Advent Sequence on The First Sunday of Advent

This evening’s service is a sequence of readings, hymns, and choral music exploring some of the themes of Advent and how these are reflected in the oldest stories and wisdom of Bible, in the prophetic voice, and in the story of the birth of Son of God.

This year’s service is necessarily simplified, and only offered online, but we hope that it may nevertheless offer you a sense of light in the darkness, a desire for justice, and hope in the hardest of times, as well as anticipation of that miracle of renewal through the birth in this world of the Sacred in the humblest of circumstances.

The livestream will be available to watch below.

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A note about language:

In our worship we use language which is poetic and filled with metaphor and wonder – realising that any language about God is limited. We use some ancient words which may seem odd, or may seem to refer to God as male, or in terms which elsewhere we might not choose to use. The poetry and the metaphor are there not to restrict or define our understanding of God, but to remind us that our words are never enough to talk about the Divine: instead we use the beauty of the words and music in our worship to help us glimpse just a little of the God beyond all words.

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Assisting with the Liturgy:
Officiant: Stephanie Wood
Singers: The MacRae Choral Scholars of St. John the Divine
Sutton Organ Scholars: Emily Markwart and Eóghan Bostock
Director of Music: David Stratkauskas

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If you would like to and as you are able, please consider supporting the ongoing work of St. John the Divine by donating through Canada Helps.

You can also make donations to the December Blue Envelope Fund to support the Rector's Discretionary Fund through Canada Helps by selecting Monthly Blue Envelopes from the Fund dropdown menu.