Welcome: –
Liturgy for Advent Two: –
Narrator: Today we light the candle of Peace.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 9 verses 6 and 7:
“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Eternal Father’, ‘Prince of Peace’. His royal power will continue to grow; his Kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David’s successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of Time. The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.”
As was common in ancient Middle Eastern culture, the announcement of an heir to the throne was a momentous occasion, for it guaranteed for the people of the Nation the continuance of their god’s blessing upon the Royal line and upon the Nation. Isaiah proclaims God’s continued care and compassion for his chosen People, Israel, when he announced the coming of a new King. Isaiah is announcing that this descendant and successor of the renown King David, will base his reign upon the very things that characterises the nature of the God of Israel, what is right and what is just.
The names ascribed to a King inheriting a throne were intended to affirm the nature and attributes of the new King. The term ‘wonderful’, used by Isaiah, has connotations of divinity, which is readily linked to the accompanying names, ‘Mighty God’ and ‘Eternal Father’. The promise of the King bringing ‘peace’ implies not just a time of prosperity and tranquillity for the Kingdom, but of a “future ideal Kingdom”. (John Walton Victor Matthews & Mark Chavalas in Isaiah in the IVP Bible Background Commentary p598, Derek Kidner in Isaiah in the New Bible Commentary p597)
God’s peace is not given to people because they deserve it, but given to the undeserving whom God has freely and graciously chosen to favour.” (Howard Marshall in Luke in the New Bible Commentary p925)
“What means this glory round our feet?” by James Russell Lowell
“What means this glory round our feet”, the Magi mused, “more bright than morn?”
And voices chanted clear and sweet, “Today the Prince of Peace is born.”
“What means that star,” the Shepherds said, “that brightens through the rocky glen?”
And angels, answering overhead, sang, “Peace on Earth, good will to men.”
All round about our feet shall shine a light like that the Wise Men saw,
if we our loving wills incline to that sweet life which is the Law.
So shall we learn to understand the simple faith of shepherds then,
and, clasping kindly hand in hand, sing, “Peace on Earth, good will to men.”
And they who to their childhood cling and keep at eve the faith of morn,
shall daily hear the angels sing, “Today the Prince of Peace is born!”
(The Greatest Gift p121)
You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Hark, the Herald Angels sing’
Charles Wesley
Prayer of Praise and of Confession
God of majesty and power,
who spoke and this World was,
who breathed and this world lived,
who counts the hairs upon our head,
who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts,
who loves us more than we deserve,
How can we not bring today our sacrifice of praise?
For in the child at Bethlehem lies the promise of intimacy
with a Saviour who would die even for me,
and the promise of an eternity in which to praise you more each day,
God of promise we praise your name.
To you, Oh Lord, we bring our lives, troubled, broken or at ease,
a sacrificial offering for you to use.
Take away our selfishness and teach us to love as you loved.
Take away our sense of pride and show us the meaning of humility.
Take away our blindness and show us the world through your eyes.
Take away our greed and teach us how to give as you gave.
Show us your ways, teach us your paths,
that we might walk with you more closely,
our hand in your hand, our feet in your footsteps,
from the baby in a stable to eternity.
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies, we give you thanks,
for those gathered here today, we give you thanks,
for family, friend and stranger, we give you thanks,
for those who minister your grace, we give you thanks,
for your Word which endures, we give you thanks,
for your promises to which we hold, we give you thanks,
for such intimacy with you, we give you thanks,
for a love that has no end, we give you thanks.
(https://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Advent.htm#gsc.tab=0)
Unto you, O God, in whom all things are known, and from whom nothing is hidden, we draw close by lifting our prayer of confession. You come to us with the good news of salvation, but we often fail to notice.
You come to us day by day, yet we close the doors of our hearts when it seems convenient to do things our own way. Merciful God, forgive us.
We ignore your presence and leadership and have lived as if we have no relationship with you.
We have failed to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Merciful god, forgive us.
Holy God, we know that you want to come and walk with us through the journey of our lives. You send to us a Saviour who seeks to offer us not only an eternal home but also the pattern for the living of our daily lives.
