WEBVTT 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:30.960 The Gospel of John speaks of Christ as the true light coming into the world. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:39.199 In commemoration of that coming, we light candles for the four weeks leading to Christmas and reflect on the coming of Christ. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:46.560 It is significant that the church has always used that language, the coming of Christ. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.120 Because it speaks to a deep truth. 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:50.879 Christ is coming. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:52.719 Christ is always coming. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:57.199 Always entering a troubled world, a wounded heart. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:09.360 And so we light the first candle, the candle of hope, and dare to express our longing for peace, for healing, and the well-being of all creation. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:14.479 Show us the creative power. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.800 Our heart be transformed by you. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:28.000 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.199 Blessed before. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:37.360 Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:38.720 All desires. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:54.959 That we may perfectly love thee and virtually magnify thy holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:55.920 Amen. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.639 The Lord be with you. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.000 And also with you. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:01.839 Let us pray. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:10.399 Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:28.560 Now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in 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. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:34.959 Through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.079 Amen. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:48.399 It is at this time we invite the children to go to the back with Miss Alexandria and join in for children's chapter. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:36.959 In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up before David. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:41.519 And he will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:48.240 In those days, Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:52.319 And this is the name by which it will be called. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:56.560 The Lord is our righteousness. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:01.120 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.920 Let none who look to you be put to shame. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:39.279 Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your ways. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:43.279 Lead me in your truth and teach me. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.800 For you are the God of my salvation. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.759 And you are my trusted all day long. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:54.240 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.680 For they are compliments. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.160 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.000 Remember me according to God for the sake of your Lord. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.600 Gracious and upright are you, O Lord. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:17.759 There are we guide the humble in doing right. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:25.839 All your paths, O Lord, are love and faithfulness. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.840 The second reading is from First Thessalonians. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:47.840 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:58.080 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:06.240 And may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:15.519 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:27.440 And may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his thanks. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:32.080 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:51.519 Jesus said, There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations, confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:59.600 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:04.879 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:13.679 Now, when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your head, because your redemption is drawing near. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.399 Then he told them a parable. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.519 Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:26.000 As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:32.159 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:39.120 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:44.399 Heaven and earth would pass away, but my words will not pass away. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.480 Be on guard so that your heart will not weigh down with dissipation, the drunkenness, and the worry for this life. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.320 And that day catch you unexpectedly on a track. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:01.600 For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.919 Be alert at all times. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:11.440 Pray that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the sun in the air. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.440 The gospel of the Lord. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.440 Before we get started, I want to make sure that you all can hear me. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.200 I'm new with the mic. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:13.519 Also wanted to let you all know that take my mask off real fast so you can hear me better. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:18.080 I apologize. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:20.879 I am uh Alex Hillis. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.279 Um Eric or Mike at the sermon. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.759 Uh today, when the rector is away, the family minister gets to play. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.679 Uh so I am here to to talk with you guys at the sermon. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.840 Uh I'll start by saying that I am not nearly as smart as Mike or Eric. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:42.879 Um I am going to have some notes in front of me, um, because if I don't, I will get lost. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.799 Um but I am excited to be here and excited to be talking with you all this morning. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:49.519 Um, like I said, my name is Alex Hillis. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:52.000 I am the um put this down real quick here. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.279 Out of my hands. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:58.399 I am the family minister, uh and I was hired here in August of this year. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:06.000 Uh, usually on Sunday mornings, especially at this service, you can find me in the back with a fiery little redhead named Evie. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:10.240 Um, she is my daughter, and you usually can't miss her because she's quite loud. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.600 She loves to talk. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:18.960 Um, some of you I have met and had the pleasure of meeting, and some of you I've yet to meet, and it sounds like that would be really hard to do, but it's true. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:21.840 It's uh probably been here three months, and I still have not met everyone. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.879 Um but it is great to finally introduce myself to you all and to be a part of this community. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:34.480 Um, being here is a with you all is a beautiful new beginning for my life and for my family. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:38.480 It's this beautiful new beginning in my story. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:51.679 Um, which interestingly enough is really what I want to talk to you guys about today is new beginnings and how new beginnings usually come about, which is the end. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:53.600 Um, but we'll get there. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:02.000 First things first, I have to wish you all a happy new year! Happy New Year, everyone! Uh yeah, there we go. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:07.519 Now, my non-cradle episcopalians are probably in the room going, what are you talking about? 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:14.159 It is December, it is not even December, we're not in the new year, but um, so I'll I'll explain. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.840 Um, so this is the Sunday. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:20.000 This Sunday begins the Advent 1 in our liturgical church year. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:29.600 Which um if we were asking our good friend Stacy here and Eric what that meant, they would give you a beautiful formal um answer. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:34.000 I'm gonna give you the simple confirmation answer I give to my eighth graders. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.600 Uh Lent is a lot like um, imagine a circle. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:42.080 There's a circle, and there's in the circle there's different colors of the season. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.039 It's a calendar of sorts, and the colors change. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:54.799 If you see we have blue now for Advent, you'll see them change from green for the normal times, uh, purple for Lent, uh, red for uh the Pentecost. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:57.919 There's all sorts of different colors that follow our church seasons. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:03.600 And our church seasons, you might think, would begin on the new year of the of the new calendar year, but it's not. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:08.399 It actually begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is today. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:17.759 So this begins our so here we are at the um the beginning of our kickoff of our new celebration for the new year. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:25.600 Um so uh but as it so happens, this is also my mother's birthday. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:34.639 And she is here with us today, and so I wanted to score some brownie points and say happy birthday to my mom in my first ever sermon. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.679 So there we go. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.039 Yeah, happy birthday to mom. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:44.720 Scoring some brownie points, always gotta do it, you've got to continue to do it, even when you're old. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:50.399 Um, so uh, but the new beginnings abound today. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.440 This is very exciting. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:55.759 It's a very exciting day filled with new beginnings that seems to be everywhere. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:04.079 Uh however, that is until you think about how new beginnings come about, which is the end. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:12.640 And the end can be sad and disheartening, and frankly, hard. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:19.200 The end of anything can lead us to a place of darkness and loss. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:27.839 The end can be scary and for lack of words feel endless. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:36.640 Today's gospel passage from a certain perspective can make the end feel like all these things. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.200 It can be a tad confusing and a little odd. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:45.759 Which is why when I read first read it, I thought, what? 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:54.079 And then I thought, I went to Mike's office and I asked Father Mike, by the way, who's who's not here this morning. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.319 I went to his office and asked him, why? 00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:00.160 Why give me this passage on my first sermon? 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:11.759 And we talked, we discussed it, and we stumbled upon a beautiful thought, which was the end is really not the end. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:19.680 Merely it's just a new beginning, especially with our relationship to Jesus Christ. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:29.039 When wrapping my head around this thought, this beautiful thought, I wondered how best to express this to you all, this wonderful concept. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.640 And it struck me. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.400 A story. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:48.559 And I found when speaking in front of people, especially in a setting such as this one, I am most comfortable telling stories, especially stories about my own life, which usually come in the form of comedy, as most of the stuff that happens into my life is pretty comical. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:59.359 But, however, the story that I'm that came to my mind for today's passage and for today's message is a story that is not so comical. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:07.599 It is a story that finds me at the end, particularly at the end of a very long day. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.079 Especially for my wonderful, lovely wife. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.960 For this is the story of the day my daughter Evie was born. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:21.279 And when I say day, it felt more like days. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:27.039 Megan, my wonderful, beautiful wife, who is a family minister as well down at St. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:30.640 Christopher League City, just uh just down the street, really. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:41.359 Um, Megan, my beautiful wife, began the process of bringing our sweet Evie into the world on the afternoonslash evening of October 8th, 2019. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.880 And let me tell y'all, Megan was a mama warrior. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:49.039 She was doing such a great job. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:58.559 And as only husbands can do, I sat on the sidelines cheering on my wonderful wife as she made her way through this tough and beautiful process. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:05.519 And as the afternoonslash evening began to head towards late night, we still had no real sign of Evie. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:09.759 She was quite comfortable with where she was at in her situation. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:17.519 So it was at this point, though, that worry, fear, and anxiety crept into my thoughts. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:20.000 How could I help? 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.400 What could I do? 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:26.160 What was going to happen? 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:32.160 What words can I say to Megan to make Megan feel better? 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:41.599 At this point, October 8th, 2019 became the longest, hardest day of my life. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:49.200 And I know how that sounds, especially because I'm not the one physically having a baby. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:21:00.000 But it is at this point, though, that Megan is moved by the doctors into a different room to continue the process and try a different method. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:06.160 It is also at this point that as the father, I am not allowed to follow. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.240 Hospital procedures and such. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.960 I am left in the room alone. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:22.240 Left with my already built-up worries and my fears and my anxieties. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:30.559 And when I tell you that that was the longest hour of my life, it doesn't do it justice. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:36.960 The final half hour of October 8th, 2019 felt like days, even years. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:44.480 With no idea what was happening and how things were going, I ended up just pacing the room back and forth. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:50.960 I prayed, I cried, I thought of all the worst things that could happen. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:59.279 And just as I felt the world was going to crash around me, consume me whole, I heard a knock at the door. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:07.119 The doctor entered, and with her, she brought a tightly wrapped up bundle. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.160 A bundle of hope. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.640 A bundle of joy. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.920 A bundle of answered prayers. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:22.079 And as I took my beautiful red-headed daughter from the doctor's hand, I began to cry. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:28.960 And there we were, daughter and father, crying together for the very first time, and definitely not the last. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:36.640 And as I began to speak to her, she stopped crying and looked at me as if she knew who I was. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:40.400 And that look took my breath away. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.799 What a sight. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:47.920 What a beautiful, amazing sight it is to lay eyes on your newborn child. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.200 I know many of us in the room have experienced it. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:55.920 And I will never experience anything as beautiful as that moment ever again. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:02.720 And on October 18th, 2019, the hardest day of my entire life had come to an end. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:06.160 And with it, a new day dawned. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:17.279 For on October 9th, 2019, at 12.37 a.m., my Eve was born into the world. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:24.720 Gone were the worries, the fears, and anxieties that the end of the day had brought. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:32.240 A new day was shaping, filled with lots of hope, love, and joy. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:35.519 A day of new beginnings. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:42.960 This year, and frankly, the year before it has been hard. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:48.720 It has been filled with worry, fear, and anxiety. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:57.359 All the things a new father feels in the minutes leading up to the end of the longest, hardest day of his life. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:04.079 But here we find ourselves at the beginning of a new day. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.839 A new year. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.759 A new beginning. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:18.319 And no, not everyone here is leaving with the new baby the way I did when I left the hospital the next day. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.920 But you are leaving here with the other things I did leave with the hospital that day. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:28.880 Love, joy, and especially hope. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.200 A reminder of our wreaths. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:40.480 Today, we lit the first Advent candle at the beginning of the service, which signifies hope. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:51.200 We were reminded today on Advent 1 of the hope that Jesus brings to us by coming into the world. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:25:01.279 And in that, we are ultimately reminded that Him coming into the world brings it, brings with it an end. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:07.680 But that Jesus' end is just our beginning. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:13.039 That through his death, we are given new life. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:17.759 That through his death, we are given hope. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:25.759 But that's really a whole different liturgical calendar tangent I could go on, and we'll save that for Lent. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:40.160 Back to focusing on this new season we call Advent, which by the way, I find it quite appropriate that the beginning of the new church year begins at the end of the calendar year. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:47.599 How perfect is it that at the end of a long year, we are given literally a new beginning. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:52.559 I digress, but it's all coming together. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:59.200 So back to focusing on focusing on this new season we call Athent. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:07.599 We are reminded from our gospel in a really strange way that the end is coming. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:14.000 But that with it a new beautiful beginning will as well. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:27.759 We are ultimately reminded that endings can be hard and long, but that it can also bring new beginnings with lots of hope and new life. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.680 In my case, quite literally, a new life. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:40.559 So I encourage you, go from this place and spread that message of hope. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:53.920 Go and remember that with Christ and through Christ, the end brings with it a rather beautiful new beginning. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:29.359 We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Maker of the Heaven and Earth, of all. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:38.400 We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:07.759 And the same is crucified. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:22.160 On the third day, and according to the scriptures, and seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:26.400 He will come again to the death of the living and the dead. 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:29.359 And his kingdom will have heaven. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:37.039 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the glorified, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.359 With the Father and the Son, is your worship for Father. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:43.759 He is spoken through the prophets. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.160 We believe in one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:51.759 We acknowledge one baptism for the previous sins. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:57.200 We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.319 Amen. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:20.400 With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:50.480 I ask your prayers for God's people throughout the world, for all people and ministers, for the priests in our community, Mike, Jim, Craig, Bill, and Lillian, for our bishops Andy, Hector, Jeff, and Kay, and the diocesan circle of prayer, the Holy Apostles Katie, Holy Spirit, Houston, and Hope, Houston, for Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and for our presiding bishop, Michael, pray for the Church. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:30:09.119 I ask your prayers for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world, for the members of the armed forces, and for all who struggle for peace and justice, that they may act with prudence and vision to plant the seeds of your kingdom everywhere. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.039 Pray for justice and peace. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:25.599 I ask your prayers for our parish and our vestry, that the source of wisdom may guide us, the source of strength may support us, and the source of love may unify us. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:30.400 I pray that our community may discern clearly and minister effectively. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:52.720 I pray that we may be bearers of God's grace to all who come through our doors. 00:30:56.799 --> 00:31:03.279 I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:06.960 I pray for those in any need or trouble. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:15.920 I ask your prayers for all who seek God or a deeper knowledge of God. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:19.359 I pray that they may find and be found by God. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:30.240 I ask your prayers for the departed, especially Violet, and pray for all those who have died. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:43.599 Let us give thanks for our blessings and pray for our own needs and those of others, especially Chris, Sean, Ken, and Nancy. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:54.160 The congregation is invited to name their own celebrate orations or petitions silently or aloud. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:04.720 O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:10.880 In the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help. 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:20.400 For you are gracious, O Lover of Souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:30.319 Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.920 Have mercy on me, O God. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:40.799 According to your sins of God's love. 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:03.359 Wash me and I shall be quite often. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:06.480 Put me your joy of God. 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:15.519 Hide your face of my sins and honor all my questions. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:18.400 Create me a clean heart of God. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:27.759 Take out your Holy Spirit from me. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:34.559 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and the whole of the Holy Spirit. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:47.759 The Almighty and Merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.039 Amen. 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:57.119 The peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:34.079 I live around the corner from St. 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:39.280 Thomas here, but uh I serve the diocese as the Director of Disaster Recovery. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:42.320 Um, we get a few of those, don't we, here? 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:51.519 So I just want to offer this opportunity for us to give thanks loudly for Alex Hillis on his uh debut sermon here. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:57.840 He did awesome for the first Sunday of advent with really difficult comics, right? 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:06.559 And then we shall give you the announcements. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.079 I'm back. 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:14.079 Uh we are um the children are invited to come back in now that we're at the piece. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:17.119 Um we have a couple announcements uh this Wednesday. 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:19.119 The the Wednesday Bible study is starting back up. 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:24.079 We took a break this past week uh just for Thanksgiving, but we'll be back um Wednesday at 9 a.m. