The Second Sunday of Advent
Today the second candle on the Advent wreath will be lit when we worship in church today. The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle representing love: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).
If you are worshipping at home we offer this written service of prayers, readings and music.
Opening Collect
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Opening Hymn
Hymn 5: Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUMcjVFsbUE
The Readings
Malachi 3: 1-4
Philippians 1: 3-11
Luke 3: 1-6
The Anthem
People look East – arr. Barry Ferguson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b0XKgEboak
The Intercessions
God our Heavenly Father, Who alone can bring order out of chaos, we continue to bring before You our deeply troubled world, struggling to understand what is happening and where it is going, as it is confronted with enormous practical problems from all sides, a world experiencing social and political instability everywhere. We pray for all in a position of authority, for governments, organisations, and parents, that they may look to You for guidance in their great need for wisdom;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
And we pray especially for the Church, the spiritual bride of Your dear Son, as it is struggles with an increasingly materialistic and alien world, and the temptations of compromise in an attempt to survive.
Inspire, guide and strengthen its ministers, and all who confess Your name, to trust in You to keep afloat in today’s violent and stormy seas.
We pray especially for the many throughout the world who are suffering for their faith, give them great fortitude and courage to remain true to their faith in You.
Give us in this Chaplaincy to know what You would have us do, from day to day and week to week, and prepare us, and our new Chaplain, for the time ahead.
Fill us with the hope of Your Son’s return in power, that we may be ready for anything that You would have us do.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all in distress at this time,
for the oppressed, and for the millions of refugees fleeing from oppressive regimes;
We pray for all sick and suffering, for the depressed, the bereaved, and those struggling with their faith;
we pray particularly for those of our own congregation, for those on our Chaplaincy Prayer List;
for those too frail or handicapped to be present with us in Church,
and for those for whom we personally wish to pray …..
Comfort, O God, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in Your everlasting arms;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the souls of the faithful departed this life in the faith of Christ,
may they rest in Your peace until the day of the resurrection.
Heavenly Father, You have promised to provide light in the darkness for those who trust in You:
Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what You would have us do,
the humility to listen to Your Holy Spirit, and Your light to guide our footsteps that we may not stumble;
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen
Closing Hymn
Hymn 408: Love Divine, all loves excelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw5ZCZeS32M&t=147s
Closing Prayers
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.
May the Lord make us ready for his coming in glory.
Amen.