Forgive us for the times when we have turned our back on your invitation and have chosen to walk our own way.
Forgive us for the times we make the path into our hearts a steep one, making it hard for you to enter.
Forgive us when we treat even our loved ones with an unforgiving spirit. Forgive us when we busy our lives with diversions that deflect our attention from you.
We invite your Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to bring us close to you this day. May we now live so that the World will know that you have come. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
John the Baptist assured those who had come to hear him preach,
“Turn away from your sins and God will forgive you.” (Mark 1: 4)
We have confessed our sins before God, and have trusted in His grace and mercy to forgive us. Let us, too, then, be assured by this promise by John, that we have been forgiven by God and have been brought back into a right relationship with Him.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer of illumination
Almighty, gracious Father, for as much as our whole salvation depends upon our true understanding of your holy Word, grant to all of us that our hearts, being freed from worldly affairs, may hear and comprehend your holy Word with all diligence and faith, that we may rightly understand your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to your praise and honour, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Prayer of Martin Bucer: 1538)
Bible Readings
Isaiah 40:
1 “Come my people,” says our God, “comfort them! 2 Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins.”
3 A voice cries out,
“Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD! Clear the way in the desert for our God! 4 Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth. 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all of Humanity will see it. The LORD Himself has promised this.”
6 A voice cries out,
“Proclaim a message!”
“What message shall I proclaim?” I ask.
“Proclaim that all of Humanity are like grass; they last no longer than wild flowers. 7 Grass withers and flowers fade when the LORD sends the wind blowing over them. People are no more enduring than grass. 8 Yes, grass withers and flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever.”
9 Jerusalem, go upon a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud
voice, Zion announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming! 10 The Sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power, bringing with Him the people He has rescued. 11 He will take care of His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs together and carry them in His arms; He will gently lead their mothers.
2 Peter 3:
8 But do not forget one thing, my dear friends! There is no difference in the Lord’s sight between one day and a thousand years; to Him the two are the same. (Psalm 90:4) 9 The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins. 10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. (Matthew 24: 42 to 44, Luke 12: 39 & 40, 1 Thessalonians 5: 2, Revelation 16: 15)
14 And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God’s sight and to be at peace with Him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience with us is our salvation, as Paul, our friend and brother, said when he wrote to you with his inspired wisdom. 16 And so he does in all his other Letters, whenever he writes on this subject, though they contain some obscure passages, which the ignorant an unstable misinterpret and distort to their own ruin, as they do the other Scriptures.
17 But you, my friends, already know this, Take care, then, not to let these unprincipled people seduce you with their errors and fall from your safe position. 18 But grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and for all eternity!
(Today’s English Version, New English Bible and New International Version)
This is the Word of God.
Praise to you Almighty God.
Mark 1:
1 This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It began as the Prophet Isaiah had written:
“God said, ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you. (Malachi 3: 1)
3 Someone is shouting in the desert, “Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for Him to travel! (Isaiah 40: 3) “
4 So John appeared in the desert, baptising and preaching.
“Turn away from your sins and be baptised,” he told the people, “and God will forgive your sins.” (Jeremiah 15: 19, Ezekiel 14: 6, 18: 30, 33: 11)
5 Many people from the Province of Judea and the City of Jerusalem went to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptised them in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist (2 Kings 1: 8) , and his food was locusts and wild honey. He announced to the people,
“The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. 8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
(Today’s English Version)
This is the Gospel of our Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymns: ‘The First Noel’ and ‘Infant Holy infant lowly’
Sermon
In my 1985 edition of The Guiness Book of Records, there is an entry which states that at the annual World Shouting Championship held on 12th September 1982 at Scarborough England, Anthony Fieldhouse recorded a shout that registered 111.9 decibels. (p17)
In 2001, Alan Myatt, an English Town Crier, held the Guinness record for the World’s loudest man, recording a cry of 112.8 decibels. (“Quiet night’s sleep for ‘world’s loudest man'”. BBC Online. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2014 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_crier).
