Advent III

Gaudete, Gaudete
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine,
Gaudete!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary. Rejoice!

So say the words to the refrain of this beautiful 16th century carol. We are approaching Gaudete Sunday, Sunday of the Pink Candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete Sunday has traditionally been the day when those going through Advent “lightened up.” Advent was at one time a 40 day period from Michaelmas to Christmas, and was meant to be penitential, like Lent. Gaudete Sunday offers an opportunity to rejoice in the coming of Christ, and to say, with Mary, Magnificat, animus Deus Domine: My soul praises the Lord.

1. Tempus adest gratiae, hoe quod optabamus;
carmina laetitiae devote reddamus.
At this time of grace and longed-for blessing,
Love faithfully offers a song of praise.

Grace, and longed-for blessing. How many of us at this time need God’s special grace? The holiday season is one of great joy for many, but not all. How many people in our own parish may be remembering a loved one who has recently died? How many are in the midst of illness? Pray for those in our parish who are in need of God’s grace and blessing.

2. Deus homo factus est, natura mirante;
mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante.
God is made human and nature marvels;
The world is cleansed through Christ who is King.

We remember once again the cleansing waters of baptism – of John the Baptist’s message to turn around, be baptized (cleansed) and prepare to meet the One whom God has sent. And through baptism we meet the Christ – God who has come in the flesh to dwell with humanity.

3. Ezecaelis orta clausa per transistur;
unde lux est orta, salus invenitur.
The closed gate of Ezekiel has been passed through;
Sending forth transforming light through which holiness is found.

Christ came to destroy sin and death. Yes, death is still an experience we must all face, and which many of us have faced in the loss of those near to us; but death is no longer victorious. Death is portal to God’s heavenly country, where those who have gone before us await us, as does Christ himself.

4. Ergo nostra contio psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino; salus regi nostro.
Therefore let our assembly now sing a hymn of purification.
We bless the Lord, King of our Salvation.

Even in difficult times, we remember the great blessings that God has given us in Christ. Good and bad times will come and go in life, but the golden thread of Christ’s redeeming love is woven by the loving hands of God through every circumstance. He is our constant, our foundation, our reason for being.

So let us join in the song,

Gaudete, Gaudete (rejoice rejoice)
Christus est natus (Christ is born) ex Maria Virgine (of Virgin Mary)
Gaudete! (Rejoice!)

Light of lights! All gloom dispelling,
Thou didst come to make thy dwelling
Here within our world of sight.
Lord, in pity and in power,
Thou didst in our darkest hour
Rend the clouds and show thy light.

Praise to thee in earth and heaven
Now and evermore be given,
Christ, who art our sun and shield.
Lord, for us thy life thou gavest,
Those who trust in thee thou savest,
All thy mercy stands revealed.
- St. Thomas Aquinas

Debra’s Midweek Meditation
"For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37

The image and the celebration is known as the Annunciation--the announcement of God's desire to come into the world. I've been giving a lot of thought to Mary in the past few weeks. It is, of course, the season for Mary, but my thoughts have centered on the courage of saying "Yes" to God without having the whole story revealed.

Sometimes God tells us to trust Him or to move in a direction or to stay still, but rarely, in my experience, does God reveal the particularities of ministry or define each step onward. We are left, as was Mary, to live each day in its ordinariness, knowing that magnificent work is being done through our faithfulness.

These moments of "announcement" help us to steer our course toward God. When we say "yes", we too, will be encouraged and participate in bringing God to the world.

Last Saturday many of us meditated with the idea of Theotokos - a name for Mary which means bearer-of-God.

God invites us each day to be the one who brings God to another even as people are bringing God to us. Here is a hymn for the Annunciation from the Eastern Orthodox tradition:

Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with You!

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

Hark! The alleluias of the great salvation
Still beginning, never ending, still begin,
The thunder of an endless adoration:
Open ye gates, that the righteous nation
Which have kept the truth may enter in.

Roll ye back, ye pearls, on your twelvefold station:
No more deaths to die, no more fights to win!
Lift your heads, ye gates, that the righteous nation
Led by the Great Captain of their sole salvation,
Having kept the truth, may enter in.
- Christina Rossetti

Sunday: 10:15 THINK PINK Gaudete Sunday fun for Middle and High school students and their families. Meet in the Art room across from 304. Decorate the Church after Services! Come and enjoy this traditional time of the greening of the church.; 2:15 Meet at Hunt Valley (Regal) Cinemas for a 2:30 showing of “The Nativity”; 6:00 Annual Caroling party at the Minors’ home.
Tuesday: 7:00 SJA Middle School Christmas Dance
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 10:00 SJA Christmas Program

Christmas Eve:
Advent IV services at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
10:15 Rehearsal for 5:00 Christmas Pageant
5:00 Family Christmas Eve in the St. James Center
10:00 The choir presents Bach’s Magnificat
11:00 Traditional Christ Mass

Christmas Day:
10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Liturgy

Coming Events:
Join us Thursday January 4th for a trip to Washington National Cathedral to see the annual Creche exhibit. We’ll also take in a tour, and have a picnic lunch at the Cathedral. If you’d like to attend, contact Marie in the church office. There is no charge for the tour.

Prayers Etc.

For those who are deployed and their families.
For those who have suffered loss this year.
For Laura and Lyle.
And for those on our prayer list:
Pam; Dot; Sue; Ray; Art W.; David
Don; Brittany; Jaedon; Bill & Stacey ; Owen
Nancy; Jason; Craig; Lagan family; Becker family
Phyllis U.; Annabelle; Rob; Prof; Parker family

Jesus Christ is the joy and happiness of all who look forward to his coming. Let us call upon him and say:
Come, Lord, and do not delay!
In joy, we wait for your coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Before time began, you shared life with the Father,
Come now and save us.
You created the world and all who live in it,
Come to redeem the work of your hands.
You did not hesitate to become man, subject to death.
Come to free us from the power of death.
You came to give us life to the full,
Come and give us your unending life.
You desire all people to live in love in your kingdom,
Come and bring together those who long to see you face to face.
Our Father…
- From the Liturgy of the Hours

In Closing:

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ever faithful to your promises
And ever close to your church:
The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming
And looks forward with longing
To his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
That hinders us from feeling the joy
Which his presence will bestow,
For he is Lord forever and ever. AMEN
- From the Liturgy of the Hours

May he whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. AMEN

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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