Sunday Bulletin – Dec 13, 2009

Dec 13, 2009: Advent 3

Incumbent: The Rev’d
Sherman  Hesselgrave
Music Director:
Becca Whitla
Coordinator:
Beth and Morgan Baskin
Homily: Jennifer Henry
Celebrant:Sunday School:
Jennifer Canning

Welcome to the Church of the Holy Trinity.  We are delighted to have you with us this morning. Holy Trinity is an accessible, justice-seeking, and queer-positive community in the heart of downtown Toronto. Our services are planned and led by lay people – volunteers from our community. Communion is celebrated by our Incumbent or one of our non-stipendiary priests who are members of the community.  We try to use language in our worship which includes us all, and we encourage the extensive participation of each person in the worship and life of the Church. At the Peace we move about freely, greeting one another. During the offertory hymn we will move to create a circle around the altar for the Prayers of the People and Communion – all are welcome to share in communion (the Eucharist) as they feel comfortable. Please fill out the Newcomers  Form in the bulletin if you wish to be contacted.

10 Trinity Square, Tor, Ont, M5G 1B1
Tel:(416) 598-4521
email: ht@holytrinitytoronto.org
www.holytrinitytoronto.org
THE GATHERING OF THE COMMUNITY
✜ Welcome

✜ Opening Meditation: I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing
Traditional African American, arr Andre Van Ryckeghem
✜ Greeting:
All: May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

✜ Advent Wreath Lighting

One:    Jeremiah told the people God would send a special leader.
All:        Is it time yet?
Children:(shake heads) No, not yet!

One:        Isaiah said there is going to be a baby that will share God’s love with everyone.
All:         Is it time yet?
Children: (shake heads) No, not yet!

One:        Malachi told the people that they must love God and each other.
All:        Is it time yet?
Children: (shake heads) No, not yet!

One:    Anna said that she was waiting for the child who would save
the people of God.
All:        Is it time yet?
Children: (shake heads) No, not yet!

One:        John told everyone that they must change the way they live with each other.
All:        Is it time yet?
Children: (shake heads) No, not yet!

One:         Joseph said, “God has blessed you.”
All:            Is it time yet?
Children: (shake heads) No, not yet!

✜ Hymn (All rise, in body or spirit):

“Elizabeth with Mary Fair”    tune: Winchester New

1. Elizabeth with Mary fair -see what a happy visit there!
Still in the womb, John stirs to greet the Christ child as their mothers meet.

2. Nor John, grown messenger austere, nor Jesus seeking answers clear,
nor yet their parents any less, are strangers to the wilderness.

3. On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Christ is nigh;
expectant, contrite, we behold the Lamb of God so long foretold.

4. For thou art our salvation, God, our refuge and our great reward;
without thy grace we waste away, like flowers that wither and decay.

5. To heal the sick stretch out thine hand, and bid the fallen sinner stand;
shine forth, and let thy light restore earth’s own true loveliness once more.

6. All praise, Redeemer, unto thee whose Advent doth thy people free,
whom with the Maker we adore, and Sanctifier evermore.
Charles Coffin, additions & adpt. Ian Sowton

✜ The Collect for Purity
All: All loving 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 praise your holy name; through Christ our Saviour. Amen.

✜ Shema:
One: Moses said: Hear O Israel, Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh our God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

All: Jesus said: This is the first commandment of all. And the second is this:

You  shall  love  your  neighbour  as  yourself.

There  is  no  commandment  greater  than  these.

✜ Confession:
One:     For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to God.             Silence
One:     God in your mercy:
All:     Hear our prayer.
One:     We are a forgiven people: God’s spirit is free among us.
All:     Thanks be to God.

✜ The Exchange of Peace
It is our custom to move about to exchange the peace. Please be mindful that it is flu season. Concerns about flu mean some people are uncomfortable shaking hands and/or hugging.  A smile and nod, or the sign of peace “V” are other suggested alternatives.

