December 2, 2007 -- Advent 1 Priest in Charge: The Reverend Dianne Mesh Music Coordinator: Becca Whitla Coordinator: Susie Henderson Homilists: David and Louise Brooke Celebrant: Michael Creal Welcome to the Church of the Holy Trinity. We are delighted to have you with us this morning. Holy Trinity is an accessible, active, vibrant, justice-seeking, queer-positive community in the heart of downtown Toronto. We try to use language in our worship which includes us all, and we encourage the extensive participation of each person in the worship and life of the Church. At the Peace we move about freely, greeting one another. During the offertory hymn we will move to create a circle around the altar for the Prayers of the People. All are welcome to share in the Eucharist as they feel comfortable. To help you know Holy Trinity better, and to help you navigate through this service, be sure you have one of the handouts, Welcome to the Church of the Holy Trinity. 10 Trinity Square, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1B1 Tel:(416) 598-4521 Fax: (416) 598-1432 e-mail: ht@holytrinitytoronto.org website: www.holytrinitytoronto.org THE GATHERING OF THE COMMUNITY Welcome, the service begins on page #1 of the green booklet, after the introduction. In this advent season we gather, living into the joy and gratitude of our daily lives, striving towards strength in the face of pain and crisis, labouring in hope as we prepare to celebrate Your presence among us. In the midst of all the deters and ensnares, all that represses and oppresses, all that devastates and degrades, we claim the presence of the God of Life, source of strength and bearer of hope. >Blowing of the Conch >Prelude: Thula Traditional South African Lullaby Lullaby, lullaby, your mother has gone to town to get you buttermilk. She'll be back soon. Lullaby, lullaby... >Welcome and Greeting p. 1 in the green booklet >Advent Wreath Lighting One: In the midst of the desolation, the sorrow and death that is the Global AIDS crisis... All: We light this candle to claim your presence. (Candle is lit) One: Emmanuel, God is with us. All: He holds the world in his dream of love. >Opening Hymn (All rise, in body or spirit): >How the World Longs for Your Birth words: Anna Briggs, tune: Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland 1. How the world longs for your birth, bearing news of human worth; to our labour bring your mirth, Maranatha, come, Lord, come. 2. How the earth awaits our seed, parched and barren from our greed; now to hallow it we need: Maranatha, come, Lord, come. 3. How we ache to know your peace; wars and weapons still increase; bid our fears and hate to cease: Maranatha, come, Lord, come. 4. God, who sets your people free, God, who comes, our flesh to be, now we wait, your reign to see: Maranatha, come, Lord, come. 5. To our darkness bring your light; fill our longing eyes with sight. In our lives shine ever bright: Maranatha, come, Lord, come. Collect for Purity p. 1 in the green booklet >Shema: One: Moses said: Hear O Israel, Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh our God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. All: Jesus said: This is the first commandment of all. And the second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. >Absolution and Assurance of Pardon p. 3 in the green booklet >Exchange of the Peace p. 4 in the green booklet It is our custom to move about to exchange the peace. The children will go to Sunday School at this time >Announcements and Prayer After Announcements p. 4 PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD >Collect for the Day: Almighty God, you sent your Child Jesus Christ to be the light of the world. Free us from all that darkens and ensnares us, and bring us to eternal light and joy; through the power of Jesus Christ, who is alive and orders all things with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN. >The Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5 >Antiphon for Advent I Ian Sowton One: O RIGHTEOUS BRANCH foretold by your prophet Jeremiah, All: blossom in the hearts of your people with the power of Aaron's rod against all oppression. One: Flourish in our midst, vine of saving hope and nourish in us, your branches, rich fruit of all good works. All: Grow, grow into the great Living Tree of God where we, with all our fellow creatures of creation, may sing your praises among its golden leaves. >Second Reading: "Grandmothers Keep the Promise" The second reading is taken from "Keep the Promise - Advent in a Time of AIDS", a calendar from the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. The digital version of the calendar can be downloaded from: http://www.e-alliance.ch/hivaids_adventcal.jsp#digital Based on Psalm 146:5-10 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. (v. 8) Her teacher raped her. She became a mother at sixteen. She is a widow, unemployed and rearing five grandchildren, two of them HIV positive. She has known the burden of patriarchy. She has learned not to wait for powerful governments and greedy rulers for help. Like the psalmist she has been bowed down many times by great loss and grief. She cries out in shouts of lament, thanksgiving, and incomprehensible