10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist
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Poetry and practical advice.
There’s poetry and practical advice across our readings today. The prophet and author we call Isaiah is actually a collection of writers putting things down on papyrus over at least two centuries. What they share is poetry, and there’s a lot of theology which is poetry. One of the ways we can read this is to replace the issues front and centre of their minds with our equivalents today.
Fresh water was a major preoccupation for them. We take fresh water for granted. We just turn on a tap. What are the worries we have which give us stress and get in the way of wholesome relationships with one another; and get in the way of our relationship with God?
The water issue was also present in John the Baptist’s day. Maybe even mores pressing was the ‘existential’ threat of the Roman occupation of what we call the Holy Land. Occupation, and other factors pressing down on us, cause frustration which we may take out on other people, as we project that and our frustration with ourselves onto others. Who are we? I think James alludes to that today.
The solution? Hard though it is when the going is tough, but is not Jesus saying in John 11 that being His disciple is the only identity for us which really matters?
Fr A.
Music before the service
Meditation Robert Cockcroft (b 1951)
Introit Hymn
1 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
come then and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings from the King of kings!
2 Then cleansed be every Christian breast,
and furnished for so great a guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
for Christ to come and enter there.
3 For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge, and our great reward;
without thy grace our souls must fade
and wither like a flower decayed.
4 Stretch forth thine hand, to heal our sore,
and make us rise to fall no more;
once more upon thy people shine,
and fill the world with love divine.
5 All praise, eternal Son, to thee
whose advent sets thy people free,
whom, with the Father, we adore,
and Spirit bless, for evermore.
Jordanis oras praevia Charles Coffin (1676-1749)
Translated John Chandler (1806-1876)
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
and also with you.
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Invitation to 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
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy 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.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all
goodness, and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Collect
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings
Isaiah 35.1-10
35The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom; ike the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
James 5.7-10
7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
As you are able, please stand
Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
cf Isaiah 40.3–5
Alleluia.
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ 4Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11.2-11
After the Gospel
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
The Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he
came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
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.
We 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
worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for
the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the
dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Cycle of Prayer
In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Our bishops:
David, Mark and Matthew
The Anglican Communion
Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
Porvoo Communion
Church of England: Diocese of Southwell
Church of Norway: Diocese of Borg
Schools and Colleges
All Saints; St Wilfrid’s; Briscoe Lane Academy;Christ the King; Co-op Academy Broadhurst;
Oldham Blue Coat; Trinity High School; Bowdoin College, Maine; Churchill College, Cambridge; University of Coventry; Edge Hill University; University of Leeds.
Parish
Alminstone Close, Althorpe Walk, Amos Avenue, Ascot Road, Ashfield Drive, Assheton Crescent.Book of Remembrance
Frank Watling; Irene Bailey; Ethel Smith; Constance Seymour; Muriel William; Mary Hunt; John Aston; Anne O’Donnell; Thelma Wild; Livia Shone; Winifred Pope; James Wardle; Doris Peaker; Betty Reynolds.The Peace
In the tender mercy of our God,
the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
cf Luke 1.78,79
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
The Eucharistic Prayer
As the grain once scattered in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now united on this table in bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole Church soon be gathered together from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.
Amen.
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
The Preface continues until the invitation to say
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Words of Institution follow as far as
Great is the mystery of faith
To which is the response
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
The Eucharistic Prayer continues until the
Doxology which is sung
..by whom and with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour be unto you Almighty Father, world without end.
To which is sung Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our
Saviour has taught us
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.
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
The Agnus Dei
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.
Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Lord I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I am healed
Music after the Sermon
Blessed and Holy Bernadette Farrell
Holy, holy, holy, O Wisdom from on high
All your works are blessed and holy
Sea and earth and sun and sky
Adonai, O Lord of ages
Who appeared as burning flame
Come ignite the spark of justice
Til it burns in us again
Holy, holy, holy, O Radiant Star of night
Still your people walk in darkness
Come awake us to your light
O Keystone of the nations
Holding place of every part
Come and cherish your creation
Til it lives within our heart
Holy, holy, holy, O Tree uplifted high
In your presence pow'r falls silent
In your shade illusions die
O humble Key of David
Hearts are known to you alone
Break the chains of every prison
Come and lead your people home
Holy, holy, holy, God of power, God of might
All the earth and all the heavens
Sing your glory day and night
Blessed and holy your creation
Blessed is Jesus whom you send
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna without end!
Post Communion Prayer
We give you thanks, O Lord,
for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.
Amen.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your
Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you
our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
In the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.
Parish news may be shared
Hymn
1 O come, O come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Refrain
3 O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
4 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Refrain
5 O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
Latin 13th century translated by John M Neale (1818-1866)
Blessing and Dismissal
May the God of peace,
who brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus Christ,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
comfort and assure you of his love
in this world and the next;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain
with you always.
Go in peace to love your neighbour.
Go in power to work for reconciliation.
Go in hope to proclaim the resurrection.
Amen
Voluntary
Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist Walther
(Come, God, Creator, holy Spirit)
Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright ©The Archbishops' Council and published by Church House Publishing.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.http://nrsvbibles.org
14th December, Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist, followed by brunch.
Please sign up today on the list in the Narthex, or message Fr Andrew
Wear something rose or pink!
Thursday, December 18th @ 7.30 pm
21st December, Fourth Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist
3.30 pm Crib and Christingle Service
Looking ahead
14th December, Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist,
Wear something rose or pink!
Followed by parish brunch
Thursday 18th December
7.30 pm Christmas Spectacular
with Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir
(Free entry; retiring collection; raffle and refreshments)
21st December, Fourth Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist
3.30 pm Crib and Christingle Service
(with an opportunity to light a candle as a visual
prayer for someone or something you miss this year)
7th December, Second Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist
Toy Service: bring gifts for those children in need
14th December, Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist,
Wear something rose or pink!
11.00 Parish Brunch
21st December, Fourth Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Parish Sung Eucharist
3.30 pm Crib and Christingle Service
(with an opportunity to light a candle as a visual prayer for someone or something you miss this year)
Mobile 07596 514 541