Not to be overshadowed by a male, on 6th May 1982, Susan Birmingham registered a scream that measured 120 decibels. (The Guiness Book of Records 1985 edition p17)
Normal conversation takes place within the range of 50 to 70 decibels, slightly higher if the husband is too intent on watching TV and not listening to what the wife is saying. So, we gain a glimpse at how loud some people can speak, or scream. Why am I bringing this up? Because the Hebrew word used in today’s passage from Isaiah chapter 40 that has been translated as “voice” in verses 3, 6 and 9, is the word Kole (Strong’s OT6963) , has the broader meaning of “to yell, to call aloud, a thundering voice, or a proclamation”.
When Isaiah writes “a voice cries out” (Isaiah 40: 3, 6 & 9) , we are to understand that it is not a soft voice, nor a voice speaking in the range of 50 to 70 decibels, but a proclamation by a thundering voice. Why is this significant? Because of what is being proclaimed.
We are told that “the glory of the LORD will be revealed”. (Isaiah 40: 5a)
We are told that “the Word of God” will be heard. (Isaiah 40: 8b)
We are told that God, the Sovereign LORD, is coming. (Isaiah 40: 9c & 10a)
Merrill Unger and William White Jnr, in their Dictionary of Old Testament terms, write that “the Prophet’s voice is God’s voice, and when understood to be like “the roar of thunder” demonstrates “God’s divine power and presence and authority”, and should evoke fear and submission, because obedience to God’s voice brings God’s blessings (Exodus 19:5 and 1 Samuel 12: 14 & 15). (Merrill Unger and William White Jnr (editors) in Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament p454)
So, the words recorded for us in today’s passage from Isaiah’s Book, chapter 40, are to be seen as something of great significance. But to begin to understand this, one needs to understand the Historical context.
Isaiah is writing at a time of significant political and military turmoil in the Near East. The Assyrian army had defeated the northern Nation of Israel in 722BC. They then invaded the land of the Nation of Judah in 713BCand ravaged the land over the following 12 years culminating in its unsuccessful siege of the city of Jerusalem in 701BC, and of God’s miraculous deliverance of the city. (Isaiah 36 & 37, 2 Kings 18 & 19)
Isaiah then wrote foretelling of the invasion of Judah by the army of Babylon and of its eventual defeat by the Babylonians, the destruction of Jerusalem and of its Temple, and the exile of its peoples to Babylon (Isaiah 39) , which took place in 586BC as Isaiah had foretold (2 Kings 24 & 25, 2 Chronicles 26, Jeremiah 52)
Isaiah wrote foretelling of the rise of Cyrus, Emperor of Persia, who is referred to as a nameless “conqueror” in Isaiah 41: 2 & 25, and referred to by name in Isaiah 44: 28 & 45: 1, notably 150 years before he was born.
In writing of Cyrus, Isaiah was foretelling of his defeat of Babylon, which took place in 539BC, and of Cyrus granting permission for the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and to Judah in three waves, 538BC, 457BC & 444BC, a return from exile as the Prophet Jeremiah had later also foretold (Jeremiah 29: 11 – 14) , and as we read taking place in 2 Chronicles 36: 22 & 23, Ezra 1: 1 – 4.
This is the “comfort” which God commands Isaiah to give to the people of Jerusalem and Judah, as Isaiah writes at the commencement of chapter 40:
“Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them! Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins.” (Isaiah 40: 1 & 23)
Reading this passage in this context we understand that God is telling the people of Judah to look forward to their return from exile, “God, bringing with Him the people He has rescued” as Isaiah writes. (Isaiah 40: 10b)
And make no mistake, this has all to do with God’s actions in Time and History, of God alone acting in the life and history of His chosen people of Judah, and of the life and history of the peoples of the Near East.
This is God fulfilling His promises to the peoples of Judah (Isaiah 40: 5b) , promises that are permanent, will endure forever, and will be fulfilled. (Isaiah 40: 8b)
This is God implementing His Will and Purpose for Humanity. (Isaiah 40: 10a)
This is God demonstrating His power and authority over History and over the Kingdoms of the World. (Isaiah 40: 5)
This is God demonstrating His lovingkindness towards those whom He has chosen as His own people. (Isaiah 40: 11)
But wait, there’s more! As we hear in the well-known advertisement. There is more to understand from this passage than only a reference to God exercising His power and Will in returning the people of Judah from exile in Babylon in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Why is this so?
