Holy Eucharist for the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021, 8:30 & 10:30 AM Services

The First Sunday of Advent:
November 28, 2021
St. Titus’ Episcopal Church
400 Moline St., Durham, NC 27707

Welcome to St. Titus’ Episcopal Church

Whether you are here for the first time or your family has been part of St. Titus’ for generations, whether you’re here in person or watching online, the Holy Spirit has brought you to this place. We’re glad you’re here! Our Mission and Vision Statements are printed below. You can learn more about this faith community on our website, sttitusdurham.org. Our rector, Rev. Stephanie, or our deacons, Rev. Sarah and Rev. Mawethu, would be happy to talk with you about who we are and what we do at St. Titus’. We invite you to join us on our journey of faith.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

St. Titus’ is a diverse and growing community committed to walking with Christ by serving others, pursuing justice and welcoming all.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

God dreams for St. Titus’ to be sacred ground where all of God’s children experience the unconditional love of Jesus. In faithful response, we will offer Spirit-filled worship where people from diverse backgrounds encounter God. As an intergenerational community, we will deepen our faith through sharing scripture, Christian tradition and our own experience. We will be open and authentic with one another, and respond to the needs of our neighbors with compassion and creativity. Our passion for God’s justice and peace will compel us to become agents for social, political, and economic transformation. St. Titus’ will be Beloved Community.

Serving Today: November 28, 2021

8:30 am

Celebrant: The Rev. Stephanie Yancy
Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Sarah Woodard
Deacons: The Rev. Deacon Sarah Woodard, The Rev. Deacon Mawethu Ncaca
First Lesson: Kendall Vanderslice
Epistle: David Stanford
Intercessor: Althea Alton
Altar Guild: Hazel Brown, Kendall Vanderslice Hazel Brown, Kendall Vanderslice

10:30 am

Celebrant: The Rev. Stephanie Yancy
Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Sarah Woodard
Deacons: The Rev. Deacon Sarah Woodard, The Rev. Deacon Mawethu Ncaca
First Lesson: Chuck Hennessee
Epistle: Donna Smith
Intercessor: Yvette Matthews
Altar Guild: Hazel Brown, Kendall Vanderslice Hazel Brown, Kendall Vanderslice
Tech Team: Yvette Matthews, Chuck Hennessee, Livio Carnera

The First Sunday of Advent
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
November 28, 2021 at 8:30 am (without music) and 10:30 am

Prelude

Welcome

Hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, Hymnal 1982 #66

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

The celebrant says
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celebrant: Lord have mercy.
People: Christ have mercy.
Celebrant: Lord have mercy

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent

The celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, 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; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Psalm 25:1-9

Ad te, Domine, levavi

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.

3 Show me your ways, O Lord, *
and teach me your paths.

4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.

5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.

6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.

7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.

8 He guides the humble in doing right *
and teaches his way to the lowly.

9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 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. 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 saints.

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Sequence Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, vv. 1 & 2; Hymnal 1982 #56

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36

The deacon says
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

After the Gospel the deacon says
The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon: The Reverend Deacon Sarah Woodard

The Nicene Creed

[Please stand as you are able.]

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Litanist: My brothers and sisters, may God strengthen your hearts in holiness. Trusting in God, let us pray, “O come, o come, Emmanuel; be our hope and our salvation.”

God our hope, make us increase and abound in love for one another. Keep your Church on the paths of love and faithfulness.

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

God our hope, usher in your reign of justice and righteousness. May all the world know your peace and safety.

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

God our hope, you place signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. Give us the eyes to see, the wisdom to prepare, and the faith to trust in you.

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

God our hope, under your reign divisions are overcome, unity restored: bring the people of this region – from city, village and town – together in a spirit of love and respect.

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

[You may add your own thanksgivings at this time.]

God our hope, remember your compassion and love. Heal and restore the sick and the suffering, the anxious and the grieving.

[You may add your own intercessions at this time.]

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

God our hope, keep us blameless before you that we may meet the coming of our Lord Jesus with joy. May we and all who have died, rise to live immortal with your saints.

O come, o come, Emmanuel;
Be our hope and our salvation.

The Celebrant says,
Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

The deacon says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. [The people may stand or kneel.]

