Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, December 1, 2024)
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent Sunday, also called Advent Sunday. It marks the beginning of the new Church Year and the Season of Advent, a season of preparation in which Christians get ready to celebrate the birth of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and look forward to the day of his promised second coming.
The apostle Paul’s letters are dotted with prayers and thanksgivings. In this Sunday’s message we unpack one of his prayers.
THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together. Isaiah 40:5
Open this link in a new tab to hear Charles Edward Oakley’ “Hills of the North, Rejoice.”
1 Hills of the north, rejoice,
river and mountain-spring,
hark to the advent voice;
valley and lowland, sing.
Christ comes in righteousness and love,
he brings salvation from above.
2 Isles of the Southern seas,
sing to the listening earth,
carry on every breeze
hope of a world's new birth:
In Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is sure, his promise true.
3 Lands of the East, arise,
he is your brightest morn,
greet him with joyous eyes,
praise shall his path adorn:
your seers have longed to know their Lord;
to you he comes, the final word.
4 Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heavenly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o'er our darkest night.
5 Shout, as you journey home,
songs be in every mouth,
lo, from the north they come,
from east and west and south:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the universe be blest.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just,
and will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
Let us confess our sins to God our Father
Silence
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PROCLAIMING AND RECEIVING THE WORD
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Open this link to hear James Quinn’s “Sing All Creation” (Psalm 100).
1 Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness!
Joyously serve him, singing hymns of homage!
Chanting his praises, come before his presence!
Praise the Almighty!
2 Know that our God is Lord of all the ages!
He is our maker; we are all his creatures,
people he fashioned, sheep he leads to pasture!
Praise the Almighty!
3 Enter his temple, ringing out his praises!
Sing in thanksgiving as you come before him!
Blessing his bounty, glorify his greatness!
Praise the Almighty!
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Great in his goodness is the Lord we worship;
steadfast his kindness, love that knows no ending!
Faithful his word is, changeless, everlasting!
Praise the Almighty!
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “To You, O Lord (Psalm 25).”
Refrain
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul, to you, I lift my soul.
Verse 1
Lord, make me know your ways,
teach me your paths
and keep me in the way of your truth,
for you are God, my Saviour.
Refrain
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul, to you, I lift my soul.
Verse 2
For the Lord is good and righteous,
revealing the way to those who seek God,
gently leading the poor and the humble.
Refrain
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul, to you, I lift my soul.
Verse 3
To the ones who seek you, Lord,
who look to your word,
who live your love,
you will always be near,
and show them your mercy.
Refrain
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul, to you, I lift my soul.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jimmy Owen' FAIRFIELD setting of Thomas Ken's "The Doxology (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)."
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 33, beginning at verse 44.
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.
“In those days and at that time
I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
In that day Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Francis Bland Tucker’s “O All Ye Works of God, Now Come (Benedicite).”
1 O all ye works of God, now come
to thank him and adore;
O angels, sing and bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
2 O sun and moon
and stars of heaven,
your endless praise outpour;
O changing seasons, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
*3 O heat and cold, O night and day,
O storms and thunder's roar,
O fields and forests, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
4 O earth and sea, O all that live
in water or on shore,
O men and women, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
5 O let his people bless the Lord
the righteous souls of yore;
let those of holy, humble heart
come praise him evermore.
*6 So let us glorify and bless
the God we bow before,
the Father, Holy Spirit, Son,
and praise him evermore.
*Omitted on the video.
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 3, beginning at verse 9.
1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s “Blessed be the God of Israel (Benedictus Dominus).”
1 Blessed be the God of Israel,
who comes to set us free;
he visits and redeems us,
he grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill his promise
and bring his people peace.
2 He from the house of David
a child of grace has given;
a Savior comes among us
to raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes his herald,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the harbinger of Day.
3 On prisoners of darkness
the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness
upon the sinner’s eyes.
He guides the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior
with songs that never cease.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 21, beginning at verse 25.
Luke 21: 25-36
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Silence
This Sunday’s first New Testament reading, a passage from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, contains the following prayer:
"And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."
In the Bible the heart is primarily a figure of speech used to describe our real self, the self that most people hide from those around them, except perhaps from a few close intimates. What others see and experience is our persona, or social self, a mask which we wear, and which we may change, depending upon where we are and who we are with. We may put on one persona at work or school, another at church, and a third at the bowling alley.
In his article, “What Does the Bible Mean by ‘the Heart’?” A. Craig Troxel explains the different ways that the “heart” works or operates:
“…the heart encompasses various functions, including the mind, the desires, and the will. The mind of the heart includes what we know: our thinking, ideas, memories, and imagination. The desires of the heart include what we love: what we want, seek, yearn for, and thus feel. The will of the heart refers to what we choose: whether we will resist or submit, whether we will say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and whether we are weak or strong in our resolve.”
He goes on to explain:
“Our mind, desires, and will are distinct but inseparable as they work together as a cooperative network. Our thinking always has an agenda. The heart dwells upon what it holds most dearly. Its choices are motivated and reflect how it is emotionally invested.”
