In the Service of Light in Advent, in Section 1 either the first option or the first, second or fourth alternatives are particularly suitable. In Section 4, options b and c are particularly suitable, as is j (For the Blessed Virgin Mary).
In sorrow and penitence we confess our failures and shortcomings, and seek pardon for those sins which frustrate his redemptive purposes and hinder the advent of his reign of love.
So in prayer, praise and song do we give voice to the hope set forth in the Scriptures, that his kingdom shall come; and, as we prepare for that day to dawn upon us from on high, so we commend ourselves and the whole human family to his keeping.
May he guide us into the way of peace, give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and kindle in us the fire of his love.
Amen, come Lord Jesus.
We are gathered together to proclaim and receive in our hearts the good news of the coming of God's Kingdom, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate with confidence and joy the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We pray that we may respond in penitence and faith to the glory of his Kingdom, its works of justice and its promise of peace, its blessing and its hope.
And as we seek to renew our allegiance to God's loving purpose, we pray for all who at this time especially need his pity and protection: the sick in body, mind or spirit; those who suffer from loss of dignity or loss of hope; those who face the future with fear, or walk in the shadow of death.
May God, of his grace and mercy, grant to all his people a new trust in his goodprovidence and a new obedience to his sovereign word, for to him is most justly due all glory, honour, worship and praise, world without end. Amen.
As we meet to celebrate anew the coming of God's Kingdom, we hear revealed the mystery of God's loving purpose for us -- how that when we were far off, he met us in his Son and brought us home; how he humbled himself to take our human nature, that we might share his divine glory.
Let us then so celebrate this coming with our carols and hymns of praise, that our lives may be charged with his life; that we may bear witness to his glory and so bring light to those who sit in darkness. So first we pray for those among whom the Christ was born: the poor and helpless, the aged and young children; the cold, the hungry, and the homeless; the victims of poverty, injustice and oppression, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved; those in despair or in the shadow of death.
Then, as we hear again the message of peace on earth and goodwill among all his people, we pray for the leaders of the nations, that all may be inspired to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace the world over.
And that we may bear true witness to this hope in a divided world, we pray for the peace and unity of Christ's body, the Church universal, that the whole earth may live to praise his name.
Finally, as we rejoice with the saints in heaven and on earth, we remember all
who have gone before us with the sign of faith, whose hope was in the Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we offer up our prayers for the coming of his
Kingdom, in the words he himself has taught us, saying:
| Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, now and for ever. Amen. |
or | 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 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, for ever and ever. Amen. |
And may the Lord when he comes find us watching and waiting, now and at all times. Amen.
The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
My brothers and sisters, we enter today the solemn season of Advent in which the Church bids us prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ; a coming that we recall in the Child of Bethlehem; a coming that we experience in the gift of his Spirit, in the bread of the eucharist, in the joy of human lives that are shared; a coming we waitfor when God gathers up all things in Christ. Let us in this holy season reflect on the coming of Christ who brings light to the world. Let us leave behind the darkness of sin, walk in the light that shines on our path, and renew within ourselves the hope of glory to which he beckons us. And as we turn towards the light, let us have on our hearts all those who see no light, for whom all is darkness and despair. Let us pray that they too may be illumined by Christ who is our light.
The whole congregation prays silently, after which the President draws the prayers together in the Collect for Advent Sunday.
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and 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;
so that, at 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,
world without end. Amen.
The following Patterns of Readings from Chapter I, C are suitable in Advent.
(2) A Vigil for Prisoners and those who sit in darkness
(3) The King and his Kingdom
(4) Looking for the Light
(5) The Forerunner
(6) Good News for the Poor
The first Pattern is particularly suitable for Vigils of Prayer for prisoners and
refugees, for all who wait in darkness with hope and longing for a changed order.
Patterns 3 and 4 are more suitable in the early part of Advent, Pattern 5 in the
week of Advent 3 and Pattern 6 in the week of Advent 4. Pattern 15 may also be suitable.
Will you not give us life again
That your people may rejoice in you.
Show us your mercy, O Lord
And grant us your salvation.
Hosanna to the Son of David,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Now and for ever, Amen.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed
And all flesh shall see it together.
Show us your mercy, O Lord
And grant us your salvation.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Who made heaven and earth.
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Come, O Lord, comfort the soul of your servant
Even so, Lord, come.
The light of life send upon us;
The joy of peace send upon us;
The gladness of goodwill send upon us.
In judgement and justice draw near,
in your merciful loving kindness draw near
with the blessing of peace draw near.
O wisdom of God, sweetly ordering all things,
flowing from the glory of the Almighty,
making all things new, kind to all,
making them friends of God.
Come and comfort the soul of your servant
for to you do I lift up my soul.
O Lord Jesus Christ, come
at evening time, with light
And in the morning, with your glory
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
He who receives our prayers says:
Surely I come quickly
I am the root and offspring of David
I am the bright and morning star.
Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus.
May God the Son, who comes to us as Redeemer and Judge, reveal to you the path from darkness to light. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ, help you bear the fruits of holiness. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you and remain with you always. Amen.