Welcome: –

Liturgy for Advent Two

Narrator: Today we light the candle of Peace.

[Light the candle of Hope and then the candle of Peace.]

A reading from the Book of John 1: 14 – 17:

“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.  John spoke about him.  He cried out: ‘This is the one I was talking about when I said “He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.”’

Out of the fullness of his grace he blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another.  God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

  In Greek thought, it was inconceivable that a god would ever consider becoming directly involved in the affairs of the World.  In Jewish thought, it was inconceivable that God could enter into the way of life that we live, that Eternity could appear in the span of a Human life, that the Creator could appear in Creation in such a way that people could actually see Him.

  The Apostle John carefully records for his readers that Jesus was born of a Human mother and lived a life as a Human being.  When he writes of the Word in Human form, the Greek words that he uses conveys the meaning of an actual Human being, not just the appearance of a person.  When he writes of seeing Jesus and living with Jesus, he uses words that conveys the meaning of actually seeing Jesus with his own eyes and actually interacting with Jesus in the flesh, not just dreaming about Jesus or of having a vision about Jesus.  John writes as a first-hand witness of Jesus as a person and to the events in the life of Jesus.

  When John writes of the “fullness of the grace and truth of Jesus”, he is saying that in Jesus there dwells the totality of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God Himself.  A person can go the Jesus with any need and find that need supplied.  The grace of Jesus was evident in the actions of Jesus which John has recorded.  The truth of Jesus was evident in the words of Jesus which John has recorded.  John writes his Gospel to show that the Christian religion is not based on an adherence to a specific theosophical philosophy nor on an obedience to a specific set of Laws, but on a devotion to a real person.  It is that faith in the person and providence of Jesus Christ which is the source of peace to the heart and soul of the believer.

The hope we have in Jesus Christ brings joy into our heart,

And when we know the love of God, His peace He will impart. 

Let us continue on the theme of Peace as we sing:

“Never in all Human story”  TiS320

[sung to the tune Irby (Once in Royal David’s City) – there is no introduction ]

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

Prayer of Praise and Confession  

(Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year A p192 & 193, A Year of Prayer p192 & 193, The Book of Worship 1944 p194, The Book of Worship 1964 p151, Opening Prayers p112, The Common Book of worship p33, Uniting in Worship 1 p580 and 581) 

Almighty God, Creator of all there is, seen and unseen, known and yet to be known, you are wonderful in your glory, you are the giver of life and breath, the source of real peace and joy.  We worship and adore you.

  We see with clarity that all Worldly powers come under your authority, and that all of Humanity are obliged to humble themselves before you as the true and living God of all.  We know you as steadfast in keeping your covenant relationship with us, in helping those who flee to you for comfort, and in giving hope to those who despair of life and love.  We worship and adore you.

  You are the one who accomplished our salvation.  You are the one who awakened in our spirit the desire to receive your Word which works its very power in those who believe.  For we know that by obedience to your Word alone we grow mature in the likeness of Christ.  May we never take it for granted.  For your Word points us to Christ.  It unveils His glory.  It speaks to us of truth and opens our eyes not only to an understanding of his sacrifice for us, but also of the promise of eternal life.  You have made us for yourself.  Our hearts are restless till we find our rest in you.

Yet, merciful God, we humbly come before you confessing our sins.  We confess that we have broken your holy Laws by our misdeeds and ill-spoken words.  We confess our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and our wilfulness.  We confess our failures and our shortcomings towards you and towards our neighbours.  Forgive us.

  Though we are made in your image, we often act as if we are self-made, with no obligation to honour you nor to serve you.  We are more concerned with what others owe to us than with what we owe to them.  We show more respect to those who wield power and influence in the World than giving glory to you.  Forgive us.

  Forgive our false claims to what is in the World around us, for our ungrateful use and abuse of the resources that you have created to sustain us.  Forgive our wantonness and our wasteful living.  Forgive our desiring for more rather than a passion to share with those who have less.

