Welcome: –

Liturgy for Advent Four: –

Narrator: Today we light the candle of Love.

[Light the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, the candle of Joy, and then the candle of Love.]

  A reading from Isaiah 54: 6 – 8:

“Israel, you are like a young wife, deserted by her husband and deeply distressed.  But the Lord says, ‘For one brief moment I left you; with deep love I take you back.  I turned away angry for only a moment, but I will show you my love forever.’  So says the Lord who saves you.”

  A Reading from Luke 1: 46 & 47, 54 & 67 – 69:

“Mary said, ‘My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Saviour, for He has remembered me, his lowly servant.’”

“John’s father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God’s message:

‘Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!  He has come to the help of His People and has set them free.  He has provided for us a mighty Saviour, a descendant of His servant David.’”

Comment on the reading:

  There is a period of 400 years from the time of Malachi, the last of the Old Testament Prophets, until the time when John the Baptist commenced his call for people to come back to a right relationship with their God.  This 400 years has been called a time of ‘silence’, for the voice of God was not heard nor was there any message given by God.  This time, however, was not a ‘quiet’ period in History, for it included the rising of the Empire of Alexander the Great, the subsequent conflicts between the Seleucid Empire based in Antioch and the Ptolemaic Empire based in Egypt over who controlled the land of Palestine, a brief period of self-rule by the people of Judea under the Hasmonean Monarchy, and then the conquest of Palestine by the Romans.

  The People of God longed for the time when God’s voice would again be heard and proclaimed throughout the land, when God’s promise of “a descendant of His servant David, a mighty Saviour, who would come to ‘save them’”, would be fulfilled, when God’s rule would prevail over their foreign rulers, and when God’s peace would again descend upon the land.  Hence the joy of Mary and Zechariah in their understanding that God had not forgotten His People and had ‘returned’ to them, to take them back as His People, and to offer forgiveness for their sins: all because His love for them was deep and everlasting.  At that time, Mary and Zechariah may not have comprehended the manner in which God would act, but they did comprehend that God would act because of His all-encompassing and all-powerful love, not just for the People of Israel, but for all of Humanity.

Sing praise to the Father, Creator and king,

Whose mercy has taught us a new song to sing;

Who made us, and loved us, though rebels and lost,

And planned our redemption at infinite cost.

We sing the Hymn: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – from A Wreath of Carols p25

Verse 1 of 4

I heard the bells on Christmas Day,

Their old familiar carols play,

And mild and sweet their songs repeat

Of peace on Earth, good will to Men.

Chorus

And the bells are ringing, “Peace on Earth.”

Like a choir they’re singing, “Peace on Earth.”

In my heart I hear them,

“Peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

Verse 2 of 4

And in despair I bowed my head,

“There is no peace on Earth,” I said,

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

Chorus

But the bells are ringing, “Peace on Earth.”

Like a choir they’re singing, “Peace on Earth.”

Does anybody hear them?

“Peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

Verse 3 of 4

Then rang the bells more loud and deep,

“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,

Peace on Earth, peace on Earth.

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

Verse 4 of 4

Then ringing, singing, on its way

The World revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on Earth, goodwill to men.

Chorus

And the bells are ringing, “Peace on Earth.”

Like a choir they’re singing, “Peace on Earth.”

With our hearts we’ll hear them,

“Peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

We hear the bells they’re ringing, “Peace on Earth.”

Like the angels singing, “Peace on Earth.”

Open up your heart and hear them,

“Peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Prayer of Praise and Confession

(from Uniting in Worship Red Book p290, An Aust Prayer Book p184, , Opening Prayers p9,  ) 

  All Nations sing your praise, Almighty God, all Peoples sing of your merciful kindness, because of the great hope that is represented in the incarnate Jesus Christ, your Word clothed in our likeness, but whose nature is so very different to ours.  For in Christ we see the brightness of your glory and the fullness of your love for your Creation.  For in Christ we see the blessing that is ours because you walk with us and share every minute of our lives.  Yet, who are we that you should come to us?  Who are we that you should consider redeeming us?  It is solely because of your great love that you have brought about your

mighty and wonderful work in the World.

    We are truly humbled and amazed that Jesus should so readily leave the glory of Heaven and of fellowship with you so as to enter the World in such a humble way; but more, that he was humbly obedient to the point of death on the cross.  He made Himself a servant to show us how to lead.  He gave his life so that we might live.  He suffered so that we might share in his glory.  He took the full burden of our sin as our scapegoat.  He is the living proof that you, O God, are with us and for us, and if you are for us, of whom should we fear.

