Welcome to our service - 27 November
This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am in church and live on Zoom. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.
SERVICE
Opening
Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.
SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRAFQCOkjgE
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in Thee.
2. Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
3. Born Thy people to deliver;
born a child, and yet a King;
born to reign in us for ever;
now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
4. By Thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley (1707-88)
CONFESSION
When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart.
Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.
Turn to us again, O God our saviour,
and let your anger cease from us:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Show us your compassion, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation:
Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy.
Your salvation is near for those that fear you,
that glory may dwell in our land:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
ABSOLUTION
May the God of all healing and forgiveness
draw us to himself
and cleanse us from all our sins,
that we may behold the glory of his Son,
the Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
COLLECT
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the
light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEtsHWFE6-w
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,
Make it ever true;
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay;
Mould me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Eddie Espinosa.
Copyright © 1982 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing/ Adm. Song Solutions CopyCare
READINGS (New Living Translation)
Rom 13.11-end
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Matt.24.36-44
However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realise what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a home-owner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
TALK
Instead of a talk, this morning we would encourage you to consider these questions on the back of the readings:
· How good are you at waiting?
During advent we not only look forward to Christmas when we will remember again the birth of our saviour Jesus, we also look forward to Jesus’ coming again. In light of this Paul writes: ‘Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here’
· How do you imagine the ‘day of salvation’?
· Paul encourages us to put on the ‘shining armour of right living’. What might this look like for a Christian today?
Similar to dressing appropriately for a wedding or another formal event, Paul invites us to spiritual ‘clothe’ ourselves appropriately with the ‘presence’ of Jesus. This is often a daily decision to put on spiritual clothes so that we can live as ‘children of the light’ (see 1 Thessalonians 5:5).
Pauls says in Colossians 3:
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
· As you read this passage what things do you struggle to ‘clothe yourselves with’?
· Take time to pray that, through God’s Spirit, you would be able to clothe yourselves with: ‘compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’.
Jesus says in our reading from Matthew: ‘So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a home-owner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.’
· How might you stay ‘ready’ for the second coming of Jesus?
Finally, consider what Tom Wright says. Instead of talking about the ‘second coming’ it may be more appropriate to speak, as some of the early Christians did, of the ‘reappearing’ Jesus:
“He is, at the moment, present with us, but hidden behind that invisible veil that keeps heaven and earth apart, and which we pierce in those moments, such as prayer, the sacraments, the reading of scripture and our work with the poor, where the veil seems particularly thin. But one day the veil will be lifted; earth and heaven will be one, Jesus will be personally present, every knee shall bow at this name, creation will be renewed… and God’s new world will at last be in place…’
Take time to pray for that day when earth and heaven will be one.
This advent I would encourage you to open your eyes to the signs of God’s Kingdom. Where is God at work? Maybe he is already working in your friends and neighbours and he is asking you to invite them church this advent time.
Amen
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth
I believe 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, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand
of the Father,
and 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
O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
Come and listen to me.
Jacques Berthier/Taizé.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS - In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
We pray for (think of our nation, our leaders both locally and nationally)
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for (think of a country that is particularly on your heart)
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.
We pray for (think of those you know who are suffering)
Break into our lives,
where we struggle with sickness and distress,
and set us free to serve you for ever.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
We remember (think of those who you have lost or of others who are mourning at this time)
Give us with all the faithful departed
a share in your victory over evil and death.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you,
that with all your saints and angels
we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Silence is kept.
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay;
give new courage to your people,
who trust in your love.
By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom
on earth as in heaven,
where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alCQ7fb0hEA
MAKE WAY, make way, for Christ the King
In splendour arrives.
Fling wide the gates and welcome Him
Into your lives.
Make way! (Make way!)
Make way! (Make way!)
For the King of kings.
(For the King of kings.)
Make way! (Make way!)
Make way! (Make way!)
And let His kingdom in.
He comes the broken hearts to heal,
The prisoners to free.
The deaf shall hear, the lame shall dance,
The blind shall see.
Make way! (Make way!)....
And those who mourn with heavy hearts,
Who weep and sigh;
With laughter, joy and royal crown
He’ll beautify.
Make way! (Make way!)....
We call you now to worship Him
As Lord of all.
To have no gods before Him,
Their thrones must fall!
Make way! (Make way!)....
Graham Kendrick.
Copyright © 1986 Thankyou Music.
OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul,
worship His holy name.
Sing like never before,
O my soul.
I'll worship Your holy name.
The sun comes up,
it's a new day dawning.
It's time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass,
and whatever lies before me,
let me be singing
when the evening comes.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
You're rich in love,
and You're slow to anger,
your name is great,
and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
ten thousand reasons
for my heart to find.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
And on that day
when my strength is failing,
the end draws near
and my time has come,
still my soul will sing
your praise unending
ten thousand years
and then forevermore.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
© Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin
FINAL BLESSING:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen