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30th November – Advent Sunday

The first candle of the Advent Wreath is lit and we all pray…

Lord Jesus, light of the world, born in David’s city of Bethlehem, born like him to be a king: be born in our hearts at Christmas,

be King of our lives today. Amen.

Before the children leave for Children’s Church we pray together….

Dear God, this church is a family.

Help us to learn together, to worship together,

to share together and to pray together.

In Jesus name. Amen.

OPENING HYMN J.R. Peasey ©Mrs Mildred Peasey

1  Awake, awake: fling off the night!
For God has sent his glorious light;
and we who live in Christ’s new day
must works of darkness put away.

2  Awake and rise, like people renewed,
and with the Spirit’s power endued,
the light of life in us will glow,
and fruits of truth and goodness show.

3  Let in the light; all sin expose
to Christ, whose life no darkness knows.
Before his cross for guidance kneel;
his light will judge and, judging, heal.

4  Awake, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ his light on you will shed.
Its power will wrong desires destroy,
and your whole nature fill with joy.

5  Then sing for joy, and use each day;
give thanks for everything alway.
Lift up your hearts; with one accord
praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are gathered together as one body

† In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore, in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

Lord Jesus,

you came to gather the nations into the peace of your kingdom:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

You will come in glory with salvation for your people:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,

have mercy upon you

† pardon and deliver you from all your sins,

confirm and strengthen you in all goodness

and keep you in life eternal.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT (The special prayer of the day)

Almighty God,

give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;

that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE

After each reading: This is the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 2.1-5; Romans 13.11-end

GRADUAL HYMN ©1977 Carey landry and NALR, OCP Publications

Abba, Abba, Father, you are the potter,

We are the clay, the work of your hands.

1  Mould us, mould us and fashion us

into the image of Jesus, your Son,

of Jesus, your Son. Abba, Abba, Father…

2  Father, may we be one in you

As he is in you, and you are in him,

And you are in him. Abba, Abba, Father…

3  Glory, glory and praise to you,

Glory and praise to you for ever. Amen,

for ever, Amen. Abba, Abba, Father…

THE GOSPEL

We sing: Alleluia, alleluia; alleluia, alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 24.36-44

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

We sing: Alleluia, alleluia; alleluia, alleluia.

THE SERMON

THE NICENE CREED Please stand if you are able

We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God, begotten not made,

of one Being with the Father, through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;

he was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Watchful at all times, let us pray for strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer.

At the end of the prayers we say together:

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers,

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE PEACE Please stand

In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness

and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

OFFERTORY HYMN  Prudentius tr. JM Neale,  HW Baker

1  Of the Father’s love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

2  By his word was all created:

He commanded, it was done:

Heaven and earth and depth of ocean,

universe of three in one,

all that grows beneath the shining

of the light of moon and sun:

evermore and evermore!

3  O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
angels and archangels sing;
every creature bow before him

Singing praise to God our King;

Let no earthly tongue be silent,

all the world with homage ring,
evermore and evermore!

4  He, by prophets sung, is here now,

promised since the world began,

now on earth in flesh descended

to atone for sins of man.

All creation praise its Master,

See fulfillment of his plan

evermore and evermore!

5  Glory be to God the Father,

glory be to God the Son,

glory to the Holy Spirit,

persons three, yet Godhead one.

Glory be from all creation

while eternal ages run

evermore and evermore!

THE PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR

Blessed are you, Lord God of creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made, it will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are you Lord, God of creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.

Blessed be God forever.

THE EUCHARIST

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,

almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son.

For when he humbled himself to come among us in human flesh,

he fulfilled the plan you formed before the foundation of the world

to open for us the way of salvation. Confident that your promise will be fulfilled, we now watch for the day when Christ our Lord will come again in glory. And so, we join our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven to proclaim your glory for ever praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends

and, taking bread, he praised you.

He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;

Do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.

Again, he praised you, gave it to them and said:

Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,

which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,

we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith.

We sing     Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Alban and all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honour and glory are yours,

O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rejoicing in God’s new creation, 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.

And 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 for ever. Amen.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

We sing     Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

Draw near with faith.

Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,

and his blood which he shed for you.

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,

and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Any member of the congregation may come to receive a blessing. All baptised Christians who receive communion in their own churches are welcome to receive communion.

COMMUNION HYMN Karen Lafferty ©1972 Maranatha! Music

1  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,

and his righteousness,

and all these things shall be added unto you;

allelu, alleluia.

        Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,

        allelu, alleluia.

2  Ask and it shall be given unto you,

seek and ye shall find;

knock and it shall be opened unto you;

allelu, alleluia.

Alleluia…

Post communion prayer:

O Lord our God,

make us watchful and keep us faithful

as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;

that, when he shall appear,

he may not find us sleeping in sin

but active in his service and joyful in his praise;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through Him we offer you our souls and bodies

to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit

to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

May God himself, the God of peace, make you perfect and holy,

and keep you safe and blameless, in spirit, soul and body,

for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

1  Lo, he comes with clouds descending,

once for favoured sinners slain;

thousand, thousand saints attending

swell the triumph of his train:

Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

God appears on earth to reign.

2  Every eye shall now behold him

robed in glorious majesty;

those who set at naught and sold him,

pierced and nailed him to the tree,

deeply wailing,

deeply wailing, deeply wailing,

shall the true Messiah see.

3  Those dear tokens of his passion

still his dazzling body bears,

cause of endless exultation

to his ransomed worshippers:

with what rapture,

with what rapture, with what rapture,

gaze we on those glorious scars!

4  Yea, amen, let all adore thee,

high on thine eternal throne;

Saviour, take the power and glory,

claim the kingdom for thine own.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!

Everlasting God, come down!