Morning Service Sunday 12 December 2021

Welcome and Intimations

Prayer and 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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Hymn CH4 281 People, Look East

1. People look East. The time is near
   Of the crowning of the year.
   Make your house fair as you are able,
   Trim the hearth and set the table.
   People look East, today:
   Love the Guest is on the way.
   

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
   One more seed is planted there:
   Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
   That in course the flower may flourish.
   People look East, today:
   Love the Rose is on the way.
   

3. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
   One more light the bowl shall brim,
   Shining beyond the frosty weather,
   Bright as sun and moon together.
   People look East, today:
   Love the Star is on the way.
   

4. Angels announce to man and beast
   Him who cometh from the East.
   Set every peak and valley humming
   With the Word, the Lord is coming.
   People look East, today:
   Love the Lord is on the way.
   

1. Isaiah 12:2-6
2. Philippians 4:4-7

Children’s Address — Lighting of the Advent Candle

One:

We have lit the first two candles, one for hope and one for peace. Today we light the third candle, the candle of joy. This should be the easy one, because joy is all around us—in the children, the lights, the music, the gathering together. But how often do we let our preparations—or our memories—push joy to the side? Joy is like an underground spring that wells up within us, but joy is also a choice, an attitude. Like a muscle, it needs to be exercised. So today we open ourselves to joy, trusting that God has already planted it in us. All we need to do is give it care and offer it to share.

All:

Loving God, we open ourselves to you, trusting that this is how you made us: you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives.
Show us the creative power of hope.
Teach us the peace that comes from justice.
Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.
Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

Lighting of the Candle

One:

Rejoice in God always, and again I say, rejoice
For God has created you with the capacity for joy.

All:

We will find what makes us joyful,
And make that our gift to the world.

One:

Trust in God’s good will for all of creation and open yourself to God’s gentle, transforming love.

All:

We will welcome new possibilities in our lives.
We will offer ourselves to God’s goodness.
We will go forth in hope, and peace, and joy.

Hymn CH4 284 Hope Is a Candle

© Richard Leach

Meditation

Hymn CH4 449 Rejoice! The Lord Is King

1. Hope is a candle, once lit by the prophets,
   never consumed, though it burns through the years;
   dim in the daylight of power and privilege —
   when they are gone, hope will shine on.
   

2. Peace is a candle to show us a pathway,
   threatened by gusts from our rage and our greed.
   Friend, feel no envy for those in the shadows —
   violence and force their dead-end course.
   

3. Love is a candle whose light makes a circle,
   where every face is the face of a friend.
   Widen the circle by sharing and giving —
   God’s holy dare: love everywhere.
   

4. Joy is a candle of mystery and laughter,
   mystery of light that is born in the dark;
   laughter at hearing the voice of an angel,
   ever so near, casting out fear.
   

5. Christ is the light that the prophets awaited,
   Christ is the lion, the lamb, and the child.
   Christ is the love and the mystery and laughter —
   candles, make way! Christ is the day.
   

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

Hymn CH4 277 Hark the Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes

1. Rejoice, the Lord is King:
   Your Lord and King adore!
   Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
   And triumph evermore.
   Lift up your heart,
   Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
   

2. Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
   The God of truth and love;
   When He has purged our stains,
   He took his seat above;
   Lift up your heart,
   Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
   

3. His kingdom cannot fail,
   He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
   The keys of death and hell
   Are to our Jesus giv'n:
   Lift up your heart,
   Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
   

4. Rejoice in glorious hope!
   Our Lord and judge shall come
   And take His servants up
   To their eternal home:
   Lift up your heart,
   Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
   

Blessing