St Andrew's Church, Ottawa | A Longest Night Service (2022)

December 21, 2022 PAUL MZANDU

WORSHIPPING, CARING, GROWING, REACHING OUT, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

St. Andrew’s is a community that gathers together from all across the city of Ottawa, and around the world. We worship each week on Sundays at 10:30 am and our services can be joined online at www.standrewsottawa.ca.

A Longest Night Service – A Service of Light in the Darkness

Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1: 78 – 79

Prelude – A Time of Music and Quiet Reflection

Pianist: Ian MacKay

Opening Poem – Jan L

Hymn: In the Quiet Curve of the Evening

Tune: "You Are There"

Words: Julie Howard (1993)

Words of Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement

Gathering Prayer – Reverend Dr. Karen Dimock

Lighting of the Advent Candles – Yvette D and Laura M

We light the first candle, the candle of hope, to share our grief…

Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3: 21 – 24

We light the second candle, the candle of peace, to acknowledge our pain…

Scripture Reading: Luke 1: 78 – 79

We light the third candle, the candle of joy as we name our fears…

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41: 8 – 10

We light the fourth candle, the candle of love, to recognize the struggles of this world…

Hymn: Day is Done

Music: Welsh Melody “Ar Hyd Y Nos” (All Through the Night)

Words: James Quinn SJ (1919-2010)

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Scripture and Meditation: Luke 2: 1 – 14

Musical Reflection – In the bleak midwinter

Pianist: Ian MacKay

Flute: Beth G

Prayers of the People

Time for reflection, prayer and the lighting of a candle

Hymn 148: It came upon the midnight clear

Tune: "Carol" Richard Storrs Willis (1819-1900)

Words: Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876), from Luke 2:8-20

Communal Sending:

We are here,

I see you and your pain,

I see you and your hope,

You are my neighbour

We belong to one another

We are not in this alone

Thanks be to God for the love that binds us

Benediction

Postlude

Pianist: Ian MacKay

Cover Image: The Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh

MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Painted in June 1889, it depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (France) just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village.

Opening poem and prayers adapted from "Close to Home, A Longest Night Liturgy"

by Rev. Sarah Speed 2021| A Sanctified Art LLC |sanctifiedart.org.

Candle lighting liturgy adapted from "Before the Amen" by Maren Tirabissi