Christ Church

Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2012

The Rev. Douglas G. Tompkins, Rector

The Rev. Judith Buck-Glenn, Associate Rector The Rev. William Musselman, Rector Emeritus

Mr. Ted Bickish, Organist Church Office 610-521-1626

104 Nevin St. Ridley Park, PA 19078 www.ChristChurchRidleyPark.org

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Welcome to Christ Church! We are delighted that you are

worshipping with us. All baptized persons of every denomination

are welcome to receive communion at our altar. Please introduce

yourself to one of our greeters. You are invited to put on a nametag

as you come into church. You are also welcome to fill out a pew card

and place it in the offering plate or give it to a greeter. Please let an

usher know if you are unable to come to the railing for Communion

and the clergy will come to you.

Are you looking for a church home? You are welcome to fill out a

pew card and place it in the offering plate or give it to a greeter. On

it you can indicate that you would like the clergy to call on you.

Out of respect for neighbors wishing for quiet time to pray before

the liturgy begins, please refrain from LOUD talking in the nave.

Flower Memorials – Flowers are given today in loving memory of

Hannah Shickley, by Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Shickley.

December pledge statements will be mailed this week. We are

currently BEHIND in pledge payments, so we encourage you to

catch up before year’s end.

We will be saying good-bye to Ted Bickish, our music director, at the

end of this month. Ted has accepted a call as full time music director

at the Robert E. Lee Memorial Church (Episcopal) of Lexington, VA.

We rejoice with Ted for this wonderful opportunity. His last service

with us will be Christmas Eve. He begins his new duties on Jan 1. We

will hold a farewell for Ted after the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday,

December 23.

The Every Member Canvass continues with the theme “From

Generation to Generation”. Pledge packets have now been mailed. If

you did not receive your pledge packet, please notify the office. We

ask that pledge cards be returned as quickly as possible. This year

we are making available online pledging and giving. To make a

pledge online and/or to set up pledge payments with electronic funds

transfer or a credit card, please visit the Christ Church website – or

use the link in the most recent edition of the Christ Church News

Bulletin that was e-mailed.

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Niches in the new Memorial Garden are now available for purchase.

You may pick up a reservation form at the back of church – or go

online to the church website. There you can reserve and purchase

your place. Note there is a special price being offered through the

end of December.

Would you like to make a contribution to the new Memorial

Garden? You are welcome to make the contribution as a thank

offering for the life of a loved one. Contributions can be made

through the parish website or by a check to Christ Church,

earmarked “Memorial Garden Contribution”. Thank you!

Do we have your email address??? So much of our correspondence

now is through email. If you have not been receiving weekly email

news bulletins and other important notifications, please be sure to let

the office know your email address, and update us on any changes.

You can also put it on a white pew card. Place it in the offering plate.

Meetings this Week – Wednesday, Staff Meeting, 10:30 AM (RO);

Thursday, Rector & Wardens, 6:30 PM (RO); Thursday, Finance

Committee, 7 PM (RO).

American Flag request – If you have a 3x5 American Flag from a

loved one who served in the Military and would like to honor their

memory by flying it on Church property – either in the Memorial

Garden or out front – please contact bill Nickerson at 610-633-6368.

We will remember your loved one and their Service on the Sunday

we hoist the Flag.

Adult Ed: Today, In Search of Christian Origins: Jesus and His

Judaism. Next week, In Search of Christian Origins: Jesus’ Death

and Resurrection.

Activity bags for children can be found on a rack in the back of

church, under the memorial table. Bags with pink stickers are for

younger children – up to age 5 or so. Please take any activity your

child completes home with you and return the bags to the rack.

Please do not take crayons, just the children’s work, home with you.

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Children’s Pew Envelopes: All the money collected from children in

Sunday School and Children’s Chapel and from Lenten Mite Boxes

goes to support our two ChildFund children, Serena and Jay-R. All

proceeds from the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper also go to these

children. There are special offering envelopes for children in the

pews. If your child is going to put money in the plate, please give

them a children’s pew envelope. Please note that ANY donation

made in these special envelopes will be credited to our ChildFund

children—you don’t have to be a child!

Need for Food is on the Rise. The shrinking economy and drastic

state cuts in aid to the poor and unemployed have caused demand for

food aid to rise dramatically, straining efforts by food banks to feed

the hungry. Even our own Emergency Food Cupboard is running

bare. One local food bank reports more than 14,000 individuals in

need served last year alone! This is a wonderful way to help our local

community. Please consider donating dry and/or canned food items

and place them in the basket at the back of the church or by the

green doors. Of particular need: canned meats, canned fruits, and

containers of 100% fruit juice

Pull-up Tabs: If you get pull-up tabs from beverage, soup or pet food

cans, including (colored tabs). The Outreach Committee is collecting

tabs for Ronald McDonald House. There is a marked clear plastic

jar on the counter near the green doors where you can drop the tabs.