  Forgive us and wipe the sins completely from our lives.  Recall us to our true allegiance, so that, above the powers and rulers of this World, you alone may claim our fullest loyalty and love.  Open our eyes to see more of your truth.  Open our minds to believe it more earnestly.  Open our mouths to declare it more fully.  For this we pray, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

 (1 Thessalonians 1: 10b)  

The Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians that God raised his Son, Jesus Christ, from death, and that it is Jesus who rescues us from the consequences that would have been ours had not we turned away from our sins towards the grace and mercy of God.  Therefore, having confessed our sins before God, we take this reassurance and declare with confidence that our sins have been forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

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

Malachi 2 & 3:

17  This is the message that the Lord gave Malachi to tell the People of Israel.  “You have tired the Lord out with your talk.  But you ask, ‘How have we tired him?’  By saying ,’The Lord Almighty thinks all evildoers are good: in fact, He likes the.’  Or by saying, ‘Where is the God who is supposed to be just?’

1  The Lord Almighty answers, ‘I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.  The Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple.  The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant.’

2  But who will be able to endure the day when he comes?  Who will be able to survive when he appears?  He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal.  3  He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver.  As a metalworker refines silver and gold, so the Lord’s messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the Lord the right kind of offerings.  4  Then the offerings which the people of Judah and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be pleasing to Him, as they used to be in the past.

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

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 1:

67  John’s father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke

68  “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!  He has come to the help of His People and has set them free.

69  He has provided for us a mighty Saviour, a descendant of His servant David.

70/71  He promised through His holy prophets long ago that He would save us from our enemies, from the power of all those who hate us. 

72  He said He would show mercy to our ancestors and remember His sacred Covenant.

[Today’s English Version]

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.

Hymn

“While shepherds watched their flocks by night”  MHB129  AHB223  TiS299

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

Verse 1 of 6

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down

And glory shone around.

Verse 2 of 6

“Fear not,” said he, (for mighty dread

had seized their troubled mind),

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all Mankind.

Verse 3 of 6

To you in David’s town this day

Is born of David’s line

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign,

Verse 4 of 6

The Heavenly babe you there shall find

To Human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands

And in a manger laid.”

Verse 5 of 6

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song,

Verse 6 of 6

“All glory be to God on high,

And to the Earth be peace,

Goodwill henceforth from Heaven to men

Begin and never cease.”

Nahum Tate

Sermon

Screen 1

a disregarded warning

  You have to wonder don’t you.  Did they read what was on the sign as they walked to the water, or did they read it and then say to themselves, “It won’t happen to me surely.”?

  In today’s reading from the book of Malachi we also read of a disregarded warning.  The Prophet Malachi was passing judgement on the people of Judah.  Malachi was writing shortly after the return of the people of Judah from the exile in Babylon, roughly around 450 BCE.  It was a time of hardship as they sought to rebuild the City of Jerusalem, to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, to rebuild their society and culture, and to rebuild their religious life and practices.  They had experienced famine, opposition from non-Jewish tribes who were also living in the area, and a lack of support from the Persian Governor living in Damascus.  And from some of the things that Malachi records, there were unfair practices in the market place, there was widespread intermarriage with others who did not worship God, with the result that people and especially children were neglecting the Temple worship, appropriate tithes were not being paid so as to maintain the Temple, and the Priesthood had become a joke among the people because of the insincerity and carelessness in the manner in which they offered sacrifices.  Is it any wonder that the people in Judah were becoming discouraged and disheartened after the initial enthusiasm from returning from exile to the land that God had given to them?  The life of prosperity and peace for which they had dreamed was not the reality.  With what was happening around them they started to form the opinion that God must have been favouring evildoers.  With the apparent lack of any support for those who were seeking to live a righteous life, they had started to ask, “Where is the God who is supposed to be just?”

