St. Thomas Episcopal
Second Sunday of Advent
Farmingdale 10:00 AM
December 5, 2021

Holy Eucharist – Rite II
Zoom# 409 392 777     or     1-646-876-9923

Prelude    TBD

Welcome 
(Please Stand, if able)

     Opening Hymn #65                 Prepare the way, O Zion                Hymnal 1982

Priest:        Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People:    And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever.  Amen
ALL:    Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.  Amen
Priest:    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. 

ALL:    Glory to God in the highest,
    and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
    we worship you, we give you thanks,
    we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
    have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: 
    receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
    Jesus Christ,
    with the Holy Spirit,
    in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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

THE LESSONS:

First Reading: (Please be seated)    
                 A Reading from The Book Of Baruch 5:1-9                        Linda Kreussling

“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.

(Please remain seated)

Psalm Luke 1: 68-79 (Said together in unison)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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.

Second Reading: 
(Please remain seated)
                         A Reading from Philippians 1:3-11                          Dottie Zimmerman

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.

(Please stand, if able)

Gospel Hymn   #67        Comfort, comfort ye my people        
 Hymnal 1982

The Gospel Reading:
(Please remain standing, if able)        
Luke 3:1-6

Priest:      The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.
People:    Praise be to you, Lord Christ.            

Priest:     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.'"   Priest:        The Gospel of The Lord.    People:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:                                            Fr. John Hunt

The Nicene Creed:
(Please stand, as able)

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.

 Prayers of the People Form VI:
                         (Please remain standing, as able)                             Judy Aubin

Intercessor:  In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
(Silence - The Intercessor continues)
Intercessor:    For all people in their daily life and work; People:    For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone
Intercessor:    For this community, the nation, and the world; People:    For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Intercessor:    For the just and proper use of your creation; People:    For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression
Intercessor:    For those in the military and public service who risk their lives for our safety, and for all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble.   
People:    For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
Intercessor:    For the peace and unity of the Church of God; People:    For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the truth.
Intercessor:    For Michael our Presiding Bishop, Lawrence our Diocesan Bishop, Geralyn, William and Daniel our Bishops, John our new Priest, and for all other ministers  People:    For all who serve God in his Church
Intercessor:    For the sick and suffering, for those who seek employment, housing, and hope, and those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).
Among those in special need at this time, we remember by name Barbara, Bea, Bela, Dolores, Dorothy, Edie, George & Patricia, Janet and Jim, Miki, Mother Judith Dalmasso, Nancy, Rick, Sarah, Stephanie, the people of Haiti, and the people of Afghanistan. Intercessor:    Hear us, Lord; People:    For your mercy is great.
Intercessor:    We thank you. Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).
Intercessor:    We will exalt you, O God our King
People:    And praise your Name for ever and ever.
Intercessor:    We pray for all those who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially those we now name, silently or aloud (time is given).
Intercessor:    We pray for those who are bereaved, that they find your comfort and peace.  Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them;
People:    Who put their trust in you.    
Intercessor:    We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.    
ALL:        God of all mercy,  we confess that we have sinned against you,  opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, In ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us,         The evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us Through our Savior Jesus Christ, That we may abide in your love And serve only your will. Amen.

Priest:    Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace:
Priest:        May the Peace of the Lord be always with you People:    And also with you.

Offertory:
Priest:        Walk in love as Christ loved us, and offering and sacrifice to God.
All:        All things come of Thee O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee.


Offertory Anthem:
(Please be seated)    
Solo performed by Lori DeLucia             
People, look East                   Besancon Carol

Thank you for your financial support of our shared ministries at St. Thomas! Please continue to help St. Thomas and pledge this fall.

              The Great Thanksgiving:                    
Eucharistic Prayer A – BCP p. 361
(Please stand,If able)

Priest:  The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Priest:      It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.  For you are the source of light and life, you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

ALL:    Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Hosanna in the highest.

(Stand or kneel)

Priest:    Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.  He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world. On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he 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 shed for you 
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

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

Priest:    We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.  Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
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. 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.

The Breaking of the Bread    
(A period of silence is kept.)

Priest:        Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

ALL:        Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Priest:        The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Post Communion Hymn: #65          
The Vine and the Branches              Songbook

Post-Communion Prayer:                                    BCP p. 365

Priest:        Let us pray.
ALL:    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.

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Notices:
Advent Bible Study- The Hymnody of Advent  
Join us as we examine Advent Hymns for the music, history and lyrics in order to inform our theology of Advent and its meaning. Join Pam Alexander, the Rev. Rolle, and the Rev. Jenkins each Wednesday night during the four weeks of Advent.
Began Wednesday December 1, 2021 at 7 PM
Zoom: Meeting ID: 231 601 6023 Passcode: Dragon
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Lesson and Carols Service at St. Killian’s on Sunday December 12 at 4 PM
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Hardscrabble Theater: Presents the Holiday Classic Miracle on 34th Street- as a Simulated Old Time Radio Play Saturday,  December 11 at 7 PM & Sunday, December 12 at 3 PM. Adults  $10- Family $20
Tickets will be available at the door only.
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Don’t forget to use amazon smile every time you shop on amazon and they will donate a percentage to the church       -------------------------------------------------------

Final Blessing:

Priest:    The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;  and the blessing of God Almighty,  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always.  Amen.

       Closing Hymn:  #76           
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry              Hymnal 1982

Dismissal:
Priest:        Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People:    Thanks be to God!
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