• Third Sunday of Advent

    December 11, 2022

    St. Matthew’s is a parish of the Diocese of Louisiana
    The Rt. Rev.  Shannon Rogers Duckworth, Bishop 

    From the Senior Warden:

    Welcome to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. What a joy it is to have you with us here today! We pray by grace you will find your soul refreshed and your spirit renewed as we hear God’s word, give thanks and receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. 

    Blessings and peace,

    Dr. Rob Alexander, Senior Warden

    Dr. Rob Alexander, Senior Warden
    David West, Music Minister
    Courtney Rulf, Youth Christian Formation           
    Erica Polk, Office Manager     

    To help everyone more fully participate in the worship service:

    • A gentle reminder to please silence your cell phones.
    • Your parts are printed in bold.
    • Come to the Lord’s Table.
    • If you wish to receive Communion: Please do come forward. (we will bring communion to you if you are unable to come forward).
    • Extend your hands, palms up to receive the bread. All are welcome.
    • A special bulletin (and crayons) is available for children on the table at the entrance.

    Music used with permission of License CCLI:2542584

     PARISH PRAYER LIST

    Andrèe, Jay, Norma, Sybil, Lydicia, Jere and Emilie, Shirley, Lona and Sidney, Earl, Bonnie, Jamie, AnnaBelle, Betty, Kim, Jane, Ursula,  Randy, Earl, Gerard, Al, Matt & Miles, Stella and Legion Park School.  We give thanks and pray for St. Matthew’s Episcopal School, Head of School, Thomas Souldelier, members of the Board,  faculty, staff and students, our Parish Vestry and Search Committee. 

    Happy Birthday—Duane Ring

    Happy Anniversary—Danny and Carolyn Lirette

    Opening processional

    Blessed are you, holy and living One.

    You come to your people and set them free

     The Lighting of the Advent Candle 

    In this Advent season we wait in hope for God to be with us and to give us peace. Today we light the third candle and remember that God wants us to rejoice.  This candle is a symbol of the joy that comes when God is with us.

    O God, as we travel through Advent, give us courage to spread joy in the world. Amen.

    Hymn of Praise   O come, O come, Emmanuel   Veni, veni Emmanuel

    Words: Latin, ca. 9th cent; Music: Plainsong, Mode 1, Processonale, 15th cent

    The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent

    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.

    We Proclaim and Respond to the Word of God

    A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 35:1-10

    The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.

    Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense, who will come and save you.”

    Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

    For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall be come a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

    A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 

    No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.

    And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

    The Word of the Lord.

    Thanks be to God.

    Canticle 15: The Song of Mary said in unison

    My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

    From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

    He has mercy on those who fear him *in every generation.

    He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

    He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly.

    He has filled the hungry with good things, *and the rich he has sent away empty.

    He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

    The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children forever.

    A Reading from the Letter of James 5:7-10

    Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

    The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient.

    Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

    Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!

    As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

    The Word of the Lord.

    Thanks be to God.

    We greet the Gospel by singing When out of poverty                  

    Words: Kathy Galloway (b. 1952); Music: Kingsfold, English Traditional 1893

    The Holy Gospel

    The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ According to Matthew

    Glory to you, Lord Christ

    When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

    As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?  A reed shaken by the wind?

    What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

    “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Praise to you Lord Christ

    The Homily, The Rev. Gigi Conner

    We Affirm Our Faith Together

         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.

    We Pray for the Church and the World

    These prayers were written by Sue Carmichael, former Lay Vicar of St. Marty’s Episcopal Church, Springfield, Florida “This is original song is from my almost 25 years as an urban missionary at St. Mary’s where the love of Jesus Christ is shared especially with those of us who struggle with mental health and/or addiction issues, and who are considered the marginalized of society.” Sue retired in 2017 but her prayers still remind us of all who need comfort and support, especially at this time of year.

    I see you on the corner, picking through the trash, you meet me in the parking lot asking for some cash.

    I see you in the soup line, waiting for a meal. I hear you chatter to an unseen presence you think is real.

    and I ponder: You’re somebody’s baby, somebody’s girl,

    somebody‘s heartache, somebody’s world.

    And I wonder where you’ve come from, and I wonder where you’ve been

    and I think back to the manger when no room was in the inn

    and I wonder how you got here and I wonder how you live

    and a little bit of kindness is the least, that I can give.

    I see your shoes are tattered, your shirt a dirty rag. I see you sipping something hidden, in a paper bag.

    I see you on the highways, faces worn and full of strain, I see you in the overpasses waiting out the rain

    and I ponder: You’re somebody’s baby, somebody’s boy

    Somebody’s heartache, somebody’s joy,

    And I wonder where you’ve come from, and I wonder where you’ve been

    and I think back to the manger when no room was in the inn

    and I wonder how you got here and I wonder how you live

    and a little bit of kindness is the least, that I can give.