[Silence may be kept.]

Celebrant and People
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Priest stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

[The Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.]

Welcome and Announcements

Offertory Anthem: Safe from Harm (BeBe Winans); Preston Edwards, Soloist

As a COVID precaution we are not passing the plate for monetary offerings at this time. You may place your offering in the basket at the entrance to the worship space, or you may donate online at sttitusdurham.org.

See page 15 of this bulletin for other ways you can support St. Titus’ ministries.

The Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving (Enriching Our Worship 1: Eucharistic Prayer 3)

The people remain standing.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Celebrant
All thanks and praise are yours at all times and in all places, our true and loving God; through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things. You laid the foundations of the world and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb; You brought forth all creatures of the earth and gave breath to humankind. Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing, all you create is a sign of hope for our journey; And so as the morning stars sing your praises we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy:

Sanctus (spoken at 8:00 a.m.)

Celebrant and People
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. LEVAS II #255 (sung at 10:00 a.m.)

Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord, of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.

The Celebrant continues
Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all, your Word has never been silent; you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations, you delivered them from bondage and led them to a land of promise. Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human, to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign and give himself for us, a fragrant offering. Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, you have freed us from sin, brought us into your life, reconciled us to you, and restored us to the glory you intend for us.

We thank you that on the night before he died for us Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, gave it to his friends and said: “Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said: “Drink this, all of you: this cup is the new Covenant in my Blood, poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” And so, remembering all that was done for us: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension, longing for Christ’s coming in glory, and presenting to you these gifts your earth has formed and human hands have made, we acclaim you, O Christ:

Celebrant and People
Dying, you destroyed our death.
Rising, you restored our life.
Christ Jesus, come in glory!

The celebrant continues
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ. Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power, may be a people of hope, justice and love. Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ, and in the fullness of time gather us with blessed Titus and all your people into the joy of our true eternal home. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we worship you our God and Creator in voices of unending praise.
Celebrant and People: Blessed are you now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Celebrant says
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,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
or ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

[A period of silence is kept.]

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The celebrant invites the people to Communion
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The deacons will bring the consecrated bread to you at your seats. You may remove your mask briefly to consume the consecrated bread.

Due to COVID precautions, we are not sharing the cup at this time. The consecrated wine will be returned to the earth.

Communion Hymn: Give Us This Day (Edwin Hawkins)

For those of you who are participating in this celebration of Holy Eucharist from a different location, we invite you to pray with these words during the distribution of the holy sacrament:

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Post-communion Prayer

[The people stand as they are able.]

The Celebrant says
Let us pray.

The Celebrant and People say together
Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

The Celebrant says
May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Closing Hymn: Lo! He comes with clouds descending Hymnal 1982 #58

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.

Announcements

Thank you to today’s soloist, Preston Edwards.

Thank you to everyone who made a contribution to the United Thank Offering.

A Reminder to Fulfill Your 2021 Pledge: Thank you for your generous pledges of financial support for 2022. Please remember to keep up with your pledge for the current year. For most of 2021 our income has exceeded our expenses, but in recent months we have fallen behind. If all pledges are paid by the end of 2021 we should end the year in a good position, ready and able to continue God’s work in 2022. Thank you again for your generous giving!

Advent Bible Study: St. Titus’ member Syrena Williams will lead us in a 4-week bible study series on Dangerous Prayers during the Advent season. We will meet via Zoom on Mondays from 7 – 8pm each week beginning Monday, November 29th and ending Monday, December 20th.

The study will use the YouVersion bible app (available on phones, tablets and computers) for free. If you are interested in joining the study group, please email Syrena at snwtoo@gmail.com so that you can receive the link to the study, the reading agenda, discussion questions and zoom link. We look forward to you joining us.

Advent Quiet Day, Saturday December 4: The Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill invites you to join us in person for our Advent Quiet Day. We will be at Camp New Hope (4805 NC-86, Chapel Hill, NC 27516) with woods, walking paths, fireplace, rocking chairs, and more. We will be masked and meet indoors for the program but spend plenty of time outdoors, particularly when eating.

Our leader for the day is The Reverend Hershey M. Stephens, Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Life at Saint Augustine’s University. The theme of the retreat will be Beginning Again: Our Stories of Starting New Things Together.

