Sunday Word & Prayer Advent 4

Sunday Word & Prayer –Advent 4

GOD WELCOMES US

We come to God

The virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, 'God is with us.'(Matthew 1:23)

The Lord, our God, is coming.Come, let us worship him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Amen.

We confess our sin and God forgives us

Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of each other.

We confess to you, almighty God,
before the whole company of heaven,
and to each other,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
by our own fault.
Have mercy on us, for Jesus’ sake,
forgive us all our sins,
and bring us to eternal life. Amen.

Maythe almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins.

Amen.

We light the Advent candle and pray

To all who received the true light,
who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God.

The true light, who enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.

Lord Jesus, light of the world,
we bless you for Gabriel who brought the good news;
we bless you for Mary, who became your mother.
Bless your church as it prepares for Christmas;
and bless us your children who long for your coming.

Amen.

We sing an Advent hymn/song

We pray Psalm 80

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim,

shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.

Stir up your might, and come to save us!

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Restore us, O Lord; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.

You make us the scorn of our neighbours; our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Restore us, O Lord; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,

the one whom you made strong for yourself.

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Restore us, O Lord; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

We pray an Advent Prayer

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Let us pray for God to be with us.

Thank you, loving heavenly Father,
for coming with power to the Virgin Mary
and making her the mother of our Lord.
Come to us with your Holy Spirit,
so that we receive your saving word
and rejoice in our Saviour.
For he lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

GOD SPEAKS TO US

We listen to God’s word

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 7:10-16)

Hear the word of the Lord as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, chapter 7, verses 10 to 16.

(after the reading)

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Epistle Reading (Romans 1:1-7)

Hear the word of the Lord as it is written in St Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 1, verses 1 to 7.

(after the reading)

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Gospel Reading (Matthew 1:18-25)

Hear the gospel of the Lord as it is written in the Gospel according to St Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18 to 25.

(after the gospel)

This is the gospel of the Lord

Praise be to you, O Christ

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being born of Mary by the Holy Spirit.
Help us to believe that you came to be with us
to save us from our sins.

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song

We listen to the address

We confess our faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God,the Father almighty,

from thence he will come 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.

* ‘catholic’ here meaning 'universal'

GOD RECEIVES OUR OFFERING

We sing a hymn/song as our offering is received

We pray for ourselves and the world

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.(Philippians 4:6)

Let us pray.

Gracious Father, we offer with joy and thanks what you have first given us, ourselves, our time and our possessions, as signs of your goodness and symbols of our love. Receive these gifts through Jesus who offered himself for us.