THE LORD’S DAY

An Order for the Lord’s Supper

Second Sunday of Advent

December 7, 2025

 

Minister                                                        The Reverend Bruce Hedman, Ph.D.

Organist                                                                                                Brenda Pike

 

The Preparation

Organ Prelude

Call to Worship

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 115                                                           Winchester New

“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

Prayer of Adoration and Lord’s Prayer (unison, using “debts”)

The Ten Commandments (unison)                            Sel. 55                        p. 513

The Great Commandment (unison)                           Sel. 56                        p. 513

Prayer of Confession (unison):

HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE APPROACH THY PRESENCE AND BEHOLD THY GLORY, WE REPENT OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.  WE ARE UNWORTHY OF THE WONDERFUL COMMUNION TO WHICH THOU DOST ADMIT US IN THE TABLE OF THY SON.  YET NOW,MOST MERCIFUL FATHER, HAVE MERCY UPON US.  FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS CHRIST, FORGIVE US ALL OUR  SINS.  DELIVER US, BY THY HOLY SPIRIT, FROM ALL UNCLEANNESS IN SPIRIT AND IN FLESH, TO THE GLORY OF THY HOLY NAME.  AMEN.

Assurance of Pardon

 

Lighting the Advent Wreathe

The Second Candle                                                            The Bethlehem Candle

 

The Offering

Greetings and Announcements

The Offertory

Offertory Sentences & The Collection

*Doxology and Prayer of Dedication

 

The Proclamation of the Word

Collect of the Day

Old Testament Lesson                                                                     Isaiah 11: 1-10

Epistle Lesson                                                                              Romans 15: 4-13

Gospel Lesson                                                                               Matthew 3: 1-12

“John the Baptist”

Sermon                                                                                               Rev. Hedman

Ascription of Glory

 

 

The Fellowship of the Table

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 114                                                                             Truro

“Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”

*Nicene Creed                             Selection 52                                            p.  512

Invitation

Words of Institution

Sursum Corda, Preface, and Sanctus (responsive):

Pastor:  Lift up your hearts.

PEOPLE:  WE LIFT THEM UP UNTO THE LORD:

Pastor:  Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

PEOPLE:  IT IS MEET AND RIGHT SO TO DO.

Pastor:  It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at

all times, and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, because thou didst send thy beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.  Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name; evermore praising thee, and saying:

ALL:  HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS,

HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF THY GLORY;

GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD MOST HIGH.

Prayer of Consecration

Distribution of  the Elements and Agnus Dei

Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison):

ALMIGHTY AND EVERLIVING GOD, WE MOST HEARTILY THANK THEE THAT IN THY GREAT LOVE THOU HAST FED US AT THY TABLE WITH THIS SPIRITUAL FOOD, AND HAST ASSURED US OF THY GOODNESS TOWARD US:  AND THAT WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF THY SON, THE BLESSED COMPANY OF ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE, AND HEIRS OF THINE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.  AND WE BESEECH THEE, O HEAVENLY FATHER, SO TO ASSIST US WITH THY GRACE THAT WE MAY CONTINUE IN THIS HOLY FELLOWSHIP, AND LIVE HENCEFORTH TO THY GLORY; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WHO LIVETH AND REIGNETH, AND IS WORSHIPED AND GLORIFIED, WITH THEE, O FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.

*Pilgrim Hymnal No. 384                                                                     Diademata

“Soldiers of Christ, Arise”

*Benediction

*Postlude

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

On the next two Sundays we are taking up our annual CHRISTMAS FUND offering for the benefit of retired clergy.  This formerly was called the SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS.

 

If you have any pastoral concerns, please phone Dr. Hedman anytime at (860) 377-6190.

 

If you are on the web, visit our church website at

www.abingtonchurch.com

 

Remember to bring canned goods and nonperishable food stuffs for our  FOOD BANK collection.  We thank JOHN FOLSOM for taking our offerings to the collection point in the Pomfret Town Hall

 

Remember to save PULL-TABS off of cans in support of the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALL WELCOME TO COMMUNION

 

Our Table is open to all Christians, and is not fenced by any denominational affiliation.  All baptized Christians who seek to live in love and charity with their neighbor and who hunger for the bread of life are cheerfully welcomed to share in our celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  As the plates and trays are passed, please hold the elements until all have been served, so that we may partake together.