03A - Advent 3A — 05A - Christmas Eve
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
PSALM 80:1-7,17-19
O Shepherd of Israel,
leading Joseph like a flock, listen;
seated upon the Cherubim, shine forth,
before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Stir up your strength
and come for our salvation.
O God, restore the life we once knew,
let your face shine that we may be saved.
O LORD, God of hosts,
how long will you fume at your people’s prayers?
You have fed us tears for bread,
and given us tears to drink by the flagon.
You have made us a disgrace among our neighbours,
and our enemies ridicule us among themselves.
O God, restore the life we once knew,
let your face shine that we may be saved.
Let your hand be on the one at your right,
upon the person you strengthened for yourself;
then we will never turn away from you.
Give us life, and we will call upon your name!
O LORD, God of hosts, restore the life we once knew,
let your face shine that we may be saved.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
How long, Gracious God;
how long, Shepherd of your flock?
When will you restore the life we once knew;
when will you let your face shine that we may be saved?
Let your hand be on those whose food has been their tears
those drunk with grief and loneliness and pain.
Strengthen for yourself those ridiculed by oppression and helplessness;
give life to those we have named on our lips and in our hearts,
give life to those we cannot name so that they may call uponyour name
and never turn away from you;
in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
For the Fourth Sunday in Advent – Year A
We journey through Advent,
with our expectations and hopes;
our reasonable and ordered lives
conforming to the social boundaries
set layer by layer around us.
You confront us, O God,
with events and circumstances
which are not what they seem,
and we are disturbed
by the prospect of embarrassment,
of public disgrace.
Yet in this shame,
is wrapped your hope for the world,
God with us,
in an unexpected way.
OFFERING
Faithful God,
strengthen us by your spirit of mercy
that through the offerings of our hearts and our hands.
we might execute your justice for the oppressed
and feed the hungry;
in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 1:18-25
(a) A reminder of the themes of the gospel readings of past weeks, the blue cloth this week symbolises Mary, birth, and the presence/intervention of the Holy Spirit. A lit candle might also symbolise Joseph’s vision/dream, and a light or insight for the way ahead.
(b) Click here for some ideas for worship in Advent and Christmas gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Compassionate mystery we name God,
by the warmth of your Spirit
set the prisoner free,
open the eyes of the blind,
lift up those who are bowed down,
comfort those whom we name
on our lips and in our silence…
those who love and care for them…
those who troubles are known only to you…
those who have no-one…
By the light of your Word
strengthen us
in our following the way of Jesus,
in whose name we pray.
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources? Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR ADVENT 4A |
|
| Hail to the Lord’s annointed | TIS 275 |
| Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes | TIS 269 |
| The advent of our God | TIS 271 |
| The Lord’s is the earth and all its fullness | TIS 13 |
| You gates lift up your heads | TIS 12 |
| Isaiah 7:10-16 |
|
| O come! O come, Emmanuel | TIS 265 |
| Put all your trust in God | TIS 555 |
| Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 |
|
| God is my strong salvation | TIS 15 |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 |
| O Shepherd of Israel hear us | TIS 42 |
| Your hand, O God, has guided | TIS 456 |
| Romans 1:1-7 |
|
| Join all the glorious names of wisdom,love | TIS 205 |
| O come, all ye faithful | TIS 304 |
| We have a gospel to proclaim | TIS 245 |
| Matthew 1:18-25 |
|
| Angels from the realms of glory | TIS 309 |
| Coldly the night winds winging | TIS 321 |
| Come, thou long expected Jesus | TIS 272 |
| Come, your hearts and voices raising | TIS 297 |
| Give me the wings of faith to rise | TIS 438 |
| He who by a mother’s love | TIS 277 |
| How sweet the name of Jesus sounds | TIS 223 |
| Join all the glorious names of wisdom,love | TIS 205 |
| Joseph, your love of life brought an engagement | TIS 328 |
| Let earth and heaven combine | TIS 305 |
| Lft up your heads, you mighty gates | TIS 267 |
| Lift high the cross | TIS 351 |
| O come! O come, Emmanuel | TIS 265 |
| Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds | TIS 290 |
| On Christmas night all Christians sing | TIS 300 |
| Saviour of the nations, come | TIS 295 |
| The angel Gabriel from heaven came | TIS 302 |
| The King of Glory comes | TIS 279 |
| The Virgin Mary had a baby boy | TIS 307 |