Yet merciful God, we acknowledge that we are no different to those of the World.  We confess in contrite humbleness that we too transgress your Law of Love and Obedience.  We are ashamed of that within ourselves which makes neither for good will towards others nor growth for goodness within ourselves.  We show neither hearts of compassion nor do we live lives of kindly service.  We seek the company and favour of the popular, and neglect the humble and the lonely.  We forget the joy that should be ours because of your promise to come to us and to be with us.  We do not express our thanks for the many things that you provide for us out of your bountiful goodness.  We deliberately rebel against you and are shameful.  Our guilt and disgrace is all too evident to you, and we stand in judgement.

    Take away our sins and renew our souls, so that we may know the joy of sins forgiven and of our spirits being in fellowship with You.  Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to listen to your voice and to follow your commands.  Lift our minds to hear the voice which announces the glory of God made flesh, and open our hearts to receive the Spirit who prepares us for the coming again of the Christ.  Reign in us so that we may experience the unity of the Holy Spirit for which you desire.  May we know with assurance the righteousness that is ours because your have loved us so dearly and have bought our reconciliation by the death and resurrection of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness  (from Hebrews 10: 10) 

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that because Jesus Christ did what God wanted Him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body, once and for all.  Having confessed our sins before God, we have the assurance then that our sins have been forgiven and that we have been put right with God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

Holy God, through your Holy Spirit, instruct us that we might rightly understand the Word of Truth, and find ourselves as People who reflect the Living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 40:

1  I waited patiently for the LORD, He bent down to me and heard my cry.  2  He brought me up out of the muddy pit, out of the mire and the clay, He set my feet on a rock and gave me sure footing.  3  He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God.  Many who see this will be filled with awe and will learn to put their trust in the LORD.

4  Happy are those who trust the LORD, who do not look for guidance from the proud and the liars, who do not join those who worship false gods.  5 Great things you have done for us, O LORD my God.  Your wondrous deeds and saving thoughts are all for our good; none can compare with you.  I could never speak of them all, for their number is so great!

6  You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the alter or for sacrifices to take away sins.  These do not please you.  Instead you have given me ears to hear you,  7  and so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the Book of the Law.  8  My desire is to do your will, O God, I keep your teaching in my heart.

11  LORD, I know you will never withhold your tender care from me, your unfailing love and loyalty will always keep me safe.

Hebrews 10:

1  The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come.  The same sacrifices are offered forever, year after year.  How can the Law, the, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God?  2  If the people worshipping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop.  3  As it is, however, sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins.  4  For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.  (Micah 6: 6 & 7) 

5  For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God:

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me.  6  You are not pleased with animals burned whole on the alter or with sacrifices to take away sins.  &  Then I said, ‘Here I am, to do your will, O God, just as it is written of me in the Book of the Law.’”  (Psalm 40: 6 to 8)  

8  First, he said, “You neither want nor are pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burned on the alter and the sacrifices to take away sins.”  He said this even though all the sacrifices are offered according to the Law.  9  Then he said, “Here I am, O God, to do your will.”  So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place.  10  Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once for all.

[Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version, New English Bible]

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 1:

39  Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried of to a town in the hill country of Judea.  40  She went to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.  41  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  42  and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  43  Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me?  44  For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.  45  How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!”

46  Mary said,

“My heart praises the Lord:  47  my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,  48  for He has remembered me, His lowly servant!  (1 Samuel 1: 11)  From now on all people will call me happy,  49  because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.  His name is holy;  50  from one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him.  51  He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.  52  He has brought down mighty Kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.  (Job 5: 11 and 12:18 & 19)  53  He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.   54  He has kept the promise He made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of His servant Israel.  55  He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all of his descendants forever.”  (Genesis 17: 7)  (2 Samuel 2: 1 to 10) 

[Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version, New English Bible]

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Passing the Peace

We are one in fellowship and in worship of our God, whether we gather together in the Church building on Sunday morning or whether we worship in the ‘digital sphere’.  It is important that we recognise that, together, we remain one in Christ Jesus.  With that thought, let us uplift our hands and greet those both here and in their homes: May the peace of God be with you all.

And also with you.

