Sunday, December 5, 2021 — Advent 2, Year C

Choral Evensong 4.00 p.m.

Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 20 Officiant: The Reverend Ross Bliss Music for the Responses: John Reading (d. 1692) Setting for the Canticles: Service in E minor — Daniel Purcell (d. 1717) Please maintain a respectful distance from others who are not part of your immediate household or “COVID bubble.” This service is being broadcast live on the Internet. By attending, you acknowledge and consent to the fact that video images of you may appear there. Masks are re-quired. All stand as able when the chancel party enters. Preces & Responses remain standing

Officiant O Lord, open thou our lips. Choir And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Officiant O God, make speed to save us. Choir O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Choir As it was in the beginning, and is now, and ever shall be, world without

end. Amen. Officiant Praise ye the Lord. Choir The Lord’s name be praised.

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Office Hymn Tune: Merton / Common Praise # 108

The congregation is invited to join in singing the hymns: masks are required.

Hark a herald voice is sounding: “Christ is nigh,” it seems to say. “Cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day!”

Wakened by the solemn warning, let the earthbound soul arise; Christ our sun, all sloth dispelling, shines upon the morning skies.

Lo, the Lamb so long expected, comes with pardon down from heaven; let us all, with deep repentance, pray that we may be forgiven,

that when next he comes with glory, and the world is wrapped in fear, with his mercy he may shield us, and with words of love draw near.

Honour, glory, might and blessing to the Father and the Son, with the everlasting Spirit, while eternal ages run.

Text: Latin (Vox clare, 10th cent.); tr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878), alt. Music: William Henry Monk (1823-1889); desc. Alan Gray (1855-1935). Desc. © Cambridge University Press.

Psalm 75 all are now seated

Unto thee O God do we give thanks : yea unto thee do we give thanks.

Thy name also is so nigh : and that do thy wonderous works declare.

When I receive the congregation : I shall judge according unto right.

The earth is weak and all the inhabiters thereof : I bear up the pillars of it.

I said unto the fools deal not so madly : and to the ungodly set not up your horn. Set not up your horn on high ; and speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west : nor yet from the south. And why? God is the Judge : he putteth down one and setteth up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red : it is full mixed and he poureth out of the same. As for the dregs thereof : all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them and suck them out. But I will talk of the God of Jacob : and praise him forever. All the horns of the ungodly also will I break : and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, etc.

First Reading Isaiah 40.1-11 In a passage which will be familiar from Handel’s Messiah, the prophet announces the end of the exile in Babylon. Historically, it is a Gentile king, Cyrus of Persia, who will lead the people back to their homeland. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People Thanks be to God.

Canticle: Magnificat sung by the choir, all standing

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

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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 showed 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, etc.

Second Reading Luke 1.1-25 / all seated

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People Thanks be to God.

Canticle: Nunc dimittis all standing

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, etc.

The Apostles’ Creed remain standing

Officiant I believe in God All say the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell;

The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body, and the Life everlasting. Amen.

Lesser Litany & the Lord’s Prayer

Officiant The Lord be with you. Choir And with thy spirit. Officiant Let us pray. Officiant Lord, have mercy upon us. Choir Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us. Officiant Our Father, Choir which 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 them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Suffrages

Officiant O Lord, show thy mercy upon us. Choir And grant us thy salvation. Officiant O Lord, save the Queen. Choir And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Officiant Endue thy Ministers with righteousness. Choir And make thy chosen people joyful.

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Officiant O Lord, save thy people. Choir And bless thine inheritance. Officiant Give peace in our time, O Lord. Choir Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. Officiant O God, make clean our hearts within us. Choir And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Collect of the Day American Book of Common Prayer, p. 159

Officiant Merciful God, who didst send thy messengers the prophets to preach re-pentance 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 com-ing of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Choir Amen. Fixed Collects

Officiant O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Choir Amen. Officiant Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy

defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Choir Amen.

Anthem Michael Wise (d. 1687)

Prepare, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Ev’ry valley shall be exalted and ev’ry mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places shall be made plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. And the voice said cry, (what shall I cry?) all flesh is grass, and the goodliness thereof

is as a flower that is in the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord shall stand fast forever. O Zion, that bringeth glad tidings, get thee up into the mountains. O Jerusalem, that bringeth glad tidings lift up thy voice with strength and say unto Judah, “behold thy God.”

Homily The Reverend Ross Bliss Hymn for the Offering Peter’s Brook / Common Praise # 157

Rise up and shine! Your light has come; God’s glory breaks like dawn. For though the earth be cloaked in night and gloom shrouds everyone, yet over you the Lord will rise, with glory gleaming clear, till nations turn to seek your light and humbled kings draw near. Fling wide your gates, both day and night; no more keep watch or guard. You will be called God’s holy hill, the city of the Lord. No sound of strife will plague your land, nor harm besiege your ways;

“Salvation” will you name your walls, and all your portals “Praise.” No more will you implore the sun to shed by days its light, nor will you need the changeful moon to glisten through the night. Your glory then will be your God, whose light will never cease. Rise up and shine! Your light has come to give you joy and peace.

Text: The New Jerusalem (Is. 60.1-3, 11ab, 14 cd, 18-19); para. Carl P. Daw Jr. (1944-). Para. © 1990 Hope Publishing Co. Music: Alfred V. Fedak (1953-). © 1990 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.

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Prayers of the Community all kneel with the officiant Prayer of John Chrysostom BCP p. 24

Officiant Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt hear their re-quests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.

People Amen.

The Grace

All The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Voluntary: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland Nicolaus Bruhns (d. 1697)

Assisting with Today’s Service

Sidespeople Maureen Applewhaite, David Mensink Verger Peter Reid Server Canon Elaine Ellison Reader Maureen Applewhaite Musicians The Cathedral Choirs Amiel Elfert, Organ Scholar Mark McDonald, Assistant Director of Music Donald Hunt, Director of Music Camera and Tech Team Kate Newman Jorge Eduardo Flores Carrizales