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be provided in the morning and a box lunch with water for the noonday meal. A $15 offering is suggested to help offset the expenses. Registration will open soon and more details regarding the details of the day will be forthcoming. For more information, please contact Jenny Mabie (mabie.jenny@gmail.com).

Ordinations: Alice Graham Grant and Mawethu Ncaca will be ordained to the priesthood on December 11 at 11 am at the Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill. All are welcome to attend. A livestream broadcast of the ordination will also be available via the Facebook page of the Diocese of North Carolina at https://www.facebook.com/EpiscopalDioceseNC/.

Support St. Titus’: If you would like to support our ministries you can make an online donation here by following the QR code or by visiting our homepage: sttitusdurham.org. You can also mail or hand-deliver a check to St. Titus’ at 400 Moline St., Durham, NC, 27707. Thank you

Stay in Touch: To receive weekly email announcements from St. Titus’, email Jack or sign up by following this link: http://eepurl.com/htIWIr .

Sign up for The Titusian, St. Titus’ monthly newsletter, on the St. Titus’ homepage: sttitusdurham.org, or by emailing Jack.

Subscribe to Please Note, a weekly update from the Diocese of North Carolina by following this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/QCPKOTo .

COVID Precautions: For the safety of all in attendance, we ask you to wear a mask throughout the service, with the exception of a few seconds when you put the host into your mouth. Lectors are permitted to remove their masks while reading, as is the preacher, because they are more than six feet away from the rest of the congregation.
Remember that no gathering can be completely safe. The COVID vaccine remains your best protection against contracting COVID-19. If you are able to be vaccinated, we urge you to do so.

Next Sunday’s Schedule
Servers for December 5: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM
First Lesson: Mary Hawkins, Yvette Matthews
Epistle: David Ross, Diane Hundley
Intercessor: David Stanford, Lionell Parker

Clergy & Staff: Phone, Email

Rector: The Rev. Stephanie Yancy, 410-971-8111, st.titusrector@gmail.com
Deacons: The Rev. Deacon Sarah Woodard, 919-599-5227, sarah.woodard@duke.edu
The Rev. Deacon Mawethu Ncaca: 919-717-8144, st.tituscurate@gmail.com
Parish Administrator: Jack Peterson, 919-682-5504, st.titussecretary@gmail.com

Senior Warden: Althea Alton, 2021, althea.alton@yahoo.com
Junior Warden: Keith Bishop, 2023, KeithBishop@keithbishoplaw.com
Meisha Davis, 2022, meisha.davis1@gmail.com
Diane Hundley, 2022, dianehundley@bellsouth.net
Marguerite Peebles, 2022 apeeblesmarguerit@bellsouth.net
Gloria Drew, 2023, gdrew41@att.net
Mark Perrone, 2023, mhperrone@aol.com

Treasurer: Deborah DeBourg-Brown, st.titustreasurer@gmail.com

Church Organizational Leaders, Email

Altar Guild: Hazel Brown, hazelyb24@gmail.com
Altar Guild: Williette Adorker
Acolyte Warden: Vincent Quiett, quiettv@msn.com
Benevolent Team Coordinator: Willette Crews, willettec@legalaidnc.org
Card Ministry: Alexine Miller, alexinemiller@yahoo.com
Communications Ministry: Mary Hawkins, pisces0835@gmail.com
Episcopal Church Women: Valerie Quiett, quiettv@msn.com
Episcopal Church Women: Vickie Miller, vickiemiller746@yahoo.com
Memorial Garden Warden: James Barnes, jbarnl3719@aol
Parish Outreach Coordinator: Willette Crews, willettec@legalaidnc.org
Parish Outreach Coordinator: William Hennessee, wllmhennessee@aol.com
St. David’s Usher Guild: Dwight Peebles, dapeebles@bellsouth.net
Invite.Welcome.Connect Committee: Sarah Woodard, sarah.woodard@duke.edu
Youth Coordinator (open)

St. Titus’ Episcopal Church
400 Moline St., Durham, NC 27707
(919) 682-5504;
st.titusepiscopal@gmail.com
sttitusdurham.org