All four Gospel writers have made reference to this passage in Isaiah 40 in their writings of “the voice in the wilderness of Judah” 1st century AD. They all make reference to the birth of John, the son of the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth (Luke 1:-24, 39 – 44) , of John who “appeared in the desert” preaching “turn away from your sins” and baptising with water. (Isaiah 40: 3 – 5, Mark 1: 4 & 5) , and who spoke of someone to come, “much greater” than himself, who will work with the power of God among the people of Judah. (Isaiah 40: 9, Mark 1: 7 & 8)
The Apostle John has John the Baptist answering his critics, stating that he is the final fulfillment of the words of Isaiah,
“John answered by quoting the Prophet Isaiah, ‘I am “the voice of someone shouting in the desert”’ (quoting from Isaiah 40:3) (John 1: 23)
But how can we not interpret these Gospel writings to mean that these New Testament writers were just selecting an appropriate Old Testament passage and applying it out of its intended historical and textual context so as to substantiate their preconceived notions of God at work in the World? What is it in Isaiah 40: 1 – 11 that justifies the Gospel writers claim that the passage refers to John the Baptist as the “voice” calling people to sincerely consider their relationship with God and to prepare them selves for something extraordinary, and of God himself coming into the World to work his will and Purpose in the World?
When the people of Judah returned from exile, they were granted limited self-rule under a series of Governors, who included Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1: 8) , Tattenai (Ezra 6: 13) , and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5: 14) . The expectation was that this arrangement would continue for
all time, given the promise that “the word of God endures forever” (Isaiah 40: 8b) , that is, God’s promise to bring them back as His people and to care for them. (Isaiah 10B & 11a)
And yet, the land of Judah was overrun by foreign armies on two occasions in their subsequent history, by Alexander the Great from Greece by 331BC and by the army of Rome in 63BC. These historical events had been foretold by the Prophet Daniel who was writing before 322BC, (Daniel 2: 29 – 45, 7: 15 – 28, 8: 1-7 & 21 & 22) (Coleman Luck in Daniel p10) If God’s enduring Word mentioned by Isaiah did not include enduring self-rule for the people of Judah, to what enduring and eternal aspect of God’s word was the Prophet Isaiah referring, especially with regard to “the sovereign LORD coming to rule” and to care for His flock” (Isaiah 10a & 11a) . How could God be ruling His people and caring for them as His flock if they were being subject to foreign oppression and rule? How could God be demonstrating His power and authority, and implementing His will and purpose, if their future was being determined by a foreign Power?
We must understand that God was never content just to implement His Will and purpose in the history of the Nation of Judah, to rule the Nation of Judah, on a geopolitical scale. God’s intent has always been to rule the hearts and minds of people.
Moses records God exhorting the people of Israel:
“if you obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my people” (Exodus 19: 5)
The Prophet Samuel exhorts the people of Israel saying:
“All will go well with you if you honour the LORD your God. Serve Him, listen to Him, and obey His commands.” (1 Samuel 12: 14)
Jesus, quoting from Deuteronomy 6: 4 & 5, exhorts the people of Judah saying:
“love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12: 30)
The Apostle Paul encourages the Church at Philippi saying:
“And God’s peace, which is far beyond Numan understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 7)
Thus we see that God’s rule in someone’s life, His implementing is will and purpose in some’s life cannot be limited by whatever external political or military they are subjected.
Isaiah records the Voice crying out:
“the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all of Humanity will see it” (Isaiah 40: 5b)
This verse makes no sense if God’s glory is only see in his working in the life of the people of Judah. If God’s work is limited to that small corner of the Middle East in which the Nation of Judah exists, how, then, could God’s glory be revealed to all of Humanity, much of which has no knowledge of the Nation of Judah.
