‘Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.’ (Psalm 146:1-2)

Hymn: Lord Jesus Christ...

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7

‘The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.’ John 1:9

Let us confess our sins: Most merciful God, we acknowledge our failings. Forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the day: God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Luke 3: 7-18

Please see the message from the minister.

In joyful expectation of his being with us we pray to Jesus:

Come to your Church as Lord. We pray for all to come to know your love, now and always.

Come to your world as King of the nations. We pray for peace on Earth.

Come to our community as a family member. We pray that our relationships will thrive.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter. We pray for those on our hearts and minds today. Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you for ever.

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls. We remember those we have loved and lost.

Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory. Lift us up to meet you, that with all of your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation.

We join together in the words of the 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 forever. Amen.

Hymn: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry...

May God himself, the God of peace, make us perfect and holy, and keep us safe and blameless in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

As we await our coming Saviour, let us go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God.