02B - Advent 2B — 04B - Advent 4B
See also my posts from 2011, 2017, 2020 , 2023
PSALM 126 (a rough translation)
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion
it was like living in a dream;
our mouths overflowed with laughter,
and our tongues sang with joy.
All the people round about said,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD did indeed do great things for us
– and we were overjoyed.
O LORD, restore us again,
like the creek-beds in ‘the bush’:
those who sowed with tears
reaping with shouts of gladness,
our journey in a broken world
giving way to abundant joy.
Psalm 126 (a version for today)
It was a golden age, like living in a dream;
our mouths overflowed with laughter,
and our tongues sang with joy.
All the people round about said,
“The LORD has done a great thing for them.”
The LORD had indeed done a great thing for us
– and we were overjoyed,
happy as we had never known.
O LORD, restore us again,
like the creek-beds outback:
when those who sowed with sweat and tears
shall reap with shouts of gladness,
when our journey in a broken world
shall give way to abundant joy.
OFFERING
Bless our giving, O God,
with the wisdom of your Spirit
that it may be the oil of gladness
for those who mourn,
a mantle of praise
for those whose spirits are faint,
and a planting to display your glory;
in Jesus name we pray. Amen (from Isaiah 61:3)
A CREATIVE MOMENT
Click here for some ideas for worship in Advent and Christmas gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) which was 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 of the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow phrases or lines from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Lord of Life…
Creator of all…
Comfort of all sorrows…
attend our prayers…
and by your Holy Spirit
give us enough courage to bring good news
to those we name on our lips
enough compassion to bind up
the broken hearted we name in the silence of our hearts
enough confidence to proclaim your liberating word,
and the opportunity to unknowingly comfort
one whose trouble is known only to you;
in Jesus’ 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 3 – YEAR B |
|
| O come! O come, Emmanuel | TIS 265 |
| So God loved the people of the world | TIS 241 |
| Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 |
|
| Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair | TIS 690 |
| Come to be our hope, O Jesus | TIS 688 |
| Come, thou long-expected Jesus | TIS 272 |
| Come, your hearts and voices raising | TIS 297 |
| Dear Lord, for all in pain we pray | TIS 612 |
| God of freedom, God of justice | TIS 657 |
| God’s Son came to bless us | TIS 197 |
| Hail to the Lord’s anointed | TIS 275 |
| Holy Spirit, ever dwelling | TIS 410 |
| Jesus put this song into our hearts | TIS 670 |
| Jesus shall reign where’er the sun | TIS 207 |
| Lord, your almighty word | TIS 447 |
| Praise with joy the world’s Creator | TIS 179 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness | TIS 503 |
| Sing of the Lord’s goodness, | TIS 183 |
| The advent of our God | TIS 271 |
| Psalm 126 |
|
| For the fruits of all creation | TIS 168 |
| In suffering love the thread of life | TIS 177 |
| Joyful, joyful, we adore you | TIS 152 |
| When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage | TIS 80 |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 |
|
| A new heart, Lord, create in me | TIS 559 |
| Father of mercy, God of consolation | TIS 472 |
| Father of peace and God of love | TIS 482 |
| For the beauty of the earth | TIS 137 |
| Give thanks for the Lord is good | TIS 74 |
| Go now in peace | TIS 782 |
| Holy Spirit, go before us | TIS 420 |
| Lord Christ, true peace of all above | TIS 623 |
| O Christ the healer, we have come | TIS 638 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is king | TIS 216 |
| Spirit divine, attend our prayers | TIS 406 |
| Thank you for giving me the morning | TIS 162 |
| This, this is the God we adore | TIS 220 |
| John 1:6-8,19-28 |
|
| Come, you people, come adore him | TIS 101 |
| Hark, a herald voice is calling | TIS 264 |
| I want to walk as a child of the light | TIS 643 |
| Jesus the name high over all | TIS 218 |
| On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry | TIS 270 |
| Saviour of the nations, come | TIS 295 |