St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish

Diocese of Washington

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Daily Morning Prayer Rite Two

December 13, 2020

Join via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/550879335 Passcode: 807401

The Advent Liturgy Reader:The last two Sundays we were called to reflect on hope and peace. Today we are

called to celebrate joy. This should be the easy one, because joy is all around us—in the children, the lights, the music, the gathering together. But how often do we let our preparations—or our memories—push joy to the side? Joy is like an underground spring that wells up within us, but joy is also a choice, an attitude. Like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. So today we open ourselves to joy, trusting that God has already planted it in us. All we need to do is give it care and offer it to share.

All: Loving God, we open ourselves to you, trusting that this is how you made us: you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, that we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

Benediction/Commission and Blessing Rejoice in God always, and again I say, rejoice! For God has created you with the capacity for joy.

All: We will find what makes us joyful, and make that our gift to the world.

Trust in God’s good will for all of creation and open yourself to God’s gentle, transforming love.

All: We will welcome new possibilities in our lives. We will offer ourselves to God’s goodness. We will go forth in hope, and peace, and joy.

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The Officiant begins and says The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

Confession of Sin The Officiant says to the people

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Officiant and People together

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 alone 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.

Hymn: While we are waiting, come Sung by the Cantor

1. While we are waiting, come. While we are waiting, come. Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, While we are waiting, come.

2. With power and glory, come. With power and glory, come. Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, While we are waiting, come.

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3. Come, Savior, quickly come. Come, Savior, quickly come. Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, While we are waiting, come.

Words and Music by Claire Cloninger, ©1986 Word Music, reprinted under CCLI#48297771

The Invitatory and Psalter

Officiant: Lord, open our lips. People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 126 Sung by the Cantor

1. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream.

2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy.

3. Then they said among the nations, * "The LORD has done great things for them."

4. The LORD has done great things for us, * and we are glad indeed.

5. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, * like the watercourses of the Negev.

6. Those who sowed with tears * will reap with songs of joy.

7. Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, * will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

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The First Lesson: 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 favor, 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.

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

The Second Lesson: 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.

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

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Hymn: H-68 Rejoice, rejoice, believers Sung by the Cantor

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The Gospel Lesson: John 1:6-8,19-28

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 Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

The Sermon Fr. Johnson

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The Apostles’ Creed Said by 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

Officiant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Officiant: Let us pray.

The Lord's Prayer

Said by 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.

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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.

Suffrage A

Leader: Show us your mercy, O Lord; All: And grant us your salvation.

Leader: Clothe your ministers with righteousness; All: Let your people sing with joy.

Leader: Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; All: For only in you can we live in safety.

Leader: Lord, keep this nation under your care; All: And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Leader: Let your way be known upon earth; All: Your saving health among all nations.

Leader: Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; All: Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Leader: Create in us clean hearts, O God; All: And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

The Prayers of the People Form II

In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own prayers, either silently or aloud.

In the Anglican Communion, pray for Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury; The

Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain (Extra-Provincial to the Archbishop of

Canterbury) and The Rt Revd Carlos López-Lozano, Bishop of Spanish Reformed

Episcopal Church. Pray for The Episcopal Church in Cuba, Church of Santa Maria, and

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The Rev. Yordanis Acosta, Rector. In the diocese, pray for St. John's Church,

Georgetown; St. John's Preschool, Georgetown; St. John's Church, Lafayette Square;

and St. John's Church, Norwood.

Pray for Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Mariann, our Bishop; Chilton, our Assisting Bishop; and Allan and Douglas, our Priests; and for all who minister at St. Paul’s Church; pray for this gathering, and for all ministers and people. Pray for the church.

Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Pray for Donald, our President; Joe, our President-Elect; the Congress of the United States; the Supreme Court; and Muriel, our Mayor. Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the poor, for the sick of our parish, including: [Virginia Keane, Jean Ringuette, Joan Williams, and Paula S.F. Marshall ]. Let us pray for all others whose health and well being have been entrusted to our prayers, including: [Sarah Woodbury, Bezelle Thomas, Bessie Mann, Marla Jones, Raven Taylor and family, Jeff Wilkerson, Ashley Walker and family, Bernard Walker, Beverly Taylor, Rosemary Nabor, Louise Cade, Kathy Mahoney and family, Andrea Rodgers, Jeannette Brownson and family, Booker Diggins, III, Joy Warde, Tiffany Fleming-Withrow, Evelyn Clay, Kathy Butler, Michael Mann, Al Moffet, Dave Morentz, Richard Dunn-Senior, William Bailey, and Lauvinia Alston]. Pray for the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him. Silence

I ask your prayers for the departed, the members of the Armed Services who have lost their lives in the service of our country. Pray for those who have died.

Silence

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Silence

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

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The Collect of the Day

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we

are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be

honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Collect for Sundays

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection

of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross

that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Prayer for Those Who Speak Truths and Seek Justice

We pray today for all who speak. We call down God’s blessings on those who use

their voices and find words to bring calm and truth, hope and confidence for those who are struggling with life. We call down God’s mercy on those who use words to sow discontent, tell lies, or manipulate the truth. And we call down God’s creative love on those who speak for the voiceless, the despairing, and the forgotten. Teach us O Lord, that when we must speak, to speak with care. Amen.

