The Gathering of the Community
Processional Hymn
#103 “On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry”
The Greeting
℣. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
℟. And also with you.
Collect for Purity
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. 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.
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah, inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth, to turn our disobedient hearts to you, that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge, we may stand with confidence before his glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility, that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel
Epistle
Gradual Hymn
#104 “Joy Shall Come”
Gospel
Sermon
The Nicene Creed
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 worshipped 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.
The Prayers of the People
Watchful at all times, let us pray for strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer.
That God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
That God may establish among the nations his sceptre of righteousness,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
That we may seek Christ in the Scriptures and recognize him in the breaking of the bread,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
That God may bind up the brokenhearted, restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
That the light of God’s coming may dawn on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
That, with all the saints in light, we may shine forth as lights for the world,
℣. Let us pray to the Lord:
℟. Lord, have mercy.
We commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of our heavenly Father: Almighty God, as your blessed Son Jesus Christ first came to seek and to save the lost; so may he come again to find in us the completion of his redeeming work; for he is now alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Act of Penitence
Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s Forgiveness.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
℣. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
℟. And also with you.
Offertory Hymn
#100 “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And also with you.
Jesus said:
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.
— St. John 6:54–58
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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
God of love, in this eucharist we have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Recessional Hymn
#111 “Herald! Sound the Note of Judgement”
℣. Go forth in the name of Christ.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
Freda Ola-Joseph
Announcements
Each year, we decorate our chancel with poinsettias to celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you wish to contribute to the Poinsettia Fund, please place your donation in the envelope inserted in your bulletin. Clearly print the required information on the envelope and place the envelope in the collection plate at the front of the church. Donations can also be made through e-transfer. The Fund ends next Sunday, December 15. All donations are very much appreciated.
2024 Donations
Thank you for your donations throughout 2024 and we look forward to your continued financial support in 2025. Please note that 31 December 2024 is the cut-off date for the following types of 2024 donations:
• cash
• cheques
• donations-in-kind
• e-transfers (to “stmatthewsang” <at> “outlook.com”)
All 2024 tax receipts will be issued by the last day in February 2025 and all donations received as of 1 January 2025 and after will be allocated to the 2025 calendar year.
Please send an email to “stmatthewsang” <at> “outlook.com” to let the church office know that you have changed your municipal address which is mandatory on the tax receipt. Also, your up-to-date email address is critical to St. Matthew’s sending you your 2024 tax receipt.
Regarding any questions, please speak to Bill Middleton, People’s Warden, or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden, or send an email to the church office at “stmatthewsang” <at> “outlook.com”
A Prayer for this Interim Time
Our gracious God and Father,
We give you thanks for the countless ways that you have blessed St Matthew’s: for the people who have contributed to its life and well being over its many years, for the neighbourhood in which you have planted it, for the ministry that you have entrusted to us, and for the leaders who have laboured so long amongst us.
Grant us, we pray, the Spirit of wisdom and discernment in this time: listening ears, steady minds, and courageous hearts as we seek to follow you into our next stage of life together. Help us to set unnecessary fears aside, to see your hand at work throughout this time of change, and to attend to your voice as you lead us in new ways. In particular, we pray for the gift of a new leader who will serve this church as it serves you in this place, and at this time. We ask all this in the name of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
And finally we pray together from Ephesians 3: that, according to the riches of God’s glory, he may grant that we may be strengthened in our inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are being rooted and grounded in love. We pray that we may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. Amen. (Eph 3:16–19)
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
www.stmatthewsriverdale.org
hello@stmatthewsriverdale.org
fb.com/StMatthewsAnglicanChurchRiverdale
@StMatsRiverdale
The Rev Dr Peter M.B. Robinson
Priest-in-Charge (Interim)
416-463-9720
Please direct all enquiries to:
William Middleton, People’s Warden
Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