Troxel’s explanation of the functions of the “heart” and how they work or operate together is something to keep in mind as we consider what Paul asking God in this prayer.
In the prayer Paul is asking God to make the love of the members of the church at Thessalonica to whom he is writing grow, grow so much that it overflows, like water poured into a cup until it spills over the lip of the cup. Paul is not only asking God to give them more love for each other but also asking God to give them more love for all people. He asks God to enable them to love everyone in the same way as he loves them.
Paul points out that loving everyone in this way will strengthen their desire to do what is right and will enable them to appear holy and without fault before God at the time of Jesus’ second coming.
Note the connection Paul makes between loving our fellow Christians and loving all people and desiring to do what is right and appearing holy and without fault at the second coming.
In the prayer Paul also sets an example for the members of the church at Thessalonica and for us. To love our fellow Christians and to love all people is to desire their well-being—physical, emotional, and spiritual. One of the ways that we express our love for them is to pray for them. This involves making the words of Paul’s prayer our own, and praying for our fellow Christians, for all people, and for ourselves.
Imagine each person for whom we pray are a cup and then ask God to pour into that cup so much love that it spills over the lip of cup and touches the lives of a great multitude of people. Pray that not only are the lives of those for whom we are praying transformed but also the lives of those whom their love touches. Let this prayer be the focus of our thoughts, our desires, and our will. Make it truly a prayer from the heart.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Brownlee’s “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.”
1 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.
2 Not, as of old, a little child,
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.
3 O brighter than the rising morn
When he, victorious, rose
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes.
4 O brighter than the glorious morn
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we his face shall see!
5 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ, the Lord! Thy people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness
and let your servants shout for joy.
O Lord, save your people
and bless those whom you have chosen.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
O God, make clean our hearts within us
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
Almighty God,
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray that your Holy Spirit may so guide and govern us
that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life,
we may never forget your presence
but may remember that we are always walking in your sight,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link to hear Dan Schute’s “Christ, Circle Round Us.”
Come, O Radiant Dawn, splendor of the morning light.
Come, Sun of Justice, turn away the power of night.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, O Flower of Love, Holy Branch of Jesse's tree.
Come Bough of Blessing, bloom for all the world to see.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, O Gate of Hope, holy door to heaven's throne.
Come, Key of David, open wide the pathway home.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, Emanuel, cherished hope of Israel.
Come live among us, ever in our hearts to dwell.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
[Let us pray for all people according to their needs.]
O God, the creator and preserver of all humankind, we pray for people of every race, and in every kind of need: make your ways known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
(Especially we pray for…)
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess and call
themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and
hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in
righteousness of life.
(Especially we pray for…)
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind or body; comfort and relieve them In their need, giving them patience in their sufferings, and bring good things out of their troubles.
(Especially we pray for…)
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]
Gracious God, we humbly thank you
for all your gifts freely bestowed upon us,
for life and health and safety,
for freedom to work and leisure to rest,
and for all that is beautiful in creation and in human life.
But, above all, we thank you for our Saviour Jesus Christ,
for his death and resurrection,
for the gift of your Spirit,
and for the hope of glory.
Fill our hearts with joy and all peace in believing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Georg Weissel’s “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.”
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits!
The King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.
2 O blest the land, the city blest,
where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
to whom this King of triumph comes!
3 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
4 Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee: here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel:
thy grace and love in me reveal.
5 So come, my Sovereign; enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin;
thy Holy Spirit guide us on,
until the glorious crown be won.
GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the Lord bless us
and protect us.
May the Lord smile on us
and be gracious to us.
May the Lord show us his favor
and give us his peace. Amen.
[The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Those present may exchange a gesture of peace with these or similar words:
Peace be with you.]
The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.
“In those days and at that time
I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
In that day Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Francis Bland Tucker’s “O All Ye Works of God, Now Come (Benedicite).”
1 O all ye works of God, now come
to thank him and adore;
O angels, sing and bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
2 O sun and moon
and stars of heaven,
your endless praise outpour;
O changing seasons, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
*3 O heat and cold, O night and day,
O storms and thunder's roar,
O fields and forests, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
4 O earth and sea, O all that live
in water or on shore,
O men and women, bless the Lord
and praise him evermore.
5 O let his people bless the Lord
the righteous souls of yore;
let those of holy, humble heart
come praise him evermore.
*6 So let us glorify and bless
the God we bow before,
the Father, Holy Spirit, Son,
and praise him evermore.
*Omitted on the video.
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 3, beginning at verse 9.
1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s “Blessed be the God of Israel (Benedictus Dominus).”
1 Blessed be the God of Israel,
who comes to set us free;
he visits and redeems us,
he grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill his promise
and bring his people peace.
2 He from the house of David
a child of grace has given;
a Savior comes among us
to raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes his herald,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the harbinger of Day.
3 On prisoners of darkness
the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness
upon the sinner’s eyes.
He guides the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior
with songs that never cease.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 21, beginning at verse 25.
