Blessed are you, holy and living One.
You come to your people and set them free. Amen.
Let us pray together.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: 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.
The Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Second Candle—Candle of Peace
Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord .
Thanks be to God
Today is the Second Sunday of Advent and we will light the Candle of Peace.
Last Sunday, we lit the First Candle in our Advent Wreath, and celebrated the patriarchs. This First Candle reminded us of our hope in Christ. We light it again as we remember our Savior, born a king in the line of King David. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and we believe that he will come again to fulfill all of God's promises to us, to rule the world wisely and bless all nations.
Light the First Candle here, the Candle of Hope, if you have an Advent Wreath. If not, any candle will do.
Today we light the Second Candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace. We remember the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Savior would be born, a king in the line of King David. The prophet Isaiah called Christ “the Prince of Peace.” They told us how He would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations.
When Jesus came, he taught people the importance of being peace-makers. He said that those who make peace shall be called the children of God. When Christ comes to us, He brings us peace and He will bring everlasting peace when he comes again. We light the Candle of Peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that through him peace is found.
Light the Second Candle, the Candle of Peace, here.
Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, the prophets said you would bring peace and save your people from trouble. Give peace in our hearts at Christmastide. We ask that as we wait for you to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen
The Collect of the Day
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 Benedixisti, Domine
1 You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *
you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
and blotted out all their sins.
8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; *
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, *
and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.
The Epistle 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
The Gospel Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Sermon Fr. Nelson Gaetz
On the second and third Sundays of Advent, we get a heaping helping of John the Baptist. Makes me just a little uncomfortable as a way of preparing for Christmas. I am tempted to just turn to the more familiar words of Isaiah: “Comfort, Comfort, ye my people…” Now that gets me in the Christmas spirit, but when I find Bible texts uncomfortable or, too challenging, I always know there is something going on that I need to pay attention to.
And then I notice something glaringly obvious. Look at how John the Evangelist (Not to be confused with John the Baptist) begins his Gospel: “In beginning…” (αψίδα — Arche in the Greek of the New Testament.)
Have you heard those words before? “In beginning” They should be familiar. Think back to how the Bible begins. In Genesis we hear “In the Beginning….” I think St. John is so bold as to tell us that his little book is what Paul Harvey* would have called – The rest of the story.
Yes, in Genesis the Bible tells us all the majestic things God did in creation. But, John dares tell us that in Jesus Christ there was so much more to the story. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God will weave yet more majestic acts and that’s the story he is about to tell. And then, jump ahead to chapter 16. It might look like the end of the story. “Trembling and bewildered, the women fled from the tomb. They told no one. But, of course, we know that is not really what happened. That really was not the end. They told the story over and over again until it reached the ends of the earth and echoes down through history to today. YES, ‘til today and that’s where we come in. We are to take up telling the story. Having heard the story, we get to enter into it by telling it to others. We do that in words and deeds.
All of our deeds of love and care proclaim that God is not done re-creating the world. The world where love is greater than hate. Joy is to be shared. People count. All people.
But, sometimes words are needed. We are especially poor at telling the Good News in words. When was the last time you told anyone about Jesus? Do you send Christmas cards that feature Santa or the Holy Family?
The story is never done. May this Advent be a time to re-new your participation of the telling.
Happy Advent!
*If you don’t know who Paul Harvey was… you are not as old as me. Look him up!
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Brief silence
Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! As You led Joseph like a flock, so now by Your Son lead us into straight paths. Bring us out of the bondage of our sins and plant us securely in Your eternal promises. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, in Your blessed patience, You send Your prophets and apostles, pastors and teachers in all times, that sinners would not perish but rather reach repentance and find comfort in Your Word, which alone will stand forever. Preserve the servants of Your Church especially Michael and DeDe, our Bishops, and Nelson, our Rector. Give to our parish an increase of hope, that we may await the revealing of the new heavens and new earth in lives of holiness and godliness, diligent to be found without spot or blemish and at peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all comfort, Your Word alone endures forever. The nations of the world come and go before You. Even kings and rulers are like grass before Your breath. Preserve us from placing our trust in mortals. Give us leaders who will rule after Your good pleasure, keeping order and protecting life, that we may live in godly quietness and honesty. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of hosts, graciously regard all for whom we pray especially those we name before you now. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You once prepared the way of Your only begotten Son through the preaching and baptism of John. Prepare now all the baptized with true repentance and faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Most merciful God,
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 neighbors 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.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in life. Amen.
So now we pray with confidence to the Father the words our Lord Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by the 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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Closing Blessing
May God almighty bless and keep us, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Amen.