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:32.000 Uh Saturday is our um food distribution uh with our Gowston Scoop Bank uh partners. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.920 Uh that starts at 8. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.840 Um usually starts actually a little earlier. 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.679 We start setting up, getting everything out there. 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:39.280 So please join us for that if you can. 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:41.280 We always need the hands. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:47.679 Um, today at 4 o'clock, we are having our uh Advent briefmaking here in Christ Hall. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:50.719 So if you would love to join us, all congregation are invited. 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:54.320 Oh, we're gonna be doing this in partnership with the Boy Scouts who we support here at St. 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:54.800 Thomas. 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:56.159 So the Boy Scouts will be here. 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:57.599 We'll have all families here. 00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:59.519 Um everyone is invited to come join us. 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:08.880 We have enough greenery and enough um things to make our adventure, so everyone's invited, so that's today at four in Christ Hall, and that's all the announcements we have. 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:13.519 And happy birthday to Alex's mom. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:22.480 And now walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God. 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:51.599 All things come of you, O Lord. 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:54.480 And we will have to be given you. 00:39:57.119 --> 00:40:01.199 This is the table not of the church, but of Jesus Christ. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:05.920 It is made ready for those who love him and those who want to love him more. 00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:10.239 So come, ye who have much faith and you who have little. 00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:15.599 You who have been here often and you who have not been for a while or ever before. 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:20.079 You who have tried to follow and you who have stumbled, come. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:23.199 Not because the church invites you. 00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:26.559 It is Christ who invites you and meet him here. 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:35.199 The Lord be with you. 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:36.559 And also with you. 00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:38.079 Lift up your hearts. 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:40.079 We live in us to the Lord. 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:42.719 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:43.760 It is right. 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.519 Thanks to Christ. 00:40:45.920 --> 00:41:01.519 It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in Him of everlasting life. 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:10.559 That when He shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to hold his appearing. 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:20.639 Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name. 00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:07.440 In your word spoken through the prophets, and above all, in the word made flesh, Jesus, your son. 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:15.519 For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:20.239 In him you have delivered us from evil and made us worthy to stand before you. 00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:28.320 In him you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. 00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:33.840 On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread. 00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:40.639 And when he had given thanks to you, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, Take, eat. 00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:43.519 This is my body which is given for you. 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:46.400 Do this for the remembrance of me. 00:42:52.320 --> 00:42:54.719 After supper, he took the cup of wine. 00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:58.960 And when you give a thanks, he gave it to them and said, Drink this, all of you. 00:42:59.199 --> 00:43:04.639 This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:09.199 Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me. 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:35.440 Therefore, according to his command, O Father, we remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we raise it, 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. 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:46.719 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. 00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:55.360 Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:59.760 In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection unto your Christ and bring us. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:16.320 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. 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:26.719 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. 00:44:27.360 --> 00:44:28.000 Amen. 00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:46.480 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, our earth as to heaven. 00:44:46.719 --> 00:44:51.599 Give us to save our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses. 00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:54.960 As we forgive those who trespasses from us. 00:44:55.440 --> 00:45:00.000 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:06.880 Amen. 00:45:13.760 --> 00:45:17.039 Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. 00:45:17.599 --> 00:45:19.760 Therefore, let us keep peace. 00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:26.400 These are the gifts of God for you, the people of God. 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:35.039 Take them in remembrance that Christ lived and died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. 00:52:07.360 --> 00:52:08.719 Let us pray. 00:52:10.800 --> 00:52:15.840 Loving God, we give you the rest of your men. 00:52:16.239 --> 00:52:22.000 And spiritual truths and the sacrifice of God. 00:52:22.719 --> 00:52:35.280 Now send us for people forgiveness, that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue with the life of Christ our Savior. 00:52:35.920 --> 00:52:36.559 Amen. 00:52:37.920 --> 00:52:48.800 May God bless you with discomfort, at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. 00:52:49.280 --> 00:52:58.880 May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. 00:52:59.280 --> 00:53:08.639 And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you this day and remain with you forevermore. 00:53:09.199 --> 00:53:09.840 Amen.