The Third Sunday in Advent
We welcome you and invite you to join us in prayer with our written service for home worship on the Third Sunday in Advent.
This service includes the readings for today, prayers and intercessions, a psalm, hymns and an anthem.
As we celebrate the joys of advent we also remember those in other part of the world who are suffering at this time.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Opening Hymn
Hymn 5 – Hark a thrilling voice is sounding
The Collect
God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Readings
Isaiah 35: 1-11
James 5: 7-10
Matthew 11: 1-11
The Anthem
Anthem: A tender shoot – Otto Goldschmitt
The Psalm
Hymn 468
Through the night of doubt and sorrow
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The Intercessions
Heavenly Father, in Advent we come before you once more with our prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. We give you heartfelt thanks for the wonderful word of the Gospel for this season, with its message of hope and inspiration. In an age of expected instant gratification, grant us the patience described in St. James’s reading for today. May we understand that our prayers may be answered in ways and at times unimagined at the moment of their request.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
We pray for the people of the Ukraine and more widely for peace in the world. We give thanks for the amazing spirit of so many facing hardship and suffering this winter through the operations of an unjust war. During such dark days, may we follow the example of a warden of Christchurch in Kyiv, who despite all the grief gives thanks for ‘many miracles’ in the last months. Help us to accompany our prayers to you for peace with tangible acts of victim and refugee support.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
Creator God, we pray to you for help in becoming better stewards of our planet. Deepen our vision so that we may look beyond the needs of the present generation. Just as farmers prepare, sow and nurture for future harvests, help us to take steps in sustainability to ensure that the benefits we enjoy from the fruits of the earth may remain equally accessible for generations to come.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
Lord, we pray for our Heads of State and our governments. Grant that, in sensing the uncertainty and distress of difficult inflationary times, they may act with sympathy and understanding, particularly for the most vulnerable. Give them the wisdom and resolve to steer our economies towards more just, calmer, and more stable days ahead.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
As true shepherds of your flock, Lord, grant that the work of our diocesan Bishops and their clergy may encourage us spiritually, and keep us faithful to our calling. In their challenging tasks across so many lands and cultures endow them with the inspiration and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to uplift and motivate our chaplaincy congregations.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
We pray, in our diocesan prayer cycle, for the Serbian Orthodox Church, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Patriarch of Serbia. We also bring before you the life and work of the autocephalous churches of Eastern Europe and the Baltic.
Within our diocese we seek your blessing on our Liturgy Officer, Ben Gordon Taylor and Ray Andrews, our Spirituality Advisor.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, we ask for your support and guidance in the life and work of our own chaplaincy, its members, council, choir, and chaplain. We thank you that your hand has guided us to the present day. We thank you for the support from our host Old Catholic congregation and we ask that cooperation with them may flourish and increase. Grant us the vision to grow our spiritual and cultural contributions to our communities, particularly within the City of Haarlem.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
Look upon our families and friends who are ill, or in suffering. Give them, we pray, healing and comfort, with a real sense of your presence with them. We specifically commend to your care those on our prayer list, for whom ongoing prayer has been requested (especially…………).
Take into your everlasting rest all who have passed from this mortal life (…), and bring comfort to their grieving and bereaved loved ones.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
In this Advent time and the coming Christmas season, in a brief quiet moment, let us remember its life-giving spiritual news and the message of hope and joy we are called upon to reflect towards others.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers which we offer in the name of your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Closing Hymn
Hymn 443 – Rejoice the Lord is King
Concluding Prayers
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; 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.
