Watchword for the Week
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 3:2)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2016)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
Something is happening; someone is coming:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Don’t be afraid, he is coming with tenderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Listen to him; he is speaking peace:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
He comes to give what is good. Cry out the
good news: Prepare the way of the Lord.
He is coming to make his home in our hearts:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Hymn 273 * O come, O come, Emmanuel
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(Two Advent candles are carried into church lit)
ADVENT CANDLE PRAYER
Today, in preparation for your coming, O Lord, we have now lit a second Advent candle. It stands for your hope that lights our life’s path.
We wait in hope.
Through the prophets, you tell us, O God, of a child who will lead the way into peace.
We wait in peace.
We hear John’s voice crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” So we prepare our hearts and minds for Christ’s coming.
We wait in peace and hope. Amen
SCRIPTURE READING (i)
Isaiah 11:1-10 OT p. 680 (679)
Hymn 241 * v. 1-2 Isaiah the prophet…
CHILDREN’S TIME A healing vision
Hymn 241 * v. 3-4 Yet nations still prey…
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
PRAYER of BLESSING
As if it were not enough… …me and us:
So we bless you.
As if it were not enough to do all this and return, triumphant, to glory, you still hear our cries in the courts of high heaven, and promise your Spirit for the healing of the nations and for me and for us.
So we bless you, God of all power, Lord of our weakness, Spirit of our salvation. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING (ii)
St. Matthew 3:1-12 NT p. 5
Hymn 279 * Make way for Christ the King
REFLECTION (i) To heal or to divide?
PRAYERS for HEALING
Hear our prayer, and let your Kingdom come.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
INVITATION
Chorus
God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you,
Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight;
So may God grace you, heal and embrace you,
lead you through darkness into the light.
PRAYER: Look, Lord, on your children, who
love your name and need your care. Let your
hands be known in the touch of friends. Lord,
say the word and we shall be healed.
If you wish to receive the prayer of blessing and
the laying-on of hands, come to sit, stand or kneel
in the sanctuary area. You may also share in
pronouncing the prayer of blessing on others.
PRAYER for the LAYING-ON of HANDS
Spirit of the living God, present with us now,
enter you, body, mind, and spirit,
and heal you of all that harms you,
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING (iii)
Romans 15:4-13 NT p. 202
REFLECTION (ii) To heal is to unite
Hymn 311 * Jesus is born
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
(Hymn of the Month, December 2016)
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
…so now, in gratitude, we join our voices to
those of the Church on earth and in heaven:
Hymn 769 * Holy, holy, holy
PRAYER of CONSECRATION
BREAKING of BREAD
Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: grant us peace.
COMMUNION
NOTICES and CONCLUDING PRAYER
Hymn 477 * Lo, he comes with clouds
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE
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