The Outreach Committee has an emergency food cupboard here,

and we also help supply the food pantry at Ridley Park United

Methodist Church. If you can donate any dry and/or canned food

items, please bring them in at any time and place them in the basket

at the back of church or by the green doors – think protein.

CD’s for Elwyn: If you have CD’s that you are getting rid of, we

have a pink box near the green doors for CD’s for Elwyn. Hymns,

children’s music, lively music of almost any kind, are very welcome.

Please remember Christ Church in your will and estate planning.

If you need further information on how to make provisions for the

church, please speak to the rector.

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Military Service: Richard Walker - U.S. Army; Jeffrey Scott

Petherbridge - USN; Eric Curfman - Army; Michael A. Smith -

Captain, U.S. Army; Charles Schlegel – Col., Air Force; William Ford

- USA; Major Troy O'Donnell - USA; John Oliver - U. S. Navy;

Nicole Gieder, USN; David Berkland – USAF; Timothy Nellet –

USMC; Staff Sgt. Tony Grassel, USAF; Robert Whalen, National

Guard; Michael Belay; Sam Brandt, USMC; Jon Vey, US Army,

Special Forces; Capt. Tim O’Donnell, Army; Lt. Chris Warrick,

Army; Neil Shea, Marine Reserve.

**Please let us know when we can remove a name from this list.**

THOSE SEEKING WORK: Eric, Shaun, Lynn, Jamie, Tim

THIS WEEK’S PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR: Agnes K.

CONTINUING PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR: Jessica Davenport,

Kim Scheb, Kristen Kelly, Tony, Joseph Kershaw, Cathi M., Megan,

Cameron, Pat, Ken Reuwer, Terri M., Austin, Helen, Fred,

Katharyn, George, Buddy, Myrayah Dickerson, Hannah M., Talon,

Grayson Ennis, Rocco, Ed Burgett, Marge, Lou Harrison, Kit

Knight, Anthony, Joan G., Kathy Ann, Scott Malseed, Kathy

Cooper, Lena, Jennifer K., Kevin Neary, Paul Pompetti, John

Houpt, Glen Durfor, Kim, Stephanie, Marlene N., Michael V.,

Margaret Haus, Rita, Mottola family, Robin Lee, Dylan O., the Sides

family

Names will remain on the prayer list for a four week period. If we do

not hear from you, we will assume that prayers have been answered

and the name(s) will be removed from the list.

Memorials: Hannah Shickley

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Participating in the Liturgy Today

Altar Guild Ushers Acolytes Lay Readers

Team II Eleanor Humes Kay Twesten

8:00 AM Al Humes Ed Riffert 10:00 AM Anthony Mottola Jack Signor Carmen Zizza Ed Dougherty general backup

8:00 AM Jason Tustin (C/S) 10:00 AM S: David Eckard T: Justin Eckard T: Matt Haines C: Chris Haines Banner: Jimmy Cooper

8:00 AM Joe Mullany 10:00 AM Glenn Eckard Ben Kellett

Chalice Bearers Counters Newcomer Greeters LEMS

8:00 AM Joe Mullany 10:00 AM Ollie Rhine Floss Rhine

Team III Nancy Mobley, Captain

10:00 AM Carole Buchan

Ken Mobley

ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: Pray for the Diocese of Kigezi

(Uganda)

DIOCESAN PROGRAMS: Stevick Diocesan Theological Library

DIOCESE OF GUATEMALA: Iglesia Episcopal Espiritu Santo,

(The Church of the Holy Spirit), Guatemala City, the Rev. Neli

Miranda Mancilla

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A Note on Today’s Readings

The Second Sunday of Advent—Year C

Today is the first of the two Advent Sundays on which John the Baptist

is the central figure. This dynamic prophet marked the beginning of

Jesus’ ministry. He announced the time of Messiah’s arrival and called

the people of Israel to repentance in preparation for that coming. The

Gospels see him as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of one who will

prepare the way for God to come to the peoples of the earth.

The writer of Baruch, one of the books accounted as the Apocrypha by

Anglicans, is presented as addressing the Jewish exiles in Babylon with

words probably borrowed from Isaiah. God’s people are called to look

forward to the coming of God with joy and gladness, for when he comes

God will lead all the peoples to our true home.

The second reading is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In greeting

this congregation, Paul speaks of his affection for them and of his

imprisonment. He urges them to continue in faith as they await the day of

Christ’s return.

The Old Testament and John the Baptist looked toward the coming of the

Messiah in history to establish God’s Kingdom. The New Testament

looks toward the return of Christ at the end of history to bring that

Kingdom to fulfillment. We, the Church, gather in Eucharist in the

“in-between times” to celebrate the foretaste of that Kingdom and to be

equipped by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Kingdom to the world.

