A Service for Advent with Carols

November 29th, 2020 5.00 P.M.

ADVENT

The season of Advent is traditionally a time of preparation for Christmas, and its observance dates from the sixth century in Gaul. It stretched from St. Martin’s Day (11th November) to Christmas Eve and was known as ‘The Lent of St. Martin’. This title suggests the parallel between Advent and Lenten fasting, and meditations on the themes of judgment and the last things were developed for each of the Sundays prior to Christmas Day. At the same time, Advent is not formally a time of fasting and Advent Sunday, the first Sunday of the Christian year, is properly a day of joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming. The ancient people of God, the Jews, looked forward to the coming of God’s Kingdom when there would be a new order of justice and righteousness. The early Church saw that this kingdom had been anticipated and experienced through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but still prayed “Thy Kingdom come’, looking forward to a second coming and the final consummation of all things. The pattern of this Advent service reflects the season’s growing anticipation, both of the first coming of Christ and of that Day when the prayer ‘Thy Kingdom come’ is finally and fully answered.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN

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 thee, O Israel.

O come, thou branch of Jesse’s tree,

Free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust thy mighty power to save, And give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come thou Lord of might,

Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times didst give the law,

In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the path that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Day-spring from on high,

And cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

THE BIDDING PRAYER

Beloved in Christ, the season of Advent bids us prepare ourselves both for the celebration of Christ’s nativity as also for the day when he shall come to judge the hearts of us all. So, in sorrow and penitence, let us confess our failures and shortcomings, and renew in ourselves the vision of God’s perfect kingdom, which is the end of all our strivings and the consummation of God’s loving purposes for us. In word and music we will give voice to the hope set forth in the scriptures, that God’s kingdom will come; and, with John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we will prepare for its coming, celebrating its dawning in the birth, life and death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But first let us pray for those who, by reason of their adversity, yearn especially for its coming: the hungry and the homeless, the sick and the sorrowful, the lonely and the unloved; those who sit in the darkness of despair or who walk in the shadow of death. Let us pray for the leaders of the nations and for all who strive for the establishment of justice, righteousness and peace; and, that it may bear witness to this hope in a world divided by wrath and sorrow, let us pray for the well-being and unity of Christ’s body, the Church. Let us then pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. May the Lord find us watching and waiting. Amen.

CAROL

Matin Responsory

I look from afar; and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.

Go ye out to meet him and say; Tell us, art thou He that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

High and low, rich and poor, one with another,

Go ye out to meet him and say; Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep,

Tell us, art thou He that should come?

Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

I look from afar; and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.

Go ye out to meet him and say; Tell us, art thou He that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

Words: Translated from First Responsory of Advent Sunday Music: Adapted from a Magnificat of Palestrina

THE MESSAGE OF ADVENT

SENTENCE

Officiant: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man

cometh. Officiant: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. People: And all flesh shall see it together.

COLLECT

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON

Isaiah 11: 1-5

The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown

CAROL

A Tender Shoot

A tender shoot hath started up from a root of grace,

As ancient seers imparted from Jesse’s holy race. It blooms without a blight,

Blooms in the cold bleak winter turning our darkness into light.

This shoot, Isaiah taught us, from Jesse’s root should spring. The Virgin Mary brought us the branch of which we sing.

Our God of endless might, Gave her this child to save us, turning our darkness into light.

Words: William Bartholomew Music: Otto Goldschmidt

SECOND LESSON

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

The call to be vigilant in preparation for the coming of the Lord

CAROL

Out of Your Sleep

Out of your sleep arise and wake, For God mankind now hath ytake.

All of a maid without any make; Of all women she beareth the bell.

And through a maidé fair and wise,

Now man is made of full great price; Now angels knelen to man’s service,

And at this time all this befell.

Now man is brighter than the sun; Now man in heav’n on high shall won;

Blessed be God this game is begun And his mother the Empress of hell.

That ever was thrall now is he free;

That ever was small now great is she; Now shall God deem both thee and me

Unto his bliss if we do well.

Now man he may to heaven wend; Now heav’n and earth to him they bend.

He that was foe now is our friend. This is no nay that I you tell.

Now blessed Brother grant us grace,

At doomés day to see thy face, And in thy court to have a place,

That we may there sing thee nowell.

Words: Anonymous, 15th Century Music by Richard Rodney Bennett

HYMN

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth thou art: Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver; Born a child, and yet a king, Born to reign in us for ever,

Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

THE WORD OF GOD

SENTENCE

Officiant: O people of Zion, behold the Lord is nigh at hand to redeem the nations, and in the gladness of your heart the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard.

Officiant: Declare his honor unto the nations: People: And his wonders unto all people.

COLLECT

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

THIRD LESSON

Micah 4: 1-4

The prophet’s vision of the last days, when the nations will be judged

CAROL

Canite Tuba

Blow up the trumpet in Zion, for the day of the Lord is at hand.