For those who are ill

Merciful God, we entrust to your unfailing and tender care, those who are ill or in pain,

knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold us safe. Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer for Lives That Matter God of Abel and Cain, the one who was slain and the one who denied complicity or

responsibility: visit those who can’t breathe because of the virus or because of oppression at the hands of another.  Raise up leaders who offer their people vision and hope; empower any who dwell in the midst of violence or live in the face of prejudice, and make your people a rainbow that promises plenty at the end of the storm.  All this we ask, in the name of Christ, our brown-skinned Lord, and in the power of the Spirit, who speaks in every tongue. Amen. 

 (Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, UK)

Prayer for Racial Healing

God of justice, in your wisdom you create all people, without exception, in your

image. Open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being. Open our minds to understand that all your children are brothers and sisters in the same human family. Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviors, and speech which demean others. Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination and their passionate appeals for change. Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history. And fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equality for all in our communities. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. (Catholic Charities USA)

For hospital staff and medical researchers

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick,

and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The people offer their intercessions and thanksgivings

Prayers when we cannot receive Holy Communion

In union, O Lord Jesus Christ, with the faithful at every altar of your Church, where

your blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I join in offering the sacrifice of my praise and thanksgiving to you. I present to you myself, my soul, and

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my body, with the earnest longing that I may ever be united to you. And since I cannot now receive you in this Holy Sacrament, come spiritually, I pray you, into my heart. I unite myself to you, and love you with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. Let nothing ever separate me from you. Let me live and die in your love. Amen.

Adapted from Prayers from the Anglican Diocese of Melanesia

The General Thanksgiving Said by all

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

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A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our

common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Officiant: Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia. People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia. The Officiant concludes with the following Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

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Welcome to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL GUESTS AND VISITORS WORSHIPING WITH US THIS MORNING!! Please

take the time to fill out a welcome card and join us for Coffee Hour immediately following the service.

Fellowship is an important part of our Christian life and we look forward to seeing you.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Weekly Attendance for Sunday 10/18/2020

Attendance 58

December 24th Christmas Eve Service 5 pm December 25th Christmas Day; Offices Closed

Christmas Eve Service: Tentatively, service will be held via Zoom and broadcast from the sanctuary at St. Paul’s.

Food Bank: We will be collecting non-perishable foods to donate to the Capital Aera Food Bank on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm. Please drop off your donations outside of the Gallery doors at St. Paul’s Center.

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WORSHIP SCHEDULE & CALENDAR

Birthdays and Anniversaries December 2020

Birthdays Nathan Robinson 3rd Jonathan Southgate 6th Jael Anker-Lagos 16th Michael Wallace 17th

Tori Hill 27th Leanora Caruth 28th Everett Gallas 31st

Anniversaries

ASSISTING AT THE SERVICE TODAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

8:00 a.m. ................................................................................................. 10:30 a.m.

LECTORS Old Testament

Clive Pecover ................................................................................... Royan Miller- Morgan Epistle

Lauren Walker ........................................................................................... Dexter Bobb Prayers of the People

Sharon Pecover .................................................................................... Walter Roberts, Jr.

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Staff:

Jael Anker-Lago ......................................................................................... Nursery Coordinator

Jeremy Sullivan .............................................................................................. Director of Music

Nadirah Majied ................................................................................................. Office Manager

Mission Statement

To be one family in Christ using our gifts and

resources; and to respond to the spiritual, social and

human needs of our parish and community.

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

THE RT. REV. MARIANN BUDDE, BISHOP OF WASHINGTON THE RT. REV. CHILTON KNUDSEN, ASSISTING BISHOP

THE REV. ALLAN JOHNSON-TAYLOR, RECTOR CELL 410-908-5625 OR ALLAN.JOHNSON@STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG

THE REV. DOUGLAS GREENAWAY, PRIEST ASSOCIATE DOUGLAS.GREENAWAY@STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG

WARDENS & VESTRY: CLIVE PECOVER, SR. WARDEN; JOSEPH ALCOCK, JR. WARDEN

CLASS OF 2020: JOEY ALCOCK, BARBARA WALKER CLASS OF 2021 ROSALIND PALMER, SHEILA ROBERTS, JONATHAN SOUTHGATE

CLASS OF 2022: LARRY DORMAN, DIANE LIBURD-WILLIAMS, ROYAN MILLER-MORGAN

CLERK: CO-TREASURERS: LEANORA CARUTH, HELEN JAMES

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD & WEBSTER ST, NW

WASHINGTON, DC 20011 202-726-2080 EMAIL: CHURCHOFFICE@STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG

WEB SITE: WWW.STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockcreekparish

Twitter: http:///twitter.com/#!RockCreekParish

ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD & WEBSTER ST, NW

WASHINGTON, DC 20011

202-726-2080 EMAIL: CHURCHOFFICE@STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG

WEB SITE: WWW.STPAULSROCKCREEK.ORG

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockcreekparish

Mission Statement

To be one family in Christ using our gifts and

resources; and to respond to the spiritual, social and

human needs of our parish and community.

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday