It's our Christmas Day Special episode, with a special assist from Linus!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

MUSIC

Greensleeves

 

Welcome Christmas

From the animated TV special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

Aaron Devries

 

Ho, Ho, Merrily

Some Serious Folk & the Pernicious Pennywhistle

We look at God's audacious request to Mary and Mary's bold response.

 

READING

Luke 1:26-38 

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

PRAYERS

Purify our conscience, O Lord, as we  offer our prayers and petitions with a wholesome heart -- “Come, Lord Jesus.”

+ O Emmanuel, visit those who do not know of your coming, and who have not been told of your presence, open their minds to your merciful love and be born in their hearts; 

+ O Key of David, unlock our complacency, that we may tend to the fearful and lowly, lift up the poor and downtrodden, fill the hungry with good things, and serve your beloved with mercy and love;   .

+ O Root of Jesse, be with scientists and medical teams as they discover life enhancing treatments, and grant them the wisdom to use their findings for the good of all people; 

+ O Desire of Nations, bring peace to our families, churches, schools, and nations, that the whole world may know of your eternal harmony;

+ O Wisdom, give your gift of insight to all who are responsible for the governance of our Church, corporations, national governments, social agencies, schools, armed forces, and medical facilities, that through their faith and dedication, all the peoples of the world may prosper;

+ O Dayspring from on High, to the sick bring healing, to the dying relief, and to the dead your everlasting arms of mercy.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Source: intercessions Year B: Keyed to the Themes of the Revised Common Lectionary © 2011 by Geralyn Wolf. Subscription purchased.

 

MUSIC

Holy is your name (Magnificat)

David Haas

 

O Come, O come, Emmanuel

Darren Hodder

 

Watchmen, tell us of the night

Aaron & Ben Devries

The way of Christ is an invitation into a deeply set joy.

We encounter John the baptist's cry to repentance and preparation and are reminded that John's call is not only meant for us as well, but that his mission is our mission too.

 

BIBLE READING

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.”

 

PRAYERS

 The voice of God cries out in the wilderness, calling us to a transformed way of living. Let us respond to this invitation through the offering of our prayers.

 

+ Come to us, Holy Comforter, with your promise to bring a new heaven and a new earth to your people, saving us from the fires of sin and despair, and offering to us the solemn gifts of grace and salvation.

 

+ Come into the hearts of your people, that we may turn from our selfish consumption of fossil fuels, our waste of food and clothing, our recklessness with money, and our carelessness with the gifts of creation.

 

+ Come into the body of the Church and make us a baptizing community, that multitudes may hear your message of repentance and hope, and receive your free gift of eternal love.

 

 + Come with your Holy Spirit, into the hearts of those who are unemployed, abused, poorly educated, and who are persecuted for their faith, and awaken hope.

 

 + Come to young people everywhere, that they may have a desire to study your commandments and to exercise ministry in the world outside the Church

 

 + Come to our Presiding Bishop, to the President of the United States, and to all who exercise offices of authority; that wisdom may be their guide, and that true love of their people may direct their decisions.

 

 + Come to those whom we love but see no more, and gather them into your heavenly rest.

 

MUSIC

Watchmen tell us of the night

Aaron and Ben Davies

Free Music Archive

 

Come my, my truth, my life

Blackfriar Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3SSCuSMLK4

 

Come thou long expected Jesus

Lexington Road (Southern Seminary) arr. By Madi Wuebben

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8E9G763Ibs

It's Advent, a season of waiting where we recall the longing of Israel for Messiah and our own longing for Christ in anticipation of the joy of that reunion.

 

READING

Psalm 80

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *

shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

 

In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *

stir up your strength and come to help us.

 

Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

 

O God of hosts, *

how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

 

You have fed them with the bread of tears; *

you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

 

You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *

and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

 

Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

 

You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *

you cast out the nations and planted it.

 

You prepared the ground for it; *

it took root and filled the land.

 

 The mountains were covered by its shadow *

and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.

 

You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *

and its branches to the River.

 

Why have you broken down its wall, *

so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?

 

The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *

and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.

 

Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven; behold and tend this vine; *

preserve what your right hand has planted.

 

They burn it with fire like rubbish; *

at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.

 

Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, *

the one you have made so strong for yourself.

 

And so will we never turn away from you, *

give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

 

Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

 

 

PRAYERS

At the beginning of this Advent season, let us offer our prayers to God, knowing with confidence that God’s promises are assured and true

We pray that our gracious Savior may rouse us from sleep and make us attentive to the nearness of his presence,

We pray that we may discover God’s word in every sound of this world, God’s touch in every human embrace, and God’s love in every gesture of self-sacrifice among us,

We pray that divine energy and holy grace may bring our hearts to vigilance and make us see with uncovered eyes the Christ who suffers in his people’s agonies,

We pray that we may come to recognize in our holy assembly gathered for prayer that Jesus the Christ is with us here to make our songs of praise and pleading his own,

We pray that God’s coming into the days and years of our human history may be always new, always brimming with light to drive all darkness away,

We pray that God’s church everywhere might be attentive to God’s call to us to be God’s people;

We pray that God’s healing power might be present in the lives of those who have sought our prayers,

Make ready our hearts for your coming, O Lord, and receive our prayers in the name of the one who comes, our gracious Savior, Jesus the Christ.

 

MUSIC

Emmanuel

Darren Hodder

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Darren_Hodder/Our_Friendly_Beasts/Darren_

 

Waiting in the Rain

Lee Rosevere

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/All_These_Simple_Things/07_-_Waiting_in_the_Rain

 

Waiting

David Szestay

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay/20170730112627136/Waiting_1

What does it mean to say Jesus is Lord?  Where do our allegiances lie if Christ truly is king

 

READING

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

PRAYERS

 Jesus the Christ, you reign in glory as our King, and to you we lift our voices praying

+ That we may serve God with gladness and generosity, discovering his likeness in those who hunger and thirst, in those who are threadbare and in prison, and in those who are sick, lonely, depressed, sorrowful, and rejected.

+ For the forgiveness of our sins, the times when we were blind to the needs of others, and deaf to their shout for assistance, that we may move beyond our selfish greed and love with the measure that Jesus loves humanity.

+ That the leaders of our Church may receive the immeasurable greatness of God, seeking the holy way with every step they take, guiding the faithful and those who have strayed into the glorious dwelling place of divine love.

+ For the sea and the dry land, molded by the Creator’s imagination, that we may cherish the gifts they bring forth, and be good stewards of their fragile ecosystems.

+ That the sin of division may be lifted from family life, and from wherever it fractures the bonds of affection or movements toward peace, that forgiving what is past and trusting in God’s future, we may work to reveal the kingdom in our time.

+ That the righteous dead may live into eternal life, and that those who have gone astray may receive the mercy of you, Our eternal Christ and King.

 

Source: intercessions Year A: Keyed to the Themes of the Revised Common Lectionary © 2011 by Geralyn Wolf. Subscription purchased.

 

MUSIC

From Giovanni Animuccia: Missa Victimae Paschali Laudes

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Alleluia-Pascha Nostrum

Benedictus

 The Tudor Consort

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Tudor_Consort/Giovanni_Animuccia_Missa_Victimae_Paschali_Laudes/

  

Jesus is the Lord of All

Olly Knight & Tom James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K7H5xGSjow

Can we live a blameless life, in the light of day?  Jesus invites us into a way of being that says - Yes!

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

What does it mean to wait for Jesus?  Are we to passivley stand by, to possibly be caught unawares, or are we engaged in the work of preparation?

 

READING

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

                                                                                                                                                            

 

 

PRAYERS

As we await the coming of the Bridegroom, we offer our prayers for discerning hearts and ready faith that we might know Christ and make Him known.

 We pray for church school teachers, who awaken in their students the mystery of faith: God’s great acts of deliverance, Christ’s victory of life over death, and the eternal light that breaks through every darkness.

We pray that we might be ever watchful for your face shining through the faces of the poor and downtrodden, the wait staff and the salesperson, the toll collector and the crossing guard, lest that in missing them we may not see you.

We pray that God will place wisdom in the hearts and minds of our President and all leaders, that the decisions they make this year may bring righteousness and justice to all peoples everywhere.

We pray to be given a sense of urgency, that we may relate to others the joy of a Christ-centered life, welcoming others into our fold, and showing increase in the household of faith.