One:     The Peace of Christ be always with you:
All:     And also with you.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

✜ Collect for the Day:      Let us pray…             Silence
God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

✜ The Hebrew Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Reader: Suzanne Rumsey
A Reading from the Book of . . .
Reader: Hear what the Spirit     says to God’s people
All:       Thanks be to God        Silence

✜O Antiphon for Advent III
One:    O SAVIOUR WHO REJOICES OVER US will gladness, whose love, as your prophet Zephaniah foretold, exults over us like festive music.
All:    Our hearts in their turn rejoice and exult in love for you.
One:    Be welcome in our midst, keep our grasp of justice firm, grant victory over our fears.
All:    On that great day, in the Now! Of you good time, gather us and bring us home to your peaceable kingdom.

✜ Epistle: : Philippians 4:4-7    Reader: Alan Gasser

Reader:      A Reading from . . .
Reader:      Hear what the Spirit says to the Churches
All:         Thanks be to God        Silence

✜ Gradual Hymn: All rise, in body or spirit, for the hymn and Gospel.

✜ Holy Gospel: Luke 3:7-18    Reader: Kevin Bezanson
Reader:      May God be with you
All:        And also with you
Reader:      The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to . . .
All:        Glory to Christ our Saviour
after the reading
Reader:     The Gospel of Christ
All:        Praise to Christ our Saviour

✜ Homily:    Jennifer Henry

LITURGY OF THE BREAD AND CUP
We gather in a circle around the altar to share the gifts of bread
and wine and other offerings, the symbols of our common life.  All
are welcome. You may also remain seated and, if you wish, communion will be brought to you. Financial offerings may be placed in the large basket on the pedestal in front of the altar.  You may also join the many who give by Pre-authorized Donation; simply request a PAD form from today’s Coordinator.

✜ Offertory Hymn: Tree of Life    Traditional African American

1. Call: Ain’t you got a right    Response: Ain’t you got a right
Call: Ain’t you got a right    Response: Ain’t you got a right
Call: Ain’t you got a right    Response: Ain’t you got a right
All: To the tree of Life

2. Call: So rocky was the road    Response: Ain’t you got a right
Call: So dangerous is the journey    Response: Ain’t you got a right, etc…

3. Call: I know you had a hard time    Response: Ain’t you got a right
Call: I know you’re tired    Response: Ain’t you got a right, etc…

4. Call: Our life will be sweeter
Response: Ain’t you got a right, etc…

5. Call: You can tell all my brothers    Response: Ain’t you got a right
Call: You can tell all my sisters    Response: Ain’t you got a right
call: Ain’t you got a right    Response: Ain’t you got a right
All: To the tree of life

✜Prayers of the People: In our prayers today, we remember: in the Anglican Cycle: Western Mexico; in the Diocesan Cycle, Officers of the Diocese of Toronto and the San Esteban congregation here at Holy Trinity. The community now offers its prayers, both spoken and unspoken. Please keep your prayers brief.

✜The Great Thanksgiving    Presider: Sherman Hesselgrave
Presider:     May the Holy One be with you.
All:          And also with you.
Presider:     Lift up your hearts.
All:          We lift them up to God.
Presider:     Let us give thanks to our Creator.
All:          It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Thanksgiving and honour, praise and glory and wisdom, for ever be to you, Source of all being. You formed us in your own image: male and female you created us. And when we turned from you, you sent holy women and men in all ages to renew the promise of freedom and plenty stored up for us in your realm: Sarah and Abraham, Miriam and Moses, Deborah and David, to guide us in your Way. With them and with all your saints, we give thanks and proclaim the glory of your name.

All:            Holy, holy, holy One!
God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of  God.
Hosanna in the highest!

We give thanks to you because you sent Jesus the Christ, in the fullness of time, born of a woman, to share our human nature, to live among us and die on a cross that was made by us.
Therefore we give you praise.

All: Glory to you for ever and ever.

