To view the Hymns, Readings and Notices please refer to the Church News Sheet which can be found by clicking here.

Family Communion        Advent 2       10 December 2023

Celebrant and Preacher: Canon Kathryn

1st Reading: Isaiah 40: vv1-11
2nd Reading: 2 Peter 3: vv8-15a
Gospel: Mark 1: vv1-8

Opening Hymn:  Wake, O wake! With tidings thrilling

The Greeting
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by
the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

We light the Advent Wreath: Advent 2 – The Prophets

Advent 2:
People of God: be glad!
Your God delights in you,
Giving you joy for sadness
and turning the dark to light.
Be strong in hope therefore;
for your God comes to save.
You are God’s children.
Lord, make us one in the love of Christ
today and for ever. Amen.

Prayer of Penitence
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your son Jesus Christ,
who died for us, forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen

Absolution
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
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again
as judge and saviour,
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and God.   Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 40: vv1-11 John Bradley

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3: vv8-15a Sam Ward

Gradual Hymn: The Lord will come and not be slow

Alleluia, alleluia. 
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 1: vv1-8 Canon Kathryn

Sermon: Canon Kathryn

Affirmation of Faith
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;
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.

Prayers of Intercession Canon Kathryn

The Peace
God will speak peace to his people,
to those who turn to him in their hearts.

The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you. 

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Offertory Hymn: Thy kingdom come! On bended knee

Preparation of the Table
Look upon us in mercy not in judgement;
draw us from hatred to love;
make the frailty of our praise
a dwelling place for your glory.
Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

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.

You are worthy of our thanks and praise,
Lord God of truth,
for by the breath of your mouth
you have spoken your word,
and all things have come into being.

You fashioned us in your image
and placed us in the garden of your delight.
Though we chose the path of rebellion
you would not abandon your own.

Again and again you drew us into
your covenant of grace.
You gave your people the law and taught us
by your prophets to look for your reign of justice,
mercy and peace.

As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth,
we echo the song of the angels in heaven,
evermore praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.

Lord God, you are the most holy one,
enthroned in splendour and light,
yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ
you reveal the power of your love
made perfect in our human weakness.
Amen. Lord, we believe.

Embracing our humanity,
Jesus showed us the way of salvation;
loving us to the end,
he gave himself to death for us;
dying for his own,
he set us free from the bonds of sin,
that we might rise and reign with him in glory.
Amen. Lord, we believe.

On the night he gave up himself for us all
he took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat: this is my body
which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Amen. Lord, we believe.

In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
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.
Amen. Lord, we believe.

Therefore we proclaim the death that he
Suffered on the cross,
we celebrate his resurrection,
his bursting from the tomb,
we rejoice that he reigns at
your right hand on high
and we long for his coming in glory.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
.
As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our
redemption,
Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of
your creation
be to us the body and blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ;
form us into the likeness of Christ
and make us a perfect offering in your sight.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Look with favour on your people
and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts.
Bless the earth,
heal the sick,
let the oppressed go free
and fill your Church with power from on high.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Gather, your people from the end of the earth
to feast with the blessed Virgin Mary and all your saints
at the table in your kingdom,
where the new creation is brought to perfection
in Jesus Christ our Lord;

by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who are 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen

Breaking of the Bread
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.

Agnus Dei
Lamb of God; your take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God; your take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God; your take away the sins of the world:
Grant us peace.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

Music during Communion: Isaiah the prophet

Prayer after Communion
Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we can all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion Collect
Father in heaven,
who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our judge:
give us grace so to imitate him
in the humility and purity of his first coming
that, when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him
with joyful love and firm faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Final Hymn: How lovely on the mountains

Notices

The Blessing
May God give to you and all those whom you love
his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy.
In this world and the next;
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.