Wew sing the Hymn: “Once in Royal David’s City”  MHB859  AHB237  TiS312

Verse 1 of 5

Once in royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed

Where a mother laid her baby

In a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

Verse 2 of 5

He came down to Earth from Heaven

Who is God and Lord of all,

And his shelter was a stable,

And his cradle was a stall;

With the poor and mean and lowly

Lived on Earth our Saviour holy.

Verse 3 of 5

And through all his wondrous childhood

Day by day like us her grew;

He was little, weak, and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us he knew;

And he feeleth for our sadness,

And he shareth in our gladness.

Verse 4 of 5

And our eyes at last shall see him,

Through his own redeeming love,

For that child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in Heaven above;

And he leads his children on

To the place where he has gone.

Verse 5 of 5

Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing by,

We shall see him: but in Heaven,

Set at God’s right hand on high

When, like stars, his children crowned

All in white shall gather round.

Cecil Alexander

Sermon

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18/12/1707 – date of birth of Charles Wesley

“the poet of Methodism”

19/12/1808 – date of birth of Horatius Bonar –

“the greatest hymn writer among the Scots”

  I picked up some interesting information during the week.  Yesterday was the date of birth of Charles Wesley, who was born in 1707.  One writer calls him “the poet of Methodism”.  Today is the date of birth of Horatius Bonar, who has been called “the greatest hymn writer among the Scots”.  (William Blake in This Day in Christian History)

[  Out of interest, William Williams has been generally seen as “Wales’s premier hymnist”.  His date of birth is 17/02/1717.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Williams_Pantycelyn)  Cecil Francis Alexander (born early 04/1818) and John Monsell (born 02/03/1811) are described as prolific writers of Irish hymns.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Irish_Anglican_hymnwriters)  ]

  Today readings included two hymns of praise of God.

  Psalm 40 has been attributed to David.  The first section, verses 1 to 11, is titled “A song of Praise”. 

  It commences with David describing how he was in a desperate situation:

“a dangerous pit, a miry bog” as one translation puts it.  (verse 2) 

  The inference is that it was a situation from which David could not extricate himself, a situation from which an escape was beyond his capabilities and abilities.  And we read David saying:

“I waited patiently for the LORD’s help”  (verse 1) 

  It is here that we learn of the first attribute of God.  David says of God:

“He listened and heard my cry”  (verse 1) 

Screen 2

“He listened and heard my cry”

  Psalm 40: 1 

  We learn that God is not a ’vacant’ god, that is, one whom you must impress if you wish to gain their attention, if they are even listening.  What David says of God is that He is attentive to the needs of people, ever listening for the cry of the needy and always looking for those who are in need.

  David continues by saying that God acted upon David’s call for help:

“He pulled me out of the pit and set my feet on rock”, a place of safety and security.  (verse 2) 

  We learn that God is willing and able to address the needs of a person, satisfying the need completely so that there should be no recurrence of it.

  David says of God:

“There is no one like you, (by inference, either on Earth or in Heaven)!  (verse 5) 

  God demonstrates this in two ways:

God has done “many wondrous things”, beyond measure or counting.  (verse 5) 

God has made “many wonderful plans (for people)”.  (verse 5) 

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God has done “many wondrous things”, beyond measure or counting.

  Psalm 40: 5 

  We learn that God shows a concern for the welfare of an individual at the present time, and plans for the welfare of the individual in their future.  God is demonstrating that He has compassion for the individual that cannot be measured or limited.  God is demonstrating that He has the power and authority to direct the course of events so as to sustain the welfare of a person.  And we see in the words “wondrous things” and “wonderful plans” the understanding of God’s “supernatural abilities and control”.  We also gain the understanding that “God’s wondrous deeds are a reflection of His inner compassionate thoughts for us”.  (Leslie Guthrie and Alec Motyer in Psalms in New Bible Commentary p476) 

Screen 4

“Your unfailing love and faithfulness preserves me.”

  Psalm 40: 11 

  David concludes his Song of Praise by saying of God:

“You will never stop being merciful to me.  Your unfailing love and faithfulness preserves me.”  (Psalm 40: 11) 

  We learn of this last attribute of God, His mercy, His unfailing love and faithfulness, not that this is something that he has developed or has learnt over time, but because to love is God’s very nature and purpose in His relationship with His Creation, especially with Humanity, the pinnacle of God’s Creation.