Luke 21: 25-36
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Silence
A Prayer from the Heart
This Sunday’s first New Testament reading, a passage from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, contains the following prayer:
"And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."
In the Bible the heart is primarily a figure of speech used to describe our real self, the self that most people hide from those around them, except perhaps from a few close intimates. What others see and experience is our persona, or social self, a mask which we wear, and which we may change, depending upon where we are and who we are with. We may put on one persona at work or school, another at church, and a third at the bowling alley.
In his article, “What Does the Bible Mean by ‘the Heart’?” A. Craig Troxel explains the different ways that the “heart” works or operates:
“…the heart encompasses various functions, including the mind, the desires, and the will. The mind of the heart includes what we know: our thinking, ideas, memories, and imagination. The desires of the heart include what we love: what we want, seek, yearn for, and thus feel. The will of the heart refers to what we choose: whether we will resist or submit, whether we will say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and whether we are weak or strong in our resolve.”
He goes on to explain:
“Our mind, desires, and will are distinct but inseparable as they work together as a cooperative network. Our thinking always has an agenda. The heart dwells upon what it holds most dearly. Its choices are motivated and reflect how it is emotionally invested.”
Troxel’s explanation of the functions of the “heart” and how they work or operate together is something to keep in mind as we consider what Paul asking God in this prayer.
In the prayer Paul is asking God to make the love of the members of the church at Thessalonica to whom he is writing grow, grow so much that it overflows, like water poured into a cup until it spills over the lip of the cup. Paul is not only asking God to give them more love for each other but also asking God to give them more love for all people. He asks God to enable them to love everyone in the same way as he loves them.
Paul points out that loving everyone in this way will strengthen their desire to do what is right and will enable them to appear holy and without fault before God at the time of Jesus’ second coming.
Note the connection Paul makes between loving our fellow Christians and loving all people and desiring to do what is right and appearing holy and without fault at the second coming.
In the prayer Paul also sets an example for the members of the church at Thessalonica and for us. To love our fellow Christians and to love all people is to desire their well-being—physical, emotional, and spiritual. One of the ways that we express our love for them is to pray for them. This involves making the words of Paul’s prayer our own, and praying for our fellow Christians, for all people, and for ourselves.
Imagine each person for whom we pray are a cup and then ask God to pour into that cup so much love that it spills over the lip of cup and touches the lives of a great multitude of people. Pray that not only are the lives of those for whom we are praying transformed but also the lives of those whom their love touches. Let this prayer be the focus of our thoughts, our desires, and our will. Make it truly a prayer from the heart.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Brownlee’s “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.”
1 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.
2 Not, as of old, a little child,
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.
3 O brighter than the rising morn
When he, victorious, rose
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes.
4 O brighter than the glorious morn
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we his face shall see!
5 The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ, the Lord! Thy people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness
and let your servants shout for joy.
O Lord, save your people
and bless those whom you have chosen.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
O God, make clean our hearts within us
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
Almighty God,
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray that your Holy Spirit may so guide and govern us
that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life,
we may never forget your presence
but may remember that we are always walking in your sight,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link to hear Dan Schute’s “Christ, Circle Round Us.”
Come, O Radiant Dawn, splendor of the morning light.
Come, Sun of Justice, turn away the power of night.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, O Flower of Love, Holy Branch of Jesse's tree.
Come Bough of Blessing, bloom for all the world to see.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, O Gate of Hope, holy door to heaven's throne.
Come, Key of David, open wide the pathway home.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
Come, Emanuel, cherished hope of Israel.
Come live among us, ever in our hearts to dwell.
Christ, circle ‘round us.
Christ, may your light surround us. Shine in our living.
Fill our hearts with great thanksgiving.
[Let us pray for all people according to their needs.]
O God, the creator and preserver of all humankind, we pray for people of every race, and in every kind of need: make your ways known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
(Especially we pray for…)
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess and call
themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and
hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in
righteousness of life.
(Especially we pray for…)
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind or body; comfort and relieve them In their need, giving them patience in their sufferings, and bring good things out of their troubles.
(Especially we pray for…)
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]
Gracious God, we humbly thank you
for all your gifts freely bestowed upon us,
for life and health and safety,
for freedom to work and leisure to rest,
and for all that is beautiful in creation and in human life.
But, above all, we thank you for our Saviour Jesus Christ,
for his death and resurrection,
for the gift of your Spirit,
and for the hope of glory.
Fill our hearts with joy and all peace in believing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Georg Weissel’s “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.”
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits!
The King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.
2 O blest the land, the city blest,
where Christ the ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
to whom this King of triumph comes!
3 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
4 Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee: here, Lord, abide!
Let me thy inner presence feel:
thy grace and love in me reveal.
5 So come, my Sovereign; enter in!
Let new and nobler life begin;
thy Holy Spirit guide us on,
until the glorious crown be won.
GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the Lord bless us
and protect us.
May the Lord smile on us
and be gracious to us.
May the Lord show us his favor
and give us his peace. Amen.
[The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Those present may exchange a gesture of peace with these or similar words:
Peace be with you.]
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