From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year.

Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.

The Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 9, 2012

Prelude "Prepare the way, O Zion" Wilber Held

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Liturgy of the Word

Entrance Rite (8 AM Verses 1-3; 10 AM all verses)

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Hymnal 76

The Celebrant says

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.

Amen. The Celebrant says

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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 following is said, all standing

Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

Collect of the Day

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Celebrant Let us pray.

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.

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First Reading Baruch 5:1-9

All sit.

A Reading from the book of Baruch.

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put

on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the

righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the

glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere

under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, “Righteous

Peace, Godly Glory.” Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look

toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the

word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For

they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will

bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God

has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made

low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may

walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have

shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in

the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from

him.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

Psalm 4

Cum invocarem

1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *

you set me free when I am hard-pressed;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *

how long will you worship dumb idols

and run after false gods?”

3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *

when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.

4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; *

speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.

5 Offer the appointed sacrifices *

and put your trust in the LORD.

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6 Many are saying,

“Oh, that we might see better times!” *

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.

7 You have put gladness in my heart, *

more than when grain and wine and oil increase.

8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *

for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Second Reading Philippians 1:3-11

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi.

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy

in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the

gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one

who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the

day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you,

because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace

with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation

of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the

compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may

overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to

determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and

blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes

through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

Children's Sermon

Sequence

All stand.

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Prepare the way, O Zion Hymnal 65

Holy Gospel Luke 3:1-6

All stand.

Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to

Luke.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius

Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his

brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias

ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the

word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went

into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of

repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the

words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the

wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every

valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and

the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

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Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon The Rev. Douglas G. Tompkins

Nicene Creed

All stand.

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.

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Prayers of the People

All remain standing.

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying,

“Lord, have mercy.”

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God,

and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this borough, for every city and community, and for those who live

in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will

to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick

and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for

prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let

us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

(clergy read) For those who serve in our armed forces,

especially_________ let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

(clergy read) For those on our parish prayer list, remembering

_________ let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

(clergy read) For those departed this life, especially _________ let us

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pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and

without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of [ ___________ and of all the] saints, let us

commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To thee, O Lord our God.

Silence

Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask, help us to

ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we

dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession of Sin

All kneel.

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence.

Minister and People

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. The Priest stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our

Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of

the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

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Peace

All stand.

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you. Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements

Holy Communion

The Celebrant says

Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come

into his courts. Psalm 96:8

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Comfort, comfort ye my people Hymnal 67

Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offerings of bread and wine, and

money or other gifts, to the deacon or celebrant. The people stand while the offerings are

presented and placed on the Altar.

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow / praise him, all creatures here

below / praise him above, ye heavenly host / praise Father, Son, and

Holy Ghost.

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Great Thanksgiving

The people remain standing.

Celebrant The Lord be 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 truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks,

all-holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy.

Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of

every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we sing (say):

The people stand or kneel.

The Celebrant continues

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life.

You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite

love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful

stewards and show forth your bountiful grace. But we failed to honor

your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your

goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation,

abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care

for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people. Through

Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered

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us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to

renew your promise of salvation.

Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal

flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he

revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he

triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.

On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread,

and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his

friends, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do

this for the remembrance of me.” As supper was ending, Jesus 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

poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you

drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore we proclaim the

mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues

Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from

your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be

for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who

share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s

Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your

daughters and sons, that with all your saints, past, present, and yet to

come, we may praise your Name for ever. Through Christ and with

Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor,

glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Celebrant then continues

And now, as our Savior

Christ has taught us,

we are bold to say, People and Celebrant

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

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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.

Breaking of the Bread

A period of silence is kept.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Celebrant says

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that

Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with

thanksgiving.

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All baptized persons, whatever your denominational affiliation, are welcome to receive

Holy Communion at our altar. You may stand at the altar rail if your knees do not permit

kneeling. Please assist the chalice bearer by gently holding the base of the chalice.

Please do not hold the top of the chalice. If you wish, you may intinct (dip) the host

(consecrated bread) in the chalice. If you do not wish to receive the wine, fold your arms

over your chest. Baptized children may receive with parent's permission, otherwise they

will receive a blessing.

Communion Anthem "On Jordan's Bank" arr. Malcolm Archer

(Adult and Junior Choir)

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After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

The priest blesses the people, saying

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.

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Postcommunion Hymn (8 AM verses 1-2; 10 AM all verses)

Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes Hymnal 72

Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

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Postlude "Hark! The glad sound!" Wilber Held

H 65 — Words: © 1982, Charles P Price. H 72 — Music: Desc. By permission of Novello and Co. Ltd. S 91 — By permission of Oxford University Press. S 114 — By permission of Oxford

University Press. S 158 — By permission of Oxford University Press. Reprinted under

OneLicense.net #A-710779.