On the night of betrayal, Jesus Christ took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his friends saying, “Take, eat: this is my body, broken for all. Do this for the recalling of me.”

Jesus also took the wine, blessed it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for all. Whenever you drink it, do it for the re-calling of me.”
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Recalling Christ’s death, proclaiming the resurrection, and looking for Christ’s coming again in glory, we offer you, Eternal and Holy One, this bread and this wine. Send your transforming Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be one body and one holy people, in Jesus Christ our Liberator.

Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, O Source of all Life, now and for ever.
Amen.

Please do not dip the bread into the wine. The bread and wine will be passed around the circle, but if you prefer you may receive at the gluten-free station at the altar.

✜The Saviour’s Prayer O God, our Mother and Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your reign come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

✜Communion Anthem: Senzenina

Gory to God: Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God, from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. AMEN.
✜Closing Hymn: People Look East

1. People, look east. The time in near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table
People, look east and sing today: Love the guest is on the way.

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there:
give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today: Love the rose is on the way.

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled
even the hour when wings are frozen, God for fledgling time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today: Love the bird is on the way.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim
shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today: Love the star is on the way.

5. People look East, and open wide; sing throughout the countryside.
Greet the Light with gladsome dancing, bringing life, and life enhancing.
People look East and sing today: Love the Dawn is on the way.

6. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth, Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming with the word our God is coming.
People, look east and sing today: Love our God is on the way.

✜Dismissal
Please join us after the service at the back of the church for a light lunch.

Bell Ringing: We will ring the bells 350 times as a sign of our solidarity with KAIROS and the international campaign for action on climate change. If you would like to help please go to the kitchen where we will take turns ringing.

From the Kairos website: Brothers and sisters around the globe are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate injustice—show your solidarity with God’s peoples and the Earth! KAIROS is asking every church in the country to ring its church bells 350 times for climate justice on Sunday December 13, 2009 at 3:00pm (your local timezone). Sunday December 13 is a day of action for churches around the world. A global bell ringing action is timed to coincide with an ecumenical service that the World Council of Churches is coordinating at the height of the talks in Copenhagen. When it ends at 3:00 pm, churches all over Denmark will ring their bells. ANNOUNCEMENTS
December 6, 2009
WEEKLY NOTICES

Please note: On Sunday mornings, if you have any concerns related to personal safety, please speak with our Incumbent Sherman Hesselgrave, Nola Crewe, our curate or the caretaker on duty.

◆Assistive Hearing Devices are available at the rear of the church. This is an infrared system which works best if you face towards the front of the church.
◆Please help us keep tidy by picking up bulletins and hymn books after the service and returning them to the carts at the entrances of the church. Thanks
◆Prayers: Please feel free to light a candle at the chancel steps, or phone Sherman Hesselgrave with your special prayer requests.
◆Join Holy Trinity’s e-mail list! Contact Alison Kemper at:
<alisonkemper@yahoo.co.uk>
◆Scent Free Zone: Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, after-shave and highly scented personal hygiene products.
◆Personal Belongings should be kept with you at all times. Sadly we cannot ensure their safety.
Members, please help newcomers and visitors keep track of their belongings.    Services
Sundays
10:30 – festive contemporary Eucharist in inclusive language with music
2:00 – San Esteban misa en español – Spanish service with the community of San Esteban.
Wednesdays at 12:15pm brief spoken Eucharist with informal discussion of the day’s readings
Parish Groups and Committees
◆Worship Committee: Contact: Lee Creal: 416-466-4216
◆Refugee Committee: Contact Gail Holland 905-427-9668
◆Congregational Care Committee: Contact: Sherman Hesselgrave
◆Property Committee: Contact: Jim Dolmage 416-531-26
Parish Activities and Announcements:
◆The Homeless Memorial is on the second Tuesday of every month at 12:00 outside the south doors of the church.
◆Please help keep our space looking sharp!!
If your committee has a meeting or you are using the space for something else, please leave the space as it was when you started.
Thank you very much.
◆Upcoming readings:
Advent 3: December 13: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
Advent 4: December 20: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

