Worship at home during Advent

Preparing for worship

You’ll need a table, set with a piece of bread and a glass of wine or juice.

A cross.

If possible, a ring of 4 candles unlit on the table or 1 if not.

 

We join, preferably at 9am or 10.30am, for worship

 

Though each in our homes, we are together with all our sisters and brothers in the faith,

as we worship and give thanks. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

 

Hymn (said or sung) – hymn numbers are on the pewsheet for this week. To borrow a hymnbook, contact Rod

 

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed

and all flesh shall see it together.

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all

            and with all who look for the coming of God’s kingdom.

 

                                    The appropriate candles for the week in your ring are lit

 

People of God awake! The day is coming soon when you shall see God face to face.

God calls you out of darkness to walk in his marvellous light.

Lord, keep us watchful, keep us faithful as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of your kingdom.

 

            We say the Canticle, printed on the front of the pewsheet

 


PRAYERS OF PENITENCE

 

“Now is the time for us to wake out of sleep, for deliverance is nearer to us now than when first we believed. The night is far spent and the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.”

 

After a moment of quiet reflection, we confess our sins to God with this prayer;

 

Most merciful God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we confess that we have sinned in thought word and deed.

 

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.

In your mercy, forgive what we have been,

help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be;

that we may act justly, love mercy

and walk humbly with you our God.  Amen.

                

We say this assurance of God’s forgiving grace (from Isaiah 40)

 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth,

He neither faints nor grows weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall stumble and fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

 

In place of the Gloria during Advent, we say “Jesus, Saviour of the World”

 

Jesus, Saviour of the world, come to us in your mercy:

we look to you to save and help us.

By your cross and your life laid down, you set your people free:

we look to you to save and help us.

When they were ready to perish, you saved your disciples:

we look to you to come to our help.

In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains,

forgive the sins of all your people.

Make yourself known as our Saviour and mighty deliverer;

save and help us that we may praise you.

Come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:

hear our prayer and be with us always.

And when you come in your glory:

make us to be one with you and to share the life of your kingdom.

 

THE COLLECT and the two readings for today are printed on the pewsheet

 

The first scripture reading.

 

 At the end, there may be a short period of silence followed by this response:

 

For the word of the Lord.       Thanks be to God.

 

HYMN

                

THE GOSPEL   

 

                        The Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ according to... Glory to you, O Lord.

 

At the end       for the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

 

REFLECTION     (on the website, attached to the email, or printed for you at the end of these sheets)

 

EXPRESSION OF FAITH

 

Let us affirm our faith in Jesus, the Son of God:

 

All:       Though he was divine,

     he did not cling to equality with God

     but humbled himself, taking the form of a servant.

     Born as a human being,

he became obedient even to death; death on a cross.

     And so God has raised him up high,

     giving him the name above every other name;

     that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

     and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,

     to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

 

How lovely on the mountains are the steps of the one who brings good news”.

We rejoice today, Lord, in our Advent hope. As you call us to be heralds of good news, sustain each of us in that calling. As we prepare to celebrate the incarnation of your Eternal Word, give us faith to know you, and courage to love you more.

Our Lord says, “surely I come quickly”                       Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“Every valley shall be raised up, and every hill brought low”.

We pray, Lord, that our world may find Christ’s peace and have courage to fight for the poor and the outcast. We give heartfelt thanks for the emergence of effective vaccines for the Covid virus. Give us patience as we wait in joyful hope for your kingdom. We hold in our prayers the peoples of Palestine and Israel, Sudan and Ethiopia, and all places where there is conflict or great need.

 

Our Lord says, “surely I come quickly”                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”.

We pray, Lord, for the gift of kindness that transforms lives and for the goodness that can reveal Christ to our neighbour. Bless our families and those we love, our enemies and those we find hard to love. Strengthen our church, and bless the ministry of all our clergy and lay leaders.

 

Our Lord says, “surely I come quickly”                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“Say to the children of Jerusalem that her warfare is ended.”

We pray, Lord, for the strength to be faithful in adversity and for the gentleness that brings hope to those who are suffering. Speak your word of compassion in our midst, and hold in your embrace, all who are in pain, darkness or fear today; may they know your healing touch and your renewing presence. Especially we pray for…..

 

Our Lord says, “surely I come quickly”                       Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

“Return to the Lord who will have mercy; to our God who will richly pardon”

We pray, Lord, for the determination to amend our lives and to follow Christ to the last. Speak your word of hope in our midst. May we know the perfect freedom that is ours as your children, and come to the glory of your kingdom. We remember all who have recently died, their families and all who grieve. Especially…. May those we love, whose mortal life is ended, wake to the joy of heaven.

 

Our Lord says, “surely I come quickly”                       Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

THE PEACE

 

Our Saviour Christ is the Prince of Peace, of the increase of his kingdom and of peace there shall be no end.

The peace of the Lord be always with us.

and with all our sisters and brothers, near and far.

 

We share a sign of peace with all people of faith throughout the world, by clasping our hands together and bowing our heads saying the word “Shalom”, peace.

 

HYMN

 

 

SHARING THE FEAST

 

Gracious God, we welcome your presence with us.  May the table at which we share, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds, and may our spirits be refreshed.  As we live in the light of your presence, with us now and at all times and places.  Amen.

 

We come to your table, Lord,

not because we are strong, but because we are weak.

We come not because any goodness of our own gives us the right to come,

but because we need your mercy and grace.

We come because you love us, and gave yourself for us.

 

Take and eat a piece of the bread. If you are with another, give the bread to each other. As you give and receive the bread, say this prayer:

As we break this bread, and as we share it, we thank you, God, that you give us this day our daily bread.

For the food which delights and nourishes us and for the companionship that sustains us as your people.

 

Drink a sip of the wine or juice. If you are with another, give the wine to each other. As you give and receive the wine, say this prayer:

 

We thank you for drink to quench our thirst and for the Living Water with which you surprise and enrich and transform our lives.

We give thanks for this feast at which all can share, though separated now. A foretaste of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

 

                                                 As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

 

        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.

        Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

 

        For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,

                                                 now and forever.  Amen.

              

HYMN    (said or sung)

 

The Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, hope;        

Where there is darkness, light;                

Where there is sadness, joy;         

O Master, grant that I may never seek so much

To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love.

 

For it is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned

And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.                                               

 

Blessing


May God the Father all-merciful make us worthy of his kingdom.       Amen

May God the Son reveal among us the promise of his glory.                 Amen

May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith,

joyful in hope and constant in love.      Amen

 

 

DISMISSAL

May we, now and always, abide in the peace of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

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