  This is a common theme in David’s psalms for he writes of God in Psalm 103:

“His love lasts forever, and His goodness endures for all generations.”  (Psalm 103: 17) 

  Moses records the words of God explaining to the People of Israel His reason for setting them free from slavery in Egypt and for leading them to their promised homeland in Canaan:

“Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that He is faithful.  He will keep His covenant and show His constant love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and obey His commands.”  (Deuteronomy 7: 9) 

  So we see that God acts out of love, but because He seeks to be in a relationship with those who He loves, He is seeking a response from those with whom He interacts.  How then does David respond to God’s acts of love for him.

Screen 5

“a song of praise”  Psalm 40: 3 

  David writes of singing a song of praise to God, rejoicing in God’s goodness and faithfulness towards him.  But we read that David doesn’t sing his song of praise in private but in public, because, of those who hear of what God has done in the life of David:

“Many who see this will be filled with awe and will learn to put their trust in the LORD.”

  (Psalm 40: 3) 

  David cannot keep the news of the wondrous acts of God to himself and is compelled to

share with others how God has worked in his life, leading his listeners to be in awe of the power and the love of God.

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“Happy are those who trust the LORD.”  Psalm 40: 4 

  David’s experiences reinforces his belief that God “is the only God”, as we have read from Deuteronomy 7.  As such, how could he contemplate worshipping the “false gods” of the peoples of the neighbouring Nations, for they are but the imaginings of people who refuse to accept the reality of the God of the Jews.  (Psalm 40: 4) 

  David’s experiences reinforces his belief that God is the only one who has the motivation and the power to accomplish His will and purpose in the world.  As such, how could he contemplate putting his trust in people who make empty boasts of what they can achieve by themselves, independent of God.  (Psalm 40: 4) 

  How is it then that David is to live out the trust that he has in God?

  Is it related to the extent and frequency of the “sacrifices and offerings” that he makes to God in the Temple?  No, it is not, for David writes:

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the alter or for sacrifices to take away sins.  These do not please you.”  (Psalm 40: 6) 

  David writes of an understanding that such sacrifices and offering have no lasting benefit and must be repeated over and over again.  David writes of an understanding that sacrifices and offerings could be made purely as a rite or ritual, without the heart of the person being involved in the giving.  

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“My desire is to do your will, O God.”  Psalm 40: 8

  It is a change in the heart of a person for which God is seeking.  David writes:

“I will follow the instructions of God that you have laid out in His Law.

I will abide by the teaching of God as a way of life.

My desire is to do God’s will.”  (Psalm 40: 7 & 8) 

  Such behaviour is the indication of a person’s faithful response to God’s faithful love.

  Luke records for us Mary’s “Song of Praise”.

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“my soul is glad because of God my Saviour”  Luke 1: 47 

  Mary sings of God’s mercy, where she states:

“He has remembered me, his lowly servant”  (Luke 1: 48) 

  Mary sings of God’s willingness and capacity to act in the lives of others:

“the great things the mighty God has done”  (Luke 1: 49) 

“God has stretched out His mighty arm”  (Luke 1: 51) 

  Mary sings of the futile plans of those who make empty boasts of what they can achieve by themselves, independent of God:

“(God) scattered the proud with all their plans”  (Luke 1: 51) 

  Mary sings of God’s faithfulness:

“God has kept the promise He made to our ancestors.”  (Luke1: 54) 

  Mary expresses a great trust in God, for although Jesus, the Saviour, had not yet been born, Mary’ s song declares that God’s salvation has already come;

“my soul is glad because of God my Saviour”  (Luke 1: 47)

  Mary rejoices that “since God has set His saving work in motion, it is already as good as done”.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p36) 

  Mary sings of God seeking a response from those in whose life He has done “great things”:

“From one generation to another God shows mercy to those who honour Him.”  (Luke 1: 50)  Mary, too, indicates that it is a change in the heart of the individual for which God is seeking, a transfer from a trust in themselves to a trust in God.

  It is here that Mary is also indicating that God is seeking to expand the definition of a “descendant of Abraham”, beyond “the basis of physical descent” alone.  (Gregory Beale and Donald Carson in Luke in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament p262) 

  Mary understands that “it is through her that God has chosen to fulfill His Covenantal promise”, that the work of God in the World will show “decisively and unmistakably that He is in control of Human Affairs, and that the coming of God’s Kingdom is being realised.  (Joel Green in The Gospel of Luke p99 & 101)  But, she is also indicating that God is not seeking to work only in the lives of those who claim to be physical descendants of Abraham, but in the lives of those who are ‘spiritual’ descendants of Abraham, that is, all who honour him and put their trust in Him.  God is seeking to call all of Humanity to a renewed and right relationship with Himself.  It is in this light that we see that God calls us to respond to His love for us.