God made a promise to Abraham:
“through you I will bless all the Nations” (Genesis 12: 3b)
The Apostle Paul takes up this verse in his Letter to the Church in Galatia, where he writes:
“The Scripture predicted that God would put the Gentiles right with himself through faith. And so the Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham: ‘Through you God will bless all of Humanity.’ Abraham believed and was blessed; so all who believe are blessed as he was.” (Galatians 3: 8 & 9)
Thus we see that the “all Nations” mentioned in Isaiah 40: 5b is a confirmation of this promise to Abraham and is a foretelling of the glory of God revealed to all of Humanity in His work of Salvation in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter recognised this, and wrote about it in his second Letter, saying to his readers:
“The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, He is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (2 Peter 3: 9)
Paul refers to God’s “secret plan” in his Letter to the Church in Ephesus, revealed to “God’s holy Apostles and Prophets” (Ephesians 3: 5b)
“The secret is that by means of the Gospel, the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3: 6)
This is the glory of God revealed to all of Humanity referred to by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40: 5) . The glory of God is revealed in his lovingkindness, His grace and mercy, that God extends to all people all over the World
“The Sovereign LORD is coming, God is coming”, so writes Isaiah. (Isaiah 40: 9c & 10a)
The “coming of God” is usually described in a figurative sense, evident in, for example, the blessing He has endowed upon someone. Hence we has the Psalmist writing:
“God alone protects me and saves me; He is my defender” (Psalm 62: 2a)
“God’s saving presence will remain in our land” (Psalm 85: 9b)
But I believe that when Isaiah writes that “the LORD Himself is coming” (Isaiah 40: 9c & 10a) , he is talking about God physically coming into the World. And in what context will God be coming?
“to rule with power” (Isaiah 40: 10a)
“to rescue people” (Isaiah 40: 10b)
“to take care of His flock (Isaiah 40: 11a)
The Apostle John writes of Jesus saying:
“The Word became a Human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son. .. grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1: 14 & 17b)
It was God in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who Isaiah foresaw was coming. It was Jesus Christ, “who rules above all heavenly rulers, authorities, power, and lords; who has a title superior to all titles of authority in this World and in the next” (Ephesians 1: 21) , who Isaiah foresaw would “be coming to rule with power” (Isaiah 40: 10a)
It was God in the person of Jesus Christ who Isaiah foresaw would come, “bringing with him the people he has rescued”. (Isaiah 40: 10b)
The Apostle Paul writes:
“the one righteous act sets all of Humanity free and gives them life. .. But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truthes found in the teaching you received. You were set free from sin and become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 5: 18, 6: 17& 18)
Jesus Christ rescues us from the hold of sin over our lives, from bondage to sin and death. We are the people that he has rescued, whom he displays to the World as evidence of his power and glory.
Jesus made the claim:
:I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. I am willing to die for my them. There are other sheep which belong to me that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them too” (John 10: 14 to 16a)
Thus, I believe, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the shepherd “who will take care of (God’s) flock”. (Isaiah 40: 11)
The contributor to the Lion Handbook to the Bible writes about this passage saying,
“The section from chapters 40 to 50, speaks so powerfully of God’s Salvation that Christians see in it something much bigger than the rescue of Israel at a particular time in History. Here is God’s firm purpose to deliver Human kind from the ‘bondage of sin’; His promise of new life for all who will come to Him.” (The Lion Handbook to the Bible p431)
God says to His people, “fear not” (KJV, RSV) , or “do not be afraid” (GNB, NIV) for I am coming. (Isaiah 40: 9b)
This is one of the main messages of the Advent Season.
When told by the angel Gabriel that God would greatly act in her life, Gabriel’s reassurance was “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” (Luke 1: 30)
When Joseph made plans to break his engagement to Mary upon learning that she was pregnant, the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Joseph.” (Matthew 1: 20)
When the shepherds saw the angel that suddenly appeared to them, the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid.” (Luke 2: 10)
John Sawyer writes in his commentary on the Book of Isaiah, “the phrase ‘fear not’ characteristically announces the appearance of God and the end of a period of anxious waiting.” (John Sawyer in Isaiah volume 2 p44)
“Take comfort” writes Isaiah, because God comes in person. God comes with the hope of a reconciled relationship with Him. God comes with peace, for we are now released from bondage to sin, and free to worship and to serve God which is His will and purpose for Humanity.