  Malachi’s task was to proclaim that God was still their God, that He had not forgotten them, and that He still honoured the covenant which He had formed with them.  But how was He going to address the evident issues in peoples’ lives, the issues in Jewish society and to restore the Temple worship?  What was God trying to say to them? 

Screen 2

“I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.”

  Malachi 3: 1a 

  God’s response comes in three parts.

  Firstly, we have these words: God says, “I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.”  When you think of John the Baptist, we automatically think of those well-known words from Isaiah chapter 40 “A voice calls out, prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord.”  However, this passage from Malachi applies equally to John the Baptist, and specifically to John the Baptist.  We have the prophesy of John’s father, Zechariah, recorded in Luke chapter 1, where he states of John, “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most high God.  You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare a road for Him.”  Here Zechariah is quoting from this verse from Malachi.  We have the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter 11 where he says of John, “For John is the one of whom the Scripture says: “God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.”  Here Jesus is quoting this same verse from Malachi.  What is God saying?  The Hebrew word translated as “messenger” is the word “mal awk” meaning ‘to be despatched as a deputy or ambassador, specifically despatched by God’.  (Strong’s OT4397)  There is no mistaking then who is initiating this action.  It is God Himself.  And what was the underlying purpose?  It wasn’t to fix all of the issues or to handle all of the complaints.  No mortal person could do that.  The Messenger’s task was to prepare the way for the One who could address all of the issues.  And don’t we find this fulfilled in the preaching of John the Baptist?  In Luke chapter 3 we have John’s simple message to the Jews, “Turn away from your sins and be baptised, and God will forgive your sins.”  But John acknowledged that his was not the final solution.  In Mark chapter 1 we hear John stating, “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.  I baptise with water but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

Screen 3

“Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to His Temple.”

  Malachi 3: 1b 

  The second part of God’s response is this: “Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to His Temple.”  The emphasis is on the suddenness of God acting.  Don’t forget that there was a gap of 450 years between Malachi stating these words to the People of Judah and the birth of Jesus, the fulfilment of these words of Malachi.  Why did God let the people wait for so long?  God works to His own timetable, fulfilling His work at the most appropriate time.  Does that mean that the complaints and the issues of the people in Malachi’s time were not addressed?  No, for if you read the accounts of Nehemiah and Ezra, who were active in Judah at the same time as Malachi, you find that they sought to instil in the people of God a sense of holiness and righteousness, and a need to live by God’s laws.  This, however, was only a stop-gap measure, for the World had to wait another 450 years for the final solution for getting back to a right relationship with God.  And when Jesus did come, it was unexpected to most people, both in time and in the manner of his coming, so much so that the Jewish leadership in the time of Jesus refused to accept that Jesus was the fulfilment of this prophesy from Malachi.

  It also helps us if we look at the word that is used for “Lord” in this sentence, for it tells us something about how God was to act.  The Hebrew word used here is “awdone”, meaning ‘sovereign, controller, lord, master or owner’.  (Strong’s OT113)  You will notice that in the Good News Bible, the word is written with an uppercase L and lower case o, r and d.  Where Lord is used elsewhere in this passage it is the Hebrew word “yehovah”, the Jewish name for God.  (Strong’s OT3068)  And you will notice that the Good News Bible makes the distinction, because when this word is used it is written all in upper case, but with the o, r and d in a lower font than the L.  It’s just a small point to notice, and easily overlooked.  So why bring it up?  Firstly, because God is talking of someone other than Himself.  God is saying that the person about whom God’s Messenger is preparing the way is a third party.  And isn’t that the case with Jesus?  Jesus, the Son of God, came to Earth to complete God’s work of salvation.  And this passage from Malachi brings out the understanding that there will be this special someone who God is sending to act on His behalf.  And how do we know that this person is special?  That’s the second point.  It is because of the meaning of the word that is used, “awdone”.  For doesn’t this describe the character of Jesus, for isn’t he our Lord and Master, the controller of our lives.  These are the facets of Jesus about which we sing in our hymns and our songs.

