The Gathering of the People
Hymn: Blue #89 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
All: And also with you
Leader: Almighty God,
All: 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,
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: Isaiah 64:1-9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Gradual Hymn: #594 Judge Eternal Throned in Splendour
Gospel: MARK 13:24-37
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
In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray to Jesus. Come to your Church as Lord and judge. We pray for the church throughout the world, especially in places where Christians are persecuted. Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom. Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your world as King of the nations. We pray for Ukraine, for South Sudan, for Israel and for the people of Gaza, that you will bring an end to terrorism and a true peace for all. Before you rulers will stand in silence. Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter. We pray for all who are sick, especially… Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you for ever. Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls. We remember … Give us with all the faithful departed a share in your victory over evil and death. Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory. Lift us up to meet you, that with St. Matthew and all your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation. Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace (Eph. 2:13, 14).
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All: And also with you.
Offertory Hymn: Blue #110 “Sleepers, Wake!” A Voice Astounds Us
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: 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.” (John 6:54-58)
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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
All: 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 for whom we wait,
you have fed us with the bread of eternal life.
Keep us ever watchful,
that we may be ready to stand before the Son of man.
We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen
Hymn: Blue #114 Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
We pray for: Victor and Saleem Bhana, and Jonathan and Jessie; Jacob and Noelle Bhana, Japheth and Cylus.
Announcements
Reverse Advent Calendar
“I was hungry and you gave me food; I was naked and you clothed me” (Matt 25:35). Jesus calls us to love and serve the least of his brothers and sisters, just as he did. We invite you to take home our Reverse Advent Calendars and bags today and fill your Advent with giving! Our gifts will be donated to a local shelter.
Online Bible Study
Our bible study continues tomorrow, Monday Dec 4, at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome! Come when you can. The Zoom link is on St Matt’s website
www.stmatthewsriverdale.org
Newcomers’ Lunch: Learn about Communion
Sunday December 10 at 12:15
Stay after church for pizza and to talk about what Communion is all about. Please let Mtr Catherine know if you are coming so we can order enough pizza for all. Children especially welcome!
Put up the Christmas tree! Friday, Dec 8 at 6:30 pm
St. Matt’s small group is meeting at the church on Friday Dec 8 at 6:30 for take-out and to help Mary put up our Christmas tree. There’s no tree like it: tall, wide, and beautiful, and every branch is added individually. We welcome helpers! Especially tall ones! Please let Miriam (miriamjoh@gmail.com) or Mtr Catherine know if you can join so that we can order enough food for all.
Christmas Pageant and Farewell Lunch: Sunday December 17
On Sunday, December 17 our children will enact the story of Jesus’ birth during our 10:30 service. Mary and Joseph, shepherds and magi and angels, and of course wayward sheep: come and be part of the story.
Then stay after church for a festive lunch to celebrate Fr Ephraim and Mtr Annette who are moving to Colorado, their former home and home of their children. We will miss them hugely! Please do join us to thank Fr. Ephraim for all he has given to St. Matthew’s over so many years, and to wish them Godspeed.
Poinsettia Fund
Each Christmas, we decorate our chancel with poinsettias to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. If you wish to contribute to our annual Poinsettia Fund to the glory of God and in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving, please place your donation in the envelope inserted in your bulletin and place the envelope in the collection plate at the front of the church. Donations can also be made to the church through e-transfer. Ensure that you have printed the information requested on the front of the envelope. The Fund starts this Sunday and ends on Sunday, December 17th.
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to William Middleton, People’s Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