  Our first hymn today was “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.  I had never heard of it until I recently came across it in a book of carols.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this hymn in 1862, while the Civil War was raging across the United States.  Thus he writes that :

‘in despair I bowed my head,

“There is no peace on Earth,” I said,

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”’

  But, using the words of Psalm 121: 4, he rejoices in the knowledge that:

“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

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“God is still in command and in His own time will cause right to triumph

 and will bring peace and goodwill”  Kenneth Osbeck

  Kenneth Osbeck in discussing this hymn writes:

“The wording of the stanzas gives this clear message: (in spite of Humanity’s failings, in spite of the hatred and despair so prevalent in the World even today) God is still in command and in His own time will cause right to triumph and will bring peace and goodwill once more.”  (Kenneth Osbeck in Joy to the World p33) 

  Artur Weiser writes:

“the Creator God is not dormant, he is a never-resting God.  He continues to act in the World because He is the Living God.”  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p748) 

  It is our living God who has shown how much He loves us, in that He planned from the beginning of Time to provide the means for our salvation, the means for the forgiveness of our sins, the means for the restoration of our relationship with Him.  For it is the birth of the baby born of Mary that revealed God’s love for the World, that promised peace to those who honoured God, that brought hope for the future and for eternity, and that was the source of joy for all how heard the good news.  At this Advent time, may we not despair at the hatred and violence that permeates our society and that permeates our World.  May we act with the assurance that it is God’s love which will prevail.  Amen.

We sing the Hymn ‘Love came down at Christmas’  MHB138  AHB243  TiS317

Verse 1 of 3

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, love divine,

Love was born at Christmas

Star and angels gave the sign.

Verse 2 of 3

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, Love divine;

Worship we our Jesus:

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Verse 3 of 3

Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Christina Rossetti

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[ sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction]

[The YouTube is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed]

[alternatively, if you have the facility on your computer to play such music, double-click on the Mp3 file below and then select ‘open’ – there is a very small introduction]

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

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that our hearts may leap for joy as we recognize that you are with us in the people and events of our lives.

We pray for all believers, that we, like Mary, may believe that you will do great things in and through our ordinariness.

We pray for a spirit of joy, that we may be grateful for all the gifts and opportunities that you offer us and rejoice in the blessings which come to us each day.

We pray for new parents and expectant parents, that you will bless their children with health and help them to care for and nurture their children both physically and spiritually.

We pray for all children who are at risk, who have run away, who are in institutional settings, that you will guide them to someone whom they can trust and bring them to safety.

We pray for all who live in Bethlehem and the hill country of Judah, for Christians, Jews, and Muslims, that your Spirit will open new pathways of peace and bring forth new hope for all who live in fear.

We pray for spiritual companions and guides, that we may each find a wise and trusted soul who will accompany us as we discover how you are at work in us and the world around us.

We pray for refugees who have fled violence or oppression, that you will protect them from harm, give them strength to face their challenges, and guide them to places of safety.

We pray for anyone experiencing fear, anxiety, or depression, that the birth of Christ may bring light into their lives and freedom to their hearts.

We pray for all who are traveling during this season, that they may arrive safely and have renewing visits with family and friends.

We pray for all whose lives seem unimportant, that they may listen for God’s call and advance God’s saving plan through their lives and deeds.

We pray for the sick, that God will heal all who are suffering, give them hope, and renew the strength of all who are caring for them.

We pray for all who are away from home during the Christmas season, particularly missionaries, aid workers, and members of the military, that you will fill their hearts with peace and reunite them with loved ones in the New Year.

We pray for all who were injured or lost homes or businesses in the recent disasters, that God will heal their wounds, keep them safe from further harm, and help them access the resources that they need.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

We pray for parents who are struggling to care for their children.  Please guide them to an appropriate agency or Church service who can provide the guidance and assistance needed.

We pray for the hungry and despairing, that people will be led to where there is need and led to feed and clothe and shelter those who cannot feed themselves, or clothe themselves, or who have no place to lay their heads.

At this Advent time, we pray that you will open the hearts of people to comprehend the real Christmas story and respond to your love and grace with humble trust and obedience.  Give courage to the Church that we may proclaim with joy and gladness the Good News announced by the angels and the Magi of your control over History and of the coming of your Kingdom.

