First Sunday in Advent - Year B - December 3rd 2023
Opening Hymn 689 (tune NEH 341)
The coming of our God
Our thoughts must now employ:
Then let us meet him on the road
With songs of holy joy.
The co-eternal Son
A maiden’s offspring see:
A servant’s form Christ putteth on,
To make his people free.
Daughter of Zion, rise
To greet thine infant-King,
And do not thanklessly despise
The pardon he doth bring.
In glory from his throne
Again will Christ descend,
And summon all that are his own
To joys that never end.
Let deeds of darkness fly
Before the approaching morn,
For onto sin ‘tis ours to die,
And serve the Virgin-horn.
Our joyful praises sing
To Christ, that set us free;
Like tribute to the Father bring,
And, Holy Ghost, to thee. Amen
℣ In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.
℟ Amen.
℣ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you
all.
℟ And with your spirit.
℣ Blessèd be the name of the Lord.
℟ Now and for ever.
℣✠ Our help is in the name of the Lord.
℟ Who made heaven and earth.
My dear friends in the short days and long nights of Advent, we realise how we are always waiting for deliverance, always needing salvation by our God. Sunday by Sunday as we gather we shall light the candles of this wreath to remember God’s promise.
Let us therefore pray for God’s blessing upon us and upon this wreath.
Father,
we praise you for sending your Son
to save us from our sins
and to be light in our darkness.
Bless us as we gather in his name,
and bless ✠ this wreath as a sign of his light among us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
℟ Amen.
The wreath is sprinkled with Holy Water and the first candle lit.
The holly and the ivy
are dancing in a ring,
round the purple Advent candles,
and the white and shining King.
O, one is for God’s people,
in every age and day.
We are watching for his coming.
We believe and we obey. R.
The Celebrant introduces the Penitential Rite
℣ Lord have mercy. / Kyrie eleison.
℟ Lord have mercy. / Kyrie eleison.
℣ Christ have mercy. ./Christe eleison
℟ Christ have mercy. ./Christe eleison
℣ Lord have mercy. / Kyrie eleison.
℟ Lord have mercy. / Kyrie eleison.
℣ May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.
℟ Amen.
The Collect
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
Amen
First Reading (Ref: Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1.3-8)
Theme: Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down.
You, Lord, yourself are our Father,
Our Redeemer is your ancient name.
Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways
and harden our hearts against fearing you?
Return, for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your inheritance.
Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down
- at your Presence the mountains would melt.
No ear has heard,
no eye has seen
any god but you act like this
for those who trust him.
You guide those who act with integrity
and keep your ways in mind.
You were angry when we were sinners;
we had long been rebels against you.
We were all like men unclean,
all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.
We have all withered like leaves
and our sins blew us away like the wind.
No one invoked your name
or roused himself to catch hold of you.
For you hid your face from us
and gave us up to the power of our sins.
And yet, Lord, you are our Father;
we the clay, you the potter,
we are all the work of your hand.
℣ The Word of the Lord.
℟ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
R.. God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
O Shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help. R..
God of host, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted, R..
May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name. R..
Second Reading (Ref: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9)
Theme: We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.
℣ The Word of the Lord.
℟ Thanks be to God.
Please stand for the Gospel Acclamation.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!
℣. The Lord be with you
℟ And with your spirit.
✠ Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel (Ref: Mark 13:33-37)
Theme: Stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming.
Jesus said to his disciples: 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!'
℣ The Gospel of the Lord.
℟ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Please sit for the Address and then stand for the Creed and Prayer of the Faithful
The Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayer of the Faithful
℣ We pray to the Lord
℟ Lord, hear our prayer
Those in Need:
Brenda Anscombe, Stephen Beattie, Diane Burrell,
Paul Clarke, Val Clarke, Elle Deveson, Emily Dyer,
Ann Fallows, Joan Fuller, Ron Fuller, Raif Lewsey,
Jo Rees-Davies, Sue Richardson, Chris Swetman,
Julie Swetman, Dorothy Valder, Laurie Wellard,
Shirley Wellard, Debbie Whittington, Carole Wright,
Valentina, Alex, Daniel, John, Rita, Sean, Timothy,
The Recent Departed:
John Collins
Year’s Mind:
(3) Edward Hall, Percy Browning (Pr), Lilian Walpole, Archibald Maidment, Ralph Wilson (Pr),
Richard Stranack, Gwyneth Goddard
(4) William Ridley, Claude Buckle, Henry Fynes-Clinton (Pr), Ethel Young, Reginald Newman
(5) Cosmo Lang (Bp), Thomas Jackman, Alfred Mitchell, John Bath, Sarah Padginton, Harry Paine
(6) Charlotte Hart, Dora Cope
(7) Catherine Tarrant, Sister Joan Michael (SSM), Ann Cromar
(8) Albert Valder, Amelia Branna, Alfred White, Elinor Bunney
(9) George Jackson, Joyce Atherton, William Kaffes, Beatrice Hedley, Julio Corté, Enid Medhurst,
Lucy Head
Offertory Hymn NEH 465
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility. R
The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee. R
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary. R
When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee." R
℣ Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
R May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
The Prayer over the Gifts
℣ The Lord be with you
℟. And with your spirit.
℣ Lift up your hearts
℟ We lift them up to the Lord
℣ Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
℟ It is right and just.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of pow’r and God of might.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of pow’r and God of might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Blessèd is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
The Eucharistic Prayer
Priest: The mystery of faith.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
The Eucharistic Prayer
Amen! Amen! Amen!
The Lord’s Prayer
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 who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
℣ Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
℟ For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever.
℣ Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever..
℟ Amen.
℣ The peace of the Lord be with you always.
℟ And with your spirit.
The Agnus Dei
Jesus, wisdom and mighty Lord, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, true branch of Jesse’s tree, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.
Key of David and Day spring from on high, you take away the sins of the World: have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.
Desire of nations, our Emmanuel, you take away the sins of the World: grant us peace.
Grant us peace.
℣. ✠Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
R Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Please be guided to Communion by the Stewards
Silence will be kept after Communion.
The Post Communion Prayer
Post Communion Hymn 373
Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.
Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.
Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars!
Yea, Amen, let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for thine own:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign and thou alone.
The Angelus
℣ The Angel of the Lord brought the tidings to Mary
℟ And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessèd art thou among women, and blessèd is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
℣ Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
℟ Be it unto me according to thy Word.
Hail Mary….
℣ And the word was made flesh.
℟ And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary….
℣ Pray for us, Holy Mother of God.
℟ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Collect.