Let us rejoice in this Good News that this Advent Season brings to us. Amen.
You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymns ‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night’ and “Carol of the Birds” (from Five Australian Christmas Carols)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJH9ToUdMBQ
John Wheeler
Offering
Offering Prayer
“For the life that you have given” TiS774
[This YouTube clip is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed.]
For the life that you have given,
for the love in Christ made known,
with these fruits of time and labour,
with these gifts that are your own:
here we offer, Lord, our praises;
heart and mind and strength we bring;
give us grace to love and serve you,
living what we pray and sing.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Prayers for Others
Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet and thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds.
So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We pray for the church:
- For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating this festival in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.
- For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
- For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
- For our Church family.
Grant that all who come together this Christmas time to worship you in whatever manner and place is suitable for them, that they may be enabled to renew their relationship with you. Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.
May your blessing be upon all who worship with us, give us grace to live as faithful members of your family, that we may learn each day afresh to love and serve you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for peace:
- Give peace to the World
- Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans.
- Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarrelled and need to be reconciled.
- Give peace in our own divided hearts.
We know that without justice there can be no peace. Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion. Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime. Let peace come when the Earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good. Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the World. Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with you, our God.
Your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people.
Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.
We pray for homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own.
Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.
We pray for people who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness.
Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.
We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, or who are recovering from illness or injury.
We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today. Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers as you see best.
Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness. To your glory we pray.
(https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-intercessions.html)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,
For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
Now and forever. Amen.
You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Never in all Human story’
[This hymn is being sung to the tune Irby (Once in Royal David’s City) – there is no introduction. ]
[This YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune.]
Verse 1 of 3
Never in all Human story
was a sight so wondrous seen,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
cradled in a manger mean,
Angel heralds in the sky,
lowly shepherds kneeling by.
Verse 2 of 3
Then the lamp of life was lighted,
brighter than the rising Sun;
then were Heaven and Earth united,
peace of God on Earth begun,
peace the troubled World to fill,
peace to those of holy will.
Verse 3 of 3
Prince of Peace! Your way before you
lies through nameless grief and pain;
Death’s dark shadow ever o’er you,
but it leads to highest reign;
glory that could never be,
but by way of Calvary.
Joseph Pittman
Benediction
When you consider the billions of stars and galaxies that make up the Universe, we come to the understanding that we live on an insignificant planet, that is part of an insignificant solar system, that exists within an insignificant galaxy.
When you consider the billions of people who inhabit our planet, we come to the understanding that each one of us is a relatively insignificant individual, who resides in a relatively modest place of residence, that exists within a relatively modest suburb.
Yet, we are assured that, individually, we are the recipient of Almighty God’s tender care, we are the recipient of Almighty God’s promise of His provision and protection, we are a lamb that He will “carry in His arms” (Isaiah 40: 11) . God’s great love for each one of us is revealed all too clearly and completely in the cross of Calvary. Such is the reason for us to give praise to God, not to be proud of what we can do by ourselves; to express our gratefulness to God, not to boast about what we can do by ourselves; to live every moment of every day with peace in our hearts and peace in our souls. Let us, then, go out into the World rejoicing, to the glory of God, now and for eternity. (2 Peter 3: 18b)
(based upon “Why we have value” by Vernon Grounds in Our Daily Bread 13 November 2007)
And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Benediction Song
‘Rejoice and be Merry’ Carols for Choirs 1 number 32 (first verse)
Verse 1 of 4
Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth!
O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on Earth!
For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,
who brought us salvation, his praises we’ll sing.
Traditional English Carol
Service for Sunday 7th February 2021 – Rev Louis van Laar 
Service for Sunday 19th April 2020 – Rev Louis van Laar 
Service for Sunday 31st July 2022, which was conducted by Mr Geoffrey Webber 
Service for Sunday 20th August, which was conducted by Mr Ian Kerr. 