Screen 4

“The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant.”

  Malachi 3: 1c 

  The third and last part of God’s response is this: “The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant.”  God’s covenant is an important aspect of Malachi’s writings.  Malachi begins with these words from God, “The Lord says to His people” I have always loved you.’”  In other words, God can justly claim that He has kept His part the Covenant that He made with His people so long ago.  But Malachi, in his account of the faults of the people, is showing to the people that they have not kept their part of the covenant; their very actions show that they have not loved God in response to God’s love for them.  So, what is God going to do?  Is He going to cut His losses and give up on the people of Israel?  No, He isn’t, and this shows how gracious and loving is God.  For God is going to again proclaim His Covenant and provide the means by which people can live out this Covenant. 

Screen 5

“The right time has come, …. Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News.”

  Mark 1: 15 

  Let’s first examine the consistency of God’s message to His people.  In Luke chapter 3 verse 3 we read John preaching these words, “Turn away from your sins, … and God will forgive your sins”.  In Mark chapter 1 verse 15 we hear Jesus preaching these words “The right time has come, …. Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News.”  God’s message is always about us and the restoration of a right relationship with Him; it is always about facing up to our sin, facing up to our rebellion against God, and accepting the offer of forgiveness and cleansing that God offers.

  But God is going one step further.  God is not satisfied with just an animal sacrifice for sin for the forgiveness of sins, for such a sacrifice can just be a token act, something that you enact simply because it is prescribed as something that you must do.  And such a sacrifice must be repeated periodically and consistently because it can only offer a temporary, once only fix. 

  What is the question that Malachi asks?  “Who will be able to endure the day when he comes?  Who will be able to survive when he appears?”  (Malachi 3: 2)  This sounds like ‘end-of-the-world’ stuff, the same things that some had claimed the Mayans predicted for 21 December 2012.  But it hits at the heart of the matter.

  Don’t we pride ourselves on our abilities?  Don’t we pride ourselves on our independence and ingenuity?  Don’t we pride ourselves on being able to make our own decisions and to carry them out, on being able to fulfill our own destiny and building our own future?  But being proud means we are more concerned with looking at ourselves rather than with looking to God.  Malachi is stating that all of our pride, all of our abilities and accomplishments, will be worthless when we stand before God and evaluate our lives in terms of whether or not we have been faithful to God and to His covenant with us.

  So, what is God going to do?  It’s important to understand that at this point God’s response is not one of Judgement.  Don’t be misled, there will come a time of Judgement.  Malachi refers to this in chapter 4, where he records these words of God “The time is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw.  On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.”  (Malachi 4: 1)  At this point that is not God’s intention.

Screen 6

God’s actions are like using fire to refine metal, like someone who refines and purifies silver

  Malachi describes God’s actions as using fire to refine metal, like someone who refines and purifies silver.  And this imagery is so very appropriate.  For the refiner of silver sits by the bowl and heats it so as to melt the ore so as to separate the valued metal and the impurities, which can then be drawn off and removed.  And they know that they have completed their task, that the silver has been refined and made pure, when they can see their face reflected in the silver.  When is it that God knows He has finished his task of refining us?  It is when He can see His qualities, His character, His holiness reflected in our lives. 

  Malachi looked forward to the time when “the offerings which the people of Judah and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be pleasing to Him, as they used to be in the past.”  (Malachi 3: 4)  Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, foresaw that the role of the God’s coming Saviour would be “so that we might be holy and righteous before (God) all the days of our life”.  (Luke 1: 75)  Paul, in his letter to the Philippians stressed that his desire for them was that they “(would) be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ.  (That their) lives (would) be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.”  (Philippians 1: 10 & 11) 

Screen 7

“Now that we have been put right with God through faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” 

  Romans 5: 1 

  In this advent season, let us not be preoccupied with just celebrating the birth of Jesus.  For the birth of Jesus was not the end of God’s involvement with us, but is just the beginning.  The birth of Jesus held the promise of God’s involvement with each one of us, on a deeply personal level, so that we can relate to Him forgiven and renewed.

