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 (yes Brian!), unlit on the table or 1 if not.
We join, preferably at 10am, for worship for Advent Sunday
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)
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
who to the tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
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 first candle in your ring is 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 Song of the Redeemer of Israel (psalm 44), 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. 1 Corinthians 1 3-9
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 (said or sung)
Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
He comes the prisoners to release, in fear and bondage held;
the gates of brass before Him burst, the iron fetters yield.
He comes the broken heart to bind, the grieving soul to cure,
and with the treasures of His grace, to enrich the humbled poor.
Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven’s eternal arches ring, with Thy beloved Name.
THE GOSPEL Mark 13.24-31
The Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. 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 (from Ephesians 1 and 2)
We declare our faith in the resurrection victory of Christ:
We place our trust in you, O God,
for by your mighty power
you raised Jesus Christ from the dead
and seated him at your right hand in glory;
far above all rulers and authority,
powers and dominions,
and above every title that can be given,
in this present age or in the age to come.
By that same power, you placed all things under his feet
and appointed him to be the head of all things;
of the universe and all of creation;
and of the Church which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills everything, everywhere.
By that same power, you enlighten the eyes of our hearts
and kindle in us the hope of glory,
the inheritance to which you call us in Christ.
For you have raised us up with Christ
and seated us with him in the heavenly realms,
and so you have reveal the incomparable riches of grace,
by which we have been saved.
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
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come, born a Jew,
come to make all things new;
bear his people’s burden, freely love and pardon.
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing!
When he comes, when he comes, who will make him welcome?
Mary, hail! Though afraid, she believed, she obeyed.
In her womb, God is laid:
till the time expected, nurtured and protected,
Ring bells …
Journey ends! Where afar Bethlem shines, like a star,
stable door stands ajar.
Unborn Son of Mary, Saviour, do not tarry!
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing!
Jesus comes! Jesus comes! We will make him welcome!
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)
Lo! he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain;
thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.
Ev’ry eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty;
all who set at naught and sold him, pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see.
Yea, amen! let all adore thee, high on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory, claim the kingdom for thine own.
O come quickly, O come quickly; alleluia! come, Lord, come.
A Pilgrim Prayer
Lord Jesus, you have opened the scriptures for us,
and made yourself known in the breaking of bread.
Abide with us, we pray, that we may walk with you
all the days of our life and come at last to the glory of your kingdom
where you reign with the Father and the Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 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.