The Third Sunday of Advent
REFLECTION
God is doing something to defy tradition- to turn a poor, unwed teenage girl from Nazareth of Galilee, somebody who should be invisible in the eyes of Empire, into somebody who is the center of the story of God. God’s declaration of favor on Mary challenges the hierarchies of the day. God’s favor reorders.
Mary is showing up. She's taking up space. She's coming in the fullness of who she is. She's saying "Here I am." I know what I bring. I know my own worth and power.... Knowing that she's held in favor, knowing that she's held in the grace of God allows her to show up with full agency, with her full self, to say 'yes.'
We do not have to be passive vessels… Our Triune God invites us into that very Trinitarian life- a life that is based on mutuality, shared agency, co-creation, and consent.
— Rev. Erina Kim-Eubanks, Wild Consent
In (Mary’s words) we see a God who is setting the world right. When we see Mary’s song, questions arise about how Jesus was brought up. Questions around what might have been whispered into Jesus’ ear by his mother, the revolutionary, the rebel. We are led to wonder whether Joseph received his proclivity for risk from Mary. We are led to wonder whether Jesus inherited his rebellious nature from Mary. We are led to wonder whether Mary’s rebel anthem moonlighted as Jesus’ lullaby.
— Rev. Broderick Greer
COLLECT
God of flood and fire, calling us to turn from dead halls echoing with greed: may the gift of your Spirit come to us from another place, burning with life and a hope that will not be quenched; through Jesus Christ, the one who is to come. Amen.
PRELUDE
O Tannenbaum
German Carol; arr Adam Shulman
GREETING
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him), Worship Leader
Leader: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
In this season of Advent, we wait in expectation for the coming light of Christ.
Advent means coming
We are preparing ourselves for the days
When the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war any more.
— Isaiah 2:4
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard with the kid,
The calf and the lion and the fatling together,
And a little child shall lead them.
— Isaiah 11:6
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
— Isaiah 40:4-5
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL
Hark the Herald
Charles Wesley, 1739; Felix Mandelssohn, 1840; arr Adam Shulman, 2011
BIDDING PRAYER AND LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom 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.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
LESSON I
God’s promise to deliver us from sin - Genesis 3:8-15
Daniel Oliveira - Reader
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SOLO
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Plainsong, 13th cent; arr Adam Shulman
LESSON II
The peace that Christ will bring is foretold. – Isaiah 9:2-3a; 4; 6-7
Justin Sewell - Reader
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, O Lord, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest.
For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Liturgy of St. James, 4th Century; Picardy, Trad French carol; arr Adam Shulman, 2011
LESSON III
The angel Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus – Luke 1:26-38
Kelly Cole - Reader
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
POEM
Annunciation
Luke 1:26-38
We wonder at the waiting
in a story we could recite
still, how do you greet an
angel,
it is a kind of troubling
and so, Mary,
we miss this moment
as interruption
of your plans
but isn’t that like God
to come to us
with more
than we ever longed for
Angel,
Gabriel has to say be not
afraid, he is saying it to us today
I wonder how, in her being
favored,
we are as well
God with us in tiny Emmanuel.
by Annelies Zijderveld commissioned by City Church San Francisco, 2021
LESSON IV
Mary rejoices in the goodness of God – Luke 1:39-56
Rhonda Wilson - Reader
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SOLO
What Child is This
Text: William C Dix, 1865
Music: Greensleeves; arr Adam Shulman
LESSON V
The Birth of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:18-25
Lucas Sewell - Reader
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him “Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
POEM
Kate Hansch - Reader
The Trumpet Child
The trumpet child will blow his horn
Will blast the sky till it’s reborn
With Gabriel’s power and Satchmo’s grace
He will surprise the human race
The trumpet he will use to blow
Is being fashioned out of fire
The mouthpiece is a glowing coal
The bell a burst of wild desire
The trumpet child will riff on love
Thelonious notes from up above
He’ll improvise a kingdom come
Accompanied by a different drum
The trumpet child will banquet here
Until the lost are truly found
A thousand days, a thousand years
Nobody knows for sure how long
The rich forget about their gold
The meek and mild are strangely bold
A lion lies beside a lamb
And licks a murderer’s outstretched hand
The trumpet child will lift a glass
His bride now leaning in at last
His final aim to fill with joy
The earth that man all but destroyed
by Linford Detweiler, 2007
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL
In the Bleak Midwinter
Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894); Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934); arr Adam Shulman
LESSON VI
The Shepherds and the Angels – Luke 2:8-20
Evan Jaasma and Tommy Mabry - Readers
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL
O Come All Ye Faithful
Latin Hymn; ADESTE FIDELES; arr Adam Shulman, 2011
COMMITMENT
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
WORDS OF WELCOME
OFFERING OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS
The offering is a way for Christians to support the mission and ministry of the church. Christians offer a sacrificial portion of their resources–time, talents, possessions–as an act of faith and gratitude in response to God’s grace. While many at City Church make their regular contributions through online giving and automated bill pay, offerings are a part of our worship service as an opportunity for the regular, proportionate and generous giving of the resources God has given us.
OFFERING PRAYER
God of wonder, we offer you our gifts, signs of your goodness and mercy. Receive them with our gratitude, that through us all people may know the riches of your love in the Word-made-flesh. Amen.
HOMILY
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him)
The Magnificat: Mary’s Moment of Resistance
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
CONFESSION OF FAITH: from Our World Belongs to God, st. 1, 23, 56, 58
As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world— which some seek to control, and others view with despair— we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God!
Remembering the promise to reconcile the world to himself, God joined our humanity in Jesus Christ— the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Messiah, one with us and one with God, fully human and fully divine, conceived by the Holy Spiritand born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when our bodies are raised, the Lord wipes away our tears, and we dwell forever in the presence of God. We will take our place in the new creation, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, and the Lord will be our light. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
With the whole creation we join the song: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!” He has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and we will reign on earth. God will be all in all, righteousness and peace will flourish, everything will be made new, and every eye will see at last that our world belongs to God. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord!
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
SONG
Sanctus
Peter Schltes, ©1966
Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD & CUP
The Gifts of God for the People of God
SONG
I Wonder as I Wander
Appalachian folk tune; arr Karl Digerness
COMMUNION PRAYER
Eternal Source of Love, you have made us one with you by sending your Son to take on our frail flesh, saving us by his death and resurrection. We thank you this Advent season for the incarnation of Christ, revealed to us in the manger and in the bread and wine. Grant that as we celebrate his birth and long for his coming again, we would live out your gospel in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts, 1719; George Frederick Handel, 1742; arr Adam Shulman, 2020
BENEDICTION
May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Creator, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
Toot Toot Tootie Toot
(Dance of the Reed Pipes)
by Tchaikovsky
; arr. Ellington/Strayhorn, setting by Marcus Shelby
MUSICIANS
Martin Luther McCoy, featured soloist
Patrick Wolff, alto sax
Tony Peebles, tenor sax
Mike Olmos, trumpet
Ian Carey, trumpet
Jeff Cressman, trombone
Jeanne Geiger, trombone
Adam Shulman, piano
Marcus Shelby, bass
Jeff Marrs, drum kit
Karl Digerness, vocals