We pray for a cleansing wave of repentance across our Nation, washing away the impiety, corruption and deceit that is rampant in people’s lives and in business and government decision making.  Let truth and justice be the grounds for stability and compassion in our Nation.

We pray that you will console those who are mourning the loss of family member or friend.  Please give to them your comfort and your reassurance of your continual love and care for them.

We pray for the oppressed, those who are taken advantage of or who face discrimination in any form.  May those experience your close presence.  May they experience your comfort and consolation.  Inspire the Church Worldwide to speak out against those who discriminate, those who oppress, those who spread hatred and not peace and reconciliation.

  (David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year C p22, Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p88) 

We pray for the Church in Bali as they face the disapproval from family and neighbours for choosing to worship the living God and not the false Hindu gods.  We thank you for the example they set in support neighbours through this pandemic.

We pray for the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor who have faced the social and economic costs of a recent cyclone and the pandemic.  Encourage and strengthen them as they support other to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.  https://unitingworld.org.au/news/  

We pray for the Leprosy Mission in Nigeria and their provision of ulcer care treatment to those affected by leprosy.  We pray for the Leprosy mission in Nepal as they work to transform the lives of people affected by leprosy.  We pray for the staff of primary health centres in Indonesia and East Timor as they receive training to detect and diagnose leprosy.  We pray for Natasha Smith, stationed in Papua New Guinea as she manages leprosy care projects and the training and support of staff at the Leprosy Mission office.

We pray for School chaplains as they enjoy a time of rest and recuperation following the end of the school year.  May they find their holidays a time of refreshment and rejuvenation.  We pray for the leaders and volunteers associated with Scripture Union camps being held over the Christmas holidays.  Please enthuse and encourage them as they seek to present the Good News of the coming of the Christ child and what that could mean for the lives of individuals.

We pray for the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.  We pray for those who have experienced years of conflict and oppression, who continue to bear physical and emotional scars.  Please give to them healing in body and spirit.  We pray for the Church in these countries who bear witness in the region even though they are small in number.  Please give to them the courage to bear witness to the truth of the light and love of Jesus.  We pray for victims of monsoons and other disasters in the region, that they will be  provided with the needed humanitarian assistance and rebuilding.  We pray for economic development to improve life for all people and the environment.  We pray for political stability amid competing powers, and for the repatriation of refugees from these countries, so that they can return to their homes and families.

We pray for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, in Jordan, and in Lebanon, who have been displaced from their homes for decades, some who have only known life in a refugee camp.  We pray for a change in the heart of those with power and in power, that they will look with compassion on those who have no home and no positive outlook for the future, that they will humble themselves before you and do what is right and return land and autonomy to those from whom it was taken. 

We pray for refuges in Syria, displaced because of the civil war, who have experienced the terror of the bombing, who cannot return to their villages and their homes because of the conflict, who suffer from lack of water, food and medical aid, who cannot see a future with any hope.  We pray for an end to the violence, an end to the rule of politics and power, and a desire by all peoples for reconciliation and social renewal.

We thank you for the work of Kylie, the chaplain at Bald Hills State School, for her dedication to the welfare of the children at the School, of their families, and of the staff at the School.  Please continue to guide her as she identifies areas of need and as she seeks your peace for them.

We ask that you will the Congregation and the Church Council as we consider our future as your people in our community as Bald Hills.

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

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.

We sing tghe Hymn ‘Christmas Bush for His Adorning’  from Five Australian Christmas Carols p10 & 11

Verse 1 of 4

All the bells are gaily ringing

Birds in ev’ry tree are singing;

Let us in the golden weather,

Gather Christmas Bush together.

Verse 2 of 4

“Christ is born!”  The angels thunder

Thro’ the Heav’ns their tale of wonder,

While we pluck for his adorning

Christmas Bush, this hallow’d morning.

Verse 3 of 4

Christ has conquer’d Evil’s power,

Hear the bells rock ev’ry tower;

Birds and beasts lift up their voices,

Freed at last the World rejoices.

Verse 4 of 4

Onward with triumphant chorus,

Following the road before us,

Singing thro’ the golden weather,

Gath’ring Christmas Bush together.

John Wheeler

Benediction    

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“Rejoice and be Merry”  Carols for Choirs 1 number 32

(only the one verse is needed – there is a short introduction)

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