It’s the Second Sunday Advent, which has the focus of peace. We remember that Jesus is the Prince of peace, whose coming gives us inner peace, whatever our outward circumstances, and peace with God, peace inside our hearts, with others, and all creation. Our Archbishop mentioned in last week’s video introduction to Advent that as the days grow darker, we light more and more Advent Candles to proclaim silently the Good News that Jesus is the Light of the world, and so this Sunday we’re lighting 2 candles in the Advent Wreath. Deacon Bob is with us, assisting in the Service, leading the Candle Lighting Children’s Reflection Time, and preaching the Sermon; John and Rhonda are on video, sharing the Readings from Holy Scripture; and Murray is on audio, leading the Prayers of the People, which consist of an Advent 2 Litany and a Prayer in Response to COVID-19 by the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and Angola. Our Virtual Choir is leading us in 5 congregational Hymns, and we’re blessed with a recording of the Youth Choir of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC singing our Offertory Anthem. And with thanksgiving we’re asking to come into our hearts the One for whom we wait, as we experience a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet yet to come, sharing Holy Communion together spiritually or physically (in the Sanctuary, or with the Reserved Sacrament we’ve picked up from the Office Monday to Friday between 9 and noon, or by appointment)!
Today’s Service of Holy Eucharist will be livestreamed on our main Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stpaulscalgary) at 9:30 am. Following the service, the video will be posted on our YouTube Channel, and a link to the service will be added here. To watch this service in full screen mode, please click on the “Watch on YouTube” button in the lower left-hand corner of the video. Please download the Order of Service in the Sermon Notes above if you would like to follow along. If you are sharing this Service online and don’t have Reserved Sacrament, you are invited to say the Prayer for Communion for those receiving Spiritual Communion also available above.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from:
(a) ONE LICENSE with license # A-713985, and/or
(b) CCLI with Streaming License # 20351479.
All rights reserved.