A Toronto tradition since 1938. Professional musicians and a volunteer cast present this charming hour-long nativity pageant.
December 11-13, 18-20

Friday and Saturday evenings, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday matinees, 4:30 p.m.
Suggested donation: $15 adults, $5 children.
Call 416-598-8979 to reserve. The Church is wheelchair accessible.
American Sign Language interpretation Saturday, December 5th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 13th at 4:30 pm.
www.holytrinitytoronto.org
email: christmasstory@holytrinitytoronto

USHERS NEEDED: The Christmas Story is still looking for people to help as ushers for the shows. It requires about 2 hours of your time and is a great way to see the show. If you would like to help please contact Doug Moffat in church or call him at 416-502-4165.

Crafting Memory Workshops
Create Your Own Remembrance Cards: Winter 2010
Dates: Monday evenings: February 1,8,15, 22, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: $175 (includes four workshops and materials)
Location: Church of the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square, Toronto Eaton Centre
Leaders: Susie Henderson, Joyce Barnett

Description:
Every session, we will reflect on loss, learn new craft techniques and work on a personal set of cards
to mark our own bereavement journeys. Come and share your stories of bereavement with others who have experienced grief, in a safe and supportive environment. Create your own set of remembrance cards and a unique home-made book. Learn some new paper craft and mixed media techniques. See the Remembrance Card Gallery for examples.

Participants will be invited to bring pictures and embellishments to decorate their cards and to use these artifacts in sharing personal stories of bereavement.  No art experience is required and materials are provided.
All are welcome.
To register or for more information please contact
Joyce Barnett
Phone: 416-698-5183
E-mail: craftingmemory@gmail.com
Website: www.craftingmemory.com World Café Vestry Follow-up

Your planning team from the last Vestry met with table hosts on Nov. 23rd  to consider next steps. We reached a consensus on the following initiatives:

1) One small group will prepare a draft Mission Statement and Vision Statement. These statements will be circulated through the parish for feedback and revision until a parish wide consensus is reached. At that point they will be presented to February 2010 Vestry for ratification.

2) Two more small groups will review material generated by the World Café Vestry Weekend in order to identify a set of common values and a limited (no more than 5 or 6) set of strategic directions for the parish. These strategic directions represent options for our common life.

3) Once decisions about our mission and vision have been made, a statement of common values and strategic directions will be circulated through the parish for feedback and revision until a parish wide consensus is reached. At that point they too will be presented to Vestry for ratification.

Submitted by Christopher Lind on behalf of

Jean Robinson, Jairo Planells-Matallana, Cathy Goring, Carole Clark, Jennifer Henry, Vivian Harrower, Irma Romero, Sherman Hesselgrave, Raul Novisa, Ian Sowton, Jim Dolmage, Marilyn Dolmage, Nola Crewe, Nancy Whitla Christmas Services at Holy Trinity
Christmas Eve: Thursday, Dec 24:
Bilingual Service in English/Spanish    Children welcome
8:30 pm Gathering with mulled cider, hot chocolate, tamales and
other treats AND lantern making for the children
9:00 pm Carol singing
Please send a favourite carol or two to Becca:
bwhitla@holytrinitytonrot.org
9:30 pm Service begins with Mexican Posada children’s procession
Christmas Day Thursday Dec 25, 10:30 am – Simple and Intimate

Visitors are warmly welcome at Holy Trinity.

If you would like to leave a record of your visit or make a request, please complete this form and place it in the collection plate.

Name:

Telephone:

Email:

Request/Comment:

KAIROS PETITIONS: Petitions are available at the People Presence Desk. Please help the campaign to reverse cuts to KAIROS – Canads’s Ecumenical Justice Coalition.

Announcements for the Bulletin: A great way to share information with the community!! Please get your announcement for the bulletin to Becca by Monday for the following Sunday – thanks!

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