    God our Maker and Guide, as John the Baptist came proclaiming your message of justice, may we, the church, be prophets for our own time.  In this time of preparing for Christ to once again enter our hearts, we pray that:

    governments everywhere will become more aware of their responsibilities to those who either benefit or suffer from decisions made.

    May we, the church, always be ready to challenge our own attitudes and traditions in the name of love.

     Help our church to become a place of healing where the anxious and depressed, the sick and the bereaved and those who believe they are of little worth, may find acceptance and love.

    May we, the church, seek to prepare the way for you to come into the lives of all people.

    May we become aware of our responsibilities to the poor, the neglected, the destitute, and the suffering.

    May we remember those on our Parish Prayer list, which can be found on the opening page of the church bulletin.

    And may we, the church, offer to others by our witness and example, an alternative way of life, a way of life based on love and truth, rather than selfishness and complacency.

    Help us to keep a clear view of the goodness of Christ, so that our values may reflect our faith and not the values of the society around us.

    We also hold in our hearts, those we love but see no more.

    We believe that they, along others of the heavenly host, are gathered with us at the Eucharistic table where all are welcome.

    We pray also for those for whom there is no celebration in this season of joy– the poor and the hungry, the homeless and the sick, the lonely and the bereaved, the oppressed and the persecuted.

    Lord, you call us to respond to their need: help us to reach out in love

    Celebrant: Lord, hear our prayers, and if today we might be the means by which you answer the prayers of others, then may you find us eager and dedicated to fulfill your purpose, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

    The Confession

    Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor

    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 we have done, and 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.

    The Absolution

    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.

    We Exchange the Peace

    The Peace of the Lord be always with you. 

    And also with you.

    Announcements – Birthdays, Anniversaries

    We Set the Table

    As the gifts of bread and wine and our offerings are  brought forward we sing 

    The Offertory             Hark the Glad Sound                                 St. Anne

    Words: Scottish Paraphrases, 1781: St. Luke 4:18,19; Music: 1708 William Croft (1678-1727)

    We Celebrate the Eucharist

    The Great Thanksgiving :  Eucharistic Prayer 2-Enriching Our Worship

    The Lord be with you. 

    And also with you.

    Lift up your hearts.    

    We lift them to the Lord.

    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God, 

    It is right to give God thanks and praise.

    We praise you and we bless you, holy and gracious God, source of life abundant. From before time you made ready the creation. Your Spirit moved over the deep and brought all things into being: sun, moon, and stars; earth, winds, and waters; and every living thing.

    You made us in your image, and taught us to walk in your ways. But we rebelled against you, and wandered far away; and yet, as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us.

    Time and again you called us to live in the fullness of your love. And so this day we join with Saints and Angels in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity, lifting our voices to magnify you as we sing:

    Glory and honor and praise to you, holy and living God.  To deliver us from the power of sin and death and to reveal the riches of your grace, you looked with favor upon Mary, your willing servant, that she might conceive and bear a son, Jesus the holy child of God.

    Living among us, Jesus loved us. He broke bread with outcasts and sinners, healed the sick, and proclaimed good news to the poor.

    He yearned to draw all the world to himself, yet we were heedless of his call to walk in love.

    Then the time came for him to complete upon the cross the sacrifice of his life, and to be glorified by you.

    On the night before he died for us, Jesus was at table with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, 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. Again he gave thanks to you, 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.”

    Now gathered at your table, O God of all creation, and remembering Christ crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come, we offer to you our gifts of bread and wine, and ourselves, a living sacrifice.

    Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Body and blood of Christ. Breathe your Spirit over the whole earth and make us your new creation, the Body of Christ given for the world you have made.

    In the fullness of time bring us, with all your saints, from every tribe and language and people and nation, to feast at the banquet prepared from the foundation of the world.

    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.

    And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say

    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.

    We Break the Bread

    Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

    Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

    The Communion of the People

     All who seek God and a deeper life in Christ are welcome to receive Holy

    Communion.

    Communion Hymn   God of the passing centuries  O Waly, waly

    From Songs for the New Millenium;  Words: Peter Trow (b. 1956)©Kevin Mayew Ltd.; Music:   

    The Post Communion Prayer

    Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

    The Blessing

    Beloved, remember that life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So be quick to love, quicker still to forgive. Always show kindness to strangers. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father Son and Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever. Amen.

    Hymn in Procession    Prepare ye the way of the Lord

    Words & Music by Laura Winnen & Jeff Cothran

    We are sent out into the World

    Let us go forth, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

    Thanks be to God.

    Sharing in the hospitality of Christ continues after this service with refreshments in the Parish Hall—go through the door to the left of the pulpit. Please do join us for conversation and coffee.

    Jay C. Theriot – Developer