  Paul expands upon this in his letter to the Church in Rome, where he writes:

“Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 5: 1) 

  Alan Catchpoole, in his writing on this verse from Paul, states:

“We can have no peace with those we do not love.  Peace is, primarily, the state of affairs that exists between a person and God as a result of the reconciliation that is in Jesus Christ.  You will know no peace in this life until you know it first with God.  Then, it is the condition that exists between a person and their neighbour which is devoid of all hostility and animosity.  This is made possible by the unity of the Holy spirit and the bond of peace.  Finally, it affects a person within their own heart and mind and spirit, as it renewed through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.”

  (Alan Catchpoole in Peace, p3) 

  We do not treat this concept of ‘peace’ flippantly or lightly, for the “Passing of God’s Peace” is an integral part of our worship service.  It is integral to the Sacrament of Communion, for the Sacrament commences with:

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

and

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

  We gain a clearer understanding then of why Jesus is referred to as “the Prince of Peace”, and why the angels sang so joyfully to the shepherds about the granting of God’s peace upon Humanity.

Screen 8

“May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.”

  Romans 1: 7, 1 Corinthians 1: 3, Galatians 1: 3, Ephesians 1: 3, Philippians 1: 2, Colossians 1: 2 

  Paul followed the ‘letter-writing’ custom of his time in including a blessing for the recipients of his letters in the Introduction of his letters.  Invariably he writes:

“May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.”

  Romans 1: 7, 1 Corinthians 1: 3, Galatians 1: 3, Ephesians 1: 3, Philippians 1: 2, Colossians 1: 2 

  He is stating that there is no greater blessing that he can hope for someone than the “peace of God”.  As we celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that his coming represents, may this too be the blessing that we too give to others and which we seek for ourselves.  Amen.

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 we may make a straight path for you in our hearts, our families, and our workplaces.  Make your Church a pure ‘Temple’ for your Spirit and a worthy house of Prayer for Nations.  Cleanse your Church from all defilement, reforming whatever is false and unworthy.  Enliven your People out of their lethargy and lukewarmness.

We pray for the gift of hope, that your Word may bring new hope and courage to us so that we may cooperate with you in confronting evil and working to heal the brokenness in the Human family.

We pray for the grace of insight, that we may see your work in the events large and small in our lives and cooperate in bringing your love where it is most needed.

We pray for all who are called to live and speak the truth, that they may courageously witness to the way of Christ when confronted by the powerful of society.

We pray for a leveling of the obstacles in our hearts, that you will remove from our hearts resentments and prejudices, free us from vices that blind us to your presence, and dissolve our inability to forgive others.  Give us the desire to live together in love.

We pray for a reawakening of our hearts, that we may embrace a new vision for our lives and courageously live as disciples who bring good news and compassion to others.

We pray for this community of faith at Bald Hills, that our love for others may grow in depth and sincerity and that your work in us may bring us ever closer to you.

We pray for freedom and healing, that you will fill in the valleys and make level the lives of all who struggle with depression, addictions, or pride so that they may experience freedom and wholeness.  Free those who cannot forgive themselves, and give them confidence in your redeeming love.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you may smooth the pathways of those fleeing oppression, guide refugees to places of safety, renew the spirits of those who have experienced abuse, and free those unjustly held in prisons.

We pray for all children, that the hope that fills their hearts this season may become firmly planted within them and sustain them throughout life’s journey.

We pray for all who are ill, that you will heal the sick, strengthen their caregivers, and inspire all who are seeking cures for disease.

We pray for all whose faith has grown cold, that you will stir up the flame of faith, help them to turn toward you, and help us to welcome them warmly into our faith community.

We pray for all who are experiencing a rough time in life, that you will open opportunities for those who lack work, give comfort to those who are grieving, and guidance to those who have lost direction or purpose.

