlene@christchurchedm.ca

The Reverend Sheila Moorey | sheila@christchurchedm.ca

Music Director: Tammy-Jo Mortensen | music@christchurchedm.ca Lay Readers | Jamie Hurlburt and Willie King

Office Manager: Ronald Laginski | admin@christchurchedm.ca

Honorary Clergy Assistants

The Reverend Pastor Martin Garber-Conrad

The Reverend Canon Maureen Crerar

Rector’s Warden: Barb Norton 780.452.5531 | Barbara.norton@ualberta.ca People’s Warden: Trish Manns | pjmanns07@gmail.com

Associate Warden: Jessica Nattrass | jessicaemilymurray@gmail.com Treasurer: Roger Thomson | 780.488.1118

Announcements

Last Sunday for our Bethlehem Market

The Bethlehem Market will be running again this  

year! This market is a wonderful opportunity for kids  

to 'shop' after church for their parents. Everything  

is priced at a loonie and volunteers will help the  

children pick out an item and wrap it.  

Offerings for Christmas Memorial Flowers  

Donation envelopes are available at the entrance of the  

church. Offerings can also be made via etransfer  

(donations@christchurchedm.ca) or mailed to the  

parish office. Please include for whom the flowers are  

in memory of and your envelope number. Thank you  

for your support. Please have your offering in by this  

Sunday so that it can be included in the Christmas bulletin.

Waiting for the Lord

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 @ 7pm

Rev. Armand will be leading a joint Christ Church-St.  

Michael and All Angels Bible study each Tuesday  

evening during Advent. Sessions will be both in

person and via Zoom. Please contact Rev. Armand  

(armand@christchurchedm.ca) for the Zoom link.  

The schedule is as follows:

Dec. 19 at 7pm at St Michael and All Angels (5003 146 Ave NW,  Edmonton

Emmanuel Christmas Gifts 2023

On behalf of the Inner City Pastoral Ministry thank  

you for your donations and gifts of mitts, gloves, and  

socks. For those experiencing hardship these items are  

truly a blessed Christmas gift!

2024 Church Calendars Are Now Available

Calendars will be available this Sunday at the entrance to the church.  Calendars are $10 each or $12 if mailed. Please contact the parish office  if you would like a calendar mailed to you.

Please Join Us This Sunday Afternoon!  

Please Join Us this Thursday evening if you or someone you  know is finding this season challenging.  

All are welcome.

Advent and Christmas Schedule

Christmas Lessons and Carols: December 17 at 4:00 pm (in person and livestream)

Longest Night of the Year: A Service of Light and Hope December 21 at 7:00 pm (in person only)

Fourth Sunday in Advent: December 24

8:00 am (in person only)

10:00 am (in person and livestream)

December 24 Christmas Eve Services:

4:00 pm Children’s Service (in person only)

7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service  

(in person and livestream)

9:30 pm Christmas Eve Service (in person only)

December 25 Christmas Day

10:00am BAS (in person only)

December 31 First Sunday After Christmas

8:00am (in person only)

10:00am (in person and livestream)

January 7 The Epiphany of the Lord

8:00am (in person only)

10:00am (in person and livestream)