The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2025
11:00AM HOLY EUCHARIST
Prelude: Savior of the nations, come Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Processional Hymn #102: Once in Royal David’s City Irby
The Opening Acclamation
Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen
The Collect for Purity
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.
The Kyrie John Merbecke Hymnal # S-90
The Collect of the Day
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.
The Word of God
The First Lesson: Adam and Eve rebel against God Genesis 3:8-15,17-19
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Anthem Boris Ord (1897-1961) Adam lay y-bounden, bounden in a bond;
four thousand winter thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple that he took,
as clerkes finden written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been,
ne had never our lady been heavenly queen.
Blessed be the time that apple taken was,
there we moun singen, Deo gracias!
The Second Lesson: Abraham will be father of many nations Genesis 22: 15-18
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Hymn #54: Savior of the nations, come Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
The Third Lesson: Unto us a Son is born Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Anthem Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don't turn me from the door, but harken all, both rich and poor.
The first thing that I will relate, that God at first did man create;
The next thing which to you I tell woman was made with him to dwell.
Thus we were heir to endless woes till God the Lord did interpose;
And so a promise soon did run: that he'd redeem us by his Son.
And at this season of the year our blest Redeemer did appear,
And here did live, and here did preach, and many thousands he did teach.
Thus he in love to us behaved, to show us how we must be saved;
And if you want to know the way, be pleased to hear what he did say.
The Fourth Lesson: The Peaceable Kingdom Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
there young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Hymn #56: O come, O come , Emmanuel Veni, veni, Emmanuel
The Fifth Lesson: A Virgin Shall Conceive and Bear a Son Luke 1: 26-35; 38
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Anthem: The Angel Gabriel Basque Carol, arr. Malcolm Archer (b.1952)
The Sixth Lesson: Christ’s Birth Luke 2: 1; 3-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Hymn #112: In the bleak mid-winter Cranham
The Seventh Lesson: The angels appear before the shepherds Luke 2: 8-16
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Anthem Alec Rowley (1892-1958)
Shepherds loud their praises singing, fill the skies with anthem raising:
Hence all fears and sadness flinging: born today is Christ our King.
Gentle child, so still Thou sleepeth, tender watch His mother keepeth,
O what pains Thy love it reapeth, born today is Christ our King.
Kings to meet Him forth are faring, gold, frankincense and myrrh preparing:
Straight all to the manger bearing; born today is Christ our King.
Lo! the star o'er Bethlehem stayeth, heaven's own light the Child arrayeth:
Peace on earth, goodwill be wrayeth: born today is Christ our King.
Son of God, the earth adorning, angels sing this joyful morning
Peace on earth, all sadness scorning. Born today is Christ our King.
The Eighth Lesson: The wise men come from the East Matthew 2: 1-12
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will govern my people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God
Hymn #497: How bright appears the Morning Star Wir schon leuchtet
The Holy Gospel John 1:1-14
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Peace and Announcements
Offertory Verse Tone II
Be strong, fear not; behold our God will come with a recompense:
He will come and save us.
Hymn #83: O come, all ye faithful (verses 1-3) Adeste fideles
The Great Thanksgiving
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth …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:
Sanctus Merbecke HYMNAL #S-113
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts;
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Eucharistic Prayer: The people stand or kneel.
Celebrant: We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your
Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, 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, according to his command, O Father,
Celebrant & People: We remember his death.
We proclaim his resurrection.
We await his coming in glory.
Celebrant: And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
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 forever. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 kingdomand the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Fraction Anthem: Agnus Dei Merbecke HYMNAL #S-157
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
grant us thy peace.
Communion of the People: You are invited to receive communion if you are baptized, or you may come to receive a blessing if you are in the process of discerning your faith. If you wish to receive a blessing, please cross your arms in front of your chest when you come up.
Communion Verse: Tone I
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son: and his Name
shall be called Emmanuel.
Communion Anthem Richard Shephard (b. 1949)
Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore,
never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more;
than my wearied sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast.
O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest.
Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven's high Paradise,
cold age deafs not there our ears, nor vapour dims our eyes;
Glory there the sun outshines whose beam the blessed only see.
O come quickly glorious Lord and raise my sprite to thee.
The Post-Communion Prayer (stand or kneel)
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.
The Blessing and Dismissal
Recessional Hymn #87: Hark! the herald angels sing Mendelssohn
Postlude: In quiet joy Bach