We pray for wisdom, that you will give insight to the members of our Parliaments as they consider ways to address the needs of our Society.

We pray for peace, that God will inspire us to respect the dignity promote justice for one another in our families, faith communities, and workplaces.

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

[Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p87, David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of god’s People Year C p 15]

We pray that you will lead the right people to apply for chaplaincy vacancies across the State, so that this crucial area of ministry is maintained.

We pray for the leaders and directors of upcoming Scripture Union camps, that they will be enthusiastic and prepared to invest time and energy into the lives of the campers.

We pray for the peoples of Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.  We prayfor more just, participatory and democratic rule.  We pray for locally-determined economic development that lessens inequalities and protects natural resources.  We pray for greater ethnic and religious understanding and cooperation, the forging of national identities and visions that

genuinely include all the diverse people in these countries.  We pray that there be growing spaces of understanding, tolerance and harmony among the different ethnic and religious communities.  Grant that Your church in these Nations will deepen its influence to work for peace, to be prophetic in calling for justice and caring in sustaining a sharing fellowship with all people.  We pray that the church will not remain silent  when people are suffering; that the church will not “pass by on the other side” when the wounded earth is waiting to be healed.

Shine your light into places of injustice and entrenched conflict around the World.  We pray especially for the people of Gaza as they live under ongoing occupation and as they work towards a more peaceful future. Give strength and hope to all who suffer, to all who work for change in Gaza and to all who work for a new dawn of peace in the world.

We pray that you will encourage those who have been involved with teaching religious instruction at Bald Hills State School this year, that they will be positive about their witness to you in their classrooms.  Encourage them to continue in this area of ministry in the coming year.

We pray for guidance and encouragement for Kylie Conomos as she continues her role ministering to children, parents and staff at Bald hills State School.

We pray for those whom we have not seen for some time, for Hazel, for Lesley, for Sue, for Laurie, and for Dot, asking that you will encourage them in their individual circumstances, and that they will experience you presence and support for them.

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

Hymn

“O little town of Bethlehem”  MHB125  AHB240  TiS316

[sung to the tune Forest Green – there is a small introduction]

Verse 1 of 4

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see you lie,

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by,

Yet in your dark streets shining

Is everlasting light,

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in you tonight.

Verse 2 of 4

For Christ is born of Mary

And, gathered all above,

While mortals sleep the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King

And peace to men on Earth,

Verse 3 of 4

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given.

So God imparts to Human hearts

The blessings of His Heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this World of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

Verse 4 of 4

O holy child of Bethlehem,

descend to us we pray,

cast out our sin and enter in,

be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell,

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel.

Phillips Brooks

Sacrament of Communion 

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222) 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own.  We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend.  So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

  “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’”

  And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space.  We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet.  You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven.  We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations.  Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice.  In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross.  You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace.  By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith.  With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.  Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever.  Amen.

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the World,

Grant us peace.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love.  Amen.

Hymn

“Carol of the Birds”  from Five Australian Christmas Carols

[there is no introduction]

Verse 1 of 3

Out on the plains the Brolgas are dancing,

Lifting their feet like war-horses prancing,

Up to the Sun the Woodlarks go winging

Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

Verse 2 of 3

Down where the tree ferns grow by the river,

There where the waters sparkle and quiver,

Deep in the gullies Bellbirds are chiming,

Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

Verse 3 of 3

Friarbirds sip the nectar of flowers,

Currawongs chant in Wattletree bowers,

In the blue ranges Lorikeets calling,

Carols of bush birds rising and falling.

Orana!  Orana!  Orana to Christmas Day!

John Wheeler

Benediction    

“What means this glory round our feet”

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 was born.”

“What means that star,” the shepherds said,

“That brightens through rocky glen?”

And angels, answering overhead

Sang, “Peace on Earth, goodwill 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, goodwill 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.”

James Lowell

(in The Greatest Gift p121)

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 – a verse is played as an 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