We have a Gospel to proclaim
good news for men in all the earth
the gospel of a Saviour's name
we sing his glory, tell his worth
Reading from Genesis, chapter 1, verses 1-5
during this reading the Creation Candle will be lit.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth......
...God called the light Day and the darkness night.
Reading from John chapter 1 verses 1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the word was God.........
...And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and
we have seen his glory, the glory of a father's only son, full of Grace
and Truth.
Hymn TIS 431
R.T. Brookes 1818-85
Thanks be to God whose Word was spoken
in the deed that made the earth.
His the voice that called a nation
his the fires that tried its worth
God has spoken, God has spoken
Praise him for his open Word
Prayer.
Eternal Father, we give you thanks for the Christ light,
which shines in the darkness and is not overcome by it.
Amen.
Reading from Isaiah chapter 61, verses 1-3
‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,.....
Hymn AHB 293
James Montgomery 1771-1854
Hail to the Lord's anointed
great David's greater Son;
hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begin!
He comes to break oppresion,
to let the captive free,
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.
Prayer.
Merciful Father, we give you thanks for being our rock
and our defender, a safe and secure haven when all around us appears to
be against us. We thank you for your continual loving kindness to us. Amen.
Reading. Isaiah chapter 7, verses 13-15.
‘And he said, Hear ye now, 0 house of David; Is it a small
thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?......
Hymn AHB 193
John Mason Neale 1818-66
O come O come Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear
Prayer.
Loving Father, we praise and thank you for your compassion
shown to a sinful and divided world through the life and death of your
only dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it:
the compass of the world and those who dwell therein.
Reading Isaiah chapter 42, verses 1-9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen in whom my
soul delights.......
Hymn AHB 197
Philip Doddridge 1702-51
Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long;
the every heart prepare a throne
and every voice a song.
Prayer.
Heavenly Father, Prince of Peace, we give you praise and
thanks for our Saviour’s obedience to your plan and purpose for his Son
and our lives. Amen.
Reading form Luke chapter 1, verses 26-38
‘In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.....
....Then Mary said, "Here I am, the servant of the Lord:
let it be with me according to your word" The the angel departed from her.
Hymn Magnificant
My soul gives glory to the Lord,
in God my Saviour I rejoice,
My lowliness he did regard
exalting me by his own choice.
From this day all shall call me blest
for he has done great things for me
of all great names his is the best,
for it is holy; strong is he.
The Renewal of Creation
Reader The Lord has come.
All. The Light of the World.
Reader The Creator is created
All. The light of the World
Reader. The Alpha and the Omega.
All. The light of the World.
Reader. The Child of Peace and the Lord of Life.
All. Christ Jesus bring your light to us.
Reader. From winter to spring, from darkness into
light.
All. Christ Jesus bring your light to us.
Reader. From destruction to resurrection.
All. Christ Jesus bring your light to us.
Almighty God, you led your people in the darkness of the
desert by a pillar of fire. So Lord, lead us in the night of our darkness
and through the deserts of our own making. Creator Spirit, you sent down
tongues of fire on your disciples as they hid in their uncertainty. So
Lord, enlighten us with your fire that we may serve all creation. Loving
Father, you sent your Son to be a light to those who walk in darkness.
May we who have brought our own kind to the edge of darkness, see the new
path we must tread, through the power of your loving light.
Amen
Lighting of the First Advent Candle.
The light is now taken from the Creation Candle and brought
to the first Advent Candle.
The candle is lit. Long may it’s light shine as we struggle
to bring light to all creation. People of God, will you defend this tender
light? Will you go out to enlighten those around you that here is the Advent
of our hope?
All: We will through the power of the Creator Spirit.
Go then into God’s world and share the hope that is in
Christ Jesus, that all creation may know that it’s redeemer
has come and that his light shines forth to all life.
All. In the Advent of our Lord is our hope and the hope
of all life. Through this we will go forth to love and serve all creation.
Amen.
Hymn AHB 201.
Charles Wesley 1707-88
Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending,
swell the triumph of his train!
Hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign.
Closing Prayers.
Almighty God, give us grace that we may 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 among 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 lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen
Lighting of the Pascal Candle
The light is now taken from the Advent Candle to the
Pascal Candle
We can celebrate the Advent of God the Servant King,
and light this candle in anticipation of the God who is still coming, the
God who brings us home.
The Choir will sing:
The light of Christ has come into the world;
The light of Christ has come into this world
BENEDICTION
Now unto him who is able to keep,
able to keep us from falling,
and to present us faultless
before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy.
To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty,
dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your
hearts
and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his
Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord;
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy
Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen
The Journey Continues~....
“Immediately after the sufferIng of those days the sun
will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will
fall from heaven, and the power of heaven will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call,
and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven
to the other.’
Matthew 24:29-31 (NRSV)
Copyright acknowledgement
From the text of A prayer Book for Australia and LabOra
e-p ray.
Published under die imprint of Broughton Books
By EJ. Dwyer fAustraliaj Pty. Ltd.
Reproduced by permission
All Hymns and the Psalm in this booklet are reproduced
Under the Church Copyright Licence No.207869
Copyright 1995. The Anglican Church of Australia Trust
Corporation.