hope. She knows her help will only come by trusting in the living God. Providentially she believes justice comes with the one of whom it is written: “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3a). Faithfulness and fruitfulness is her testimony. Africa is lifted up because this grandmother has refused to give up. She is the blessed mother of the motherless and the despairing. Her daily activities are punctuated with songs and prayers. Glory be to God. >Gradual Hymn (all rise, in body or spirit for the hymn and Gospel): Music: Wachet auf Words:Philip Nicolai, adapted, Ian Sowton 1. Sleepers, wake! The watch are calling, their notes from Zion's watchtower falling: Awake, awake, Jerusalem! Midnight comes, no longer slumber, nor let dull sleep your senses cumber. You guests, make haste, or do you dream? The Promised One draws near! Up, trim your lanterns clear. Hallelujah! Yourselves array this festive day to meet Messiah in the way. 2. Zion hears the watchers singing, our hearts within for joy are springing, we wake, we speed with glad surprise. For Emmanuel comes all glorious, in grace most strong, in truth victorious; our light is come, our star does rise. Welcome! Your name is blest, Christ Jesus, host and guest. Hosanna! We join the throng that streams along And fills your banquet hall with song. 3. Let all creatures sound your praises, now earth her voice to heaven raises, with drums and flutes, guitars, trombones. Gates of pearl swing wide before us, your guests who join the blessed chorus of saints in full crescendo tones. No eye has seen, nor ear was yet so blest to hear such rejoicing! In homage due may we renew our joyous hymns exalting you. >Holy Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44 >Homily: David and Louise Brooke 6 LITURGY OF THE BREAD AND CUP The collection will be received in the first verses of the hymn. We will then gather in a circle around the altar to share the gifts of bread and wine and other offerings, the symbols of our common life. All are welcome. You may also stay seated, if you do not wish to join the circle. >Offertory Hymn: "O Ancient Love" 1. O ancient love, processing through the ages; O hidden love, revealed in human form; O promised love, the dream of seers and sages: O living Love, within our hearts be born, O living Love within our hearts be born. 2. O homeless love, that dwells among the stranger; O lowly love, that knows the mighty's scorn; O hungry love, that lay within a manger: O living Love, within our hearts be born... 3. O gentle love, caressing those in sorrow; O tender love, that comforts those forlorn; O hopeful love, that promises tomorrow: O living Love, within our hearts be born... 4. O suffering love, that bears our human weakness; O boundless love, that rises with the morn; O mightly love, concealed in infant meekness: O living Love, within our hearts be born... >Prayers of the People: Please remember in your prayers: in the Anglican Cycle: West Texas - (Province VII, USA) The Rt Revd Gary Lillibridge Suffragan Bishop of West Texas - (Province VII, USA) The Rt Revd David Mitchell Reed ; in the Diocesan Cycle: North House, Durham Region (Faithworks). The community now offers its prayers, both spoken and unspoken. Please keep your prayers brief. >The Great Thanksgiving Presider: Michael Creal Please refrain from the practice of dipping the bread into the wine. The bread and wine will be passed around the circle, but if you prefer you may receive at the gluten free station at the altar. >The Saviour's Prayer: p.35 in the green booklet >Communion Hymn: Veni veni Emmanuel, 12th c anonymous, newly translated William Whitla, 2007 1. O come, O come Emmanuel! And free your captive Israel, Who long have suffered, long exiled, 'Till rescued by God's only Child, Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel is born us and comes to dwell. 2.O come, O Wisdom! Come, Sophia bright! And order all creation with your light; O come, the road to wisdom show, the paths of glory help to know. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel is born us and comes to dwell. >Glory to God p.36 in the green booklet >Closing Hymn: "I Wanna Be Ready" WEEKLY NOTICES Assistive Hearing Devices are available at the rear of the church. This is an infrared system which works best if you face towards the front of the church. Please help us keep tidy: by picking up service booklets, sheets, and hymn books after the service and returning them to the carts (at the entrances of the church). Thanks Prayers: There is a prayer list beside the candle tree. Please feel free to add a prayer to that list or to phone Sara with your request. Welcome Newcomers!!!! Please fill out the Newcomers Form which will let us know how to reach you. The Homeless Memorial is on the second Tuesday of every month at 12:15 outside the south doors of the church. We try to keep Holy Trinity a Scent-free Zone: Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, after-shave and highly scented personal hygiene products Thank you. ATTENTION!! We are a downtown community. Please keep your belongings with you at all times, even during the peace. Members of the community are asked to help newcomers and visitors keep track of their belongings.