Behold, he comes to save us. He will make the crooked ways straight, and the rough places plain.

Come O Lord and do not tarry.

Words: Advent Antiphon Music: Francisco Guerrero

FOURTH LESSON

Luke 4: 14-21

The words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled by Jesus Christ

HYMN Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes,

The Savior promised long: Let every heart prepare a throne,

And every voice a song.

He comes, the prisoners to release In Satan’s bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst, The iron fetters yield.

He comes, the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure: And with the treasures of his grace

To enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim;

And heaven’s eternal arches ring With thy beloved Name.

THE PROPHETIC CALL

SENTENCE

Officiant: Behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me. Officiant: Prepare ye the way of the Lord. People: Make his paths straight.

COLLECT

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare the way before thee: grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready the way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

FIFTH LESSON

Malachi 3: 1-7

The day of God’s appearing brings judgment and cleansing

MOTET

How Beautiful upon the Mountains

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;

That saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!

Words: Isaiah 52:7 Music: John Stainer

SIXTH LESSON

Matthew 3: 1-11

The proclamation of John the Baptist

HYMN

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh; awake and hearken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every breast from sin; make straight the way for God within,

and let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty guest may come.

For thou art our salvation, Lord, our refuge and our great reward; without thy grace we waste away

like flowers that wither and decay.

To heal the sick stretch out thine hand, and bid the fallen sinner stand;

shine forth, and let thy light restore earth's own true loveliness once more.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee,

whose advent doth thy people free; whom with the Father we adore

and Holy Spirit evermore.

THE CHRIST BEARER

SENTENCE

Officiant: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his

name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Officiant: Unto us a child is born: People: Unto us a son is given.

COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst stoop to raise our fallen race by the child-bearing of blessed Mary: Grant that we, who have seen thy glory manifested in our flesh, and thy love perfected in our weakness, may daily be renewed in thine image, and conformed to the likeness of thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

SEVENTH LESSON

Luke 1: 39-49

Mary shares her joyful news with Elizabeth

CAROL

Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Words: Luke Music: George Dyson

EIGHTH LESSON

John 3: 1-8

Jesus speaks with Nicodemus of the ‘birth from above’

CAROL

All this time

All this time this song is best: 'Verbum caro factum est.' ['the Word is made flesh.']

This night there is a child y-born That sprang out of Jesse's thorn; We must sing and say thereforn,

All this time this song is best: 'Verbum caro factum est.'

Jesus is the childes name, And Mary mild is his dame;

All our sorrow shall turn to game:

All this time this song is best: 'Verbum caro factum est.'

It fell upon high midnight: The starres shone both fair and bright; The angels sang with all their might,

All this time this song is best: 'Verbum caro factum est.'

Now kneel we down on our knee, And pray we to the Trinity

Our help, our succour for to be;

All this time this song is best: 'Verbum caro factum est.'

Words: 16th Century English

Music: William Walton

COLLECT O Lord raise up (we pray thee) Thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us: that whereas through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, Thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of Thy Son our Lord, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Officiant: O send out thy Light and thy Truth: People: That they may lead me. Officiant: Let us cast off the works of darkness: People: And let us put on the armor of light. Officiant: Even so, come Lord Jesus. People: Amen.

HYMN

Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for our salvation slain;

Thousand thousand saints attending Swell the triumph of his train:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign.

Every eye shall now behold him, Robed in dreadful majesty:

Those who set at nought and sold him, Pierced, and nailed him to the tree,

Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

Those dear tokens of his passion

Still his dazzling body bears, Cause of endless exultation

To his ransomed worshipers; With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture

Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne;

Savior, take the power and glory; Claim the kingdom for thine own:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.

The Blessing May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. Postlude: Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Andrew Carter

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral An Advent Carol Service

The First Sunday of Advent, 11.29.20

WELCOME TO WORSHIP We are creative, progressive partners in God’s mission of radical love.

We are delighted that you have decided to join us today and to give a small gift of your time and attention back to God through worship. It’s our hope that this encounter with God–through word, sacrament, beauty, and togetherness–enriches your day and gives you food for the journey!

Saint Mark’s is a Cathedral of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, a network of faith communities gathered together in common identity and cause, each engaging God’s mission in their own unique time and place and out of their own unique gifts. As a statewide (and global) community of faith, we pray for one another, support one another, learn from one another, partner with one another, and cheer for one another, knowing full well that we can do far more together than we could ever do apart.

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PILGRIMAGE IN THE CATHEDRAL An opportunity for a Personal Pilgrimage, happening each week. Tuesdays, 12:30 - 3:30 pm and Thursdays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm The Cathedral will be open limited hours for personal pilgrimages; for prayer, study, and self-guided tours. All entry and exit will be through the Narthex doors. Spaces open will be strictly limited to the Nave and Hewitt Chapel. Restrooms will not be available. Clergy and Pastoral Care will not be available unless by prior appointment. Please go to ourcathedral.org to review the safety protocol.