We pray in thanksgiving for those who have served in the armed forces, defending our country in times of war, and ensuring peace in places where there is instability. 

We pray in thanksgiving for those who have died, that they and all the faithful departed live with the Lord forever; let us pray.

 

 

MUSIC

Soon and Very Soon

Le Petits Chanteurs de Montigny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2J2mH38oJQ

 

 

Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

Yellow Cello Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w99Wzw6bowU

 

This Little Light of Mine

Sam Cooke- 1964 Live at the Copa, This Little light Of Mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdsIjwwfhjk

It's the triduum of All Hallows Eve, All Saints, and All Faithful Departed.  In this episode we remember that the church isn't just us, but an unbroken string of relationships stretching back two millenia to Christ, a great cloud witnesses that surrounds and permeates us.

 

READING

Revelation 7:9-17

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

    "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

    and thanksgiving and honor

    and power and might

    be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

"For this reason they are before the throne of God,

    and worship him day and night within his temple,

    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;

    the sun will not strike them,

    nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

  

PRAYERS

Cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, and one in communion with all the saints of every time and place, let us offer our prayers to the God who loves us, saying:  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the holy church of God throughout the world, that the Lord may confirm it in faith, sustain it in hope, and deepen its communion in charity,

For those who wield earthly power, that they may recognize in the disciples of Jesus children of God anxious to serve in building up the earthly city,

For our upcoming election, that it may proceed in peace so that our liberties may be preserved and winners and losers alike might remember their unity as one people,

For those beset by persecution and those weighed down by trial and distress, that the example of the saints may give them courage and the help of believers give them hope,

For those who suffer, be present with them and bring to them wholeness of body, mind and spirit

For those who hear this prayer, that nourished by the word of truth we may bear witness in our own generation to the timeless gospel of Christ,

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you;

Holy God, mighty God, immortal God, adored by angels and praised by the saints, receive the prayers of your holy church, and grant them in accordance with your gracious will, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

                                                                                                                                                            

 

Music

 

When the Saints go marching in

NOLA Street Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3ONxXC4e4o

 

Onward Christian Soldiers (instrumental)

Brad Sondahl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEatHhNxhl8

 

I sing a song of the saints of God

Victoria Zalipsky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEjDRPvsclU

 

Ol’ St Peter

Digital Primitives

Free Music Archive

The disciples struggled to understand the salvation that Jesus offered.  What Jesus offers us is a kingdom that is both in the here-and-now and in the age to come, which can be a difficult place to stand.

 

READING

Matthew 22:34-46

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,  until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions

 

PRAYERS

As a people entrusted with the proclamation of good news, let us offer our prayers and thanksgivings to God,  

+ Let us pray that we may love our neighbor as ourselves, sacrificing personal comforts to provide shelter for the poor, sound education for all children, psychiatric care for those suffering from mental illness, living wages to employees, and respite for those who attend to those living with illness.  

+ That our personal trials may be seen as pathways to faithfulness, roads upon which we walk in order to gain a deeper understanding of God’s enduring love.  

+ That peace may reign throughout the world, loosening the chains of incessant poverty, political imprisonment, religious persecution, and the abuse of power that raises a few to prosperity at the expense of the masses.  

+ That we may do the work and ministry that reflect God’s reign, knowing that we may not see beyond our offerings or the fruit of our labors.  

+ For a renewed commitment to righteousness and peace, that we may join with the leaders of the nations in seeking ways to promote harmony in warring lands, and mutual respect across cultures, races, and languages.

+ That we may put aside any vengeance of heart, so that we may offer to one another true forgiveness and amendment of ways.  Amen.

Adapted from: Intercessions Year A: Keyed to the Themes of the Revised Common Lectionary © 2011 by Geralyn Wolf.

 

MUSIC

Jerusalem, My Happy Home ·

J Michael Thompson · The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ySssVj7XCs

 

Of the Father’s Lover begotten

ChurchFolk, from College Church in Wheaton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chLMSiozhL8

 

Rejoice the Lord is King (instrumental)

iMusico_David

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmZSaSnzpkY

 

The King Shall Come

Trevor Thomson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMPUAhDHljw