Advent
Invitations to Confession
A1 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.
cf 1 Corinthians 4.5
A2 A voice cries out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’
So let us listen, and turn to the Lord in penitence and faith.
cf John 1.23
Gospel Acclamation
G1 Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.
cf Isaiah 40.3-5
Introductions to the Peace
J1 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.
J3 May the God of peace make you completely holy,
ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayers at the Preparation of the Table
K2 Look upon us in mercy not in judgement;
draw us from hatred to love;
make the frailty of our praise
a dwelling place for your glory. Amen.
K3 As the grain once scattered in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited 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.
Prefaces
L1 And now we give you thanks
because you sent him to redeem us from sin and death,
and to make us inheritors of everlasting life;
that when he shall come again in power and great triumph
to judge the world,
we may with joy behold his appearing,
and in confidence may stand before him.
L2 And now we give you thanks
because when he humbled himself
to come among us in human flesh,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way of salvation.
So now we watch for the day,
knowing that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ our Lord will come again in glory.
L3 And now we give you thanks
because you prepared the way of your Son Jesus Christ
by the preaching of your servant John the Baptist,
who proclaimed him as the Lamb of God, our Saviour.
L4 And now we give you thanks
because your Son our Lord was awaited by the prophets,
announced by an angel,
conceived by a virgin,
and proclaimed at last to men and women of every race.
Extended Prefaces
M1 From the First Sunday of Advent until 16 December
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,
almighty God and everlasting Father,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
For when he humbled himself to come among us in human flesh,
he fulfilled the plan you formed before the foundation of the world
to open for us the way of salvation.
Confident that your promise will be fulfilled,
we now watch for the day
when Christ our Lord will come again in glory.
And so we join our voices with angels and archangels
and with all the company of heaven
to proclaim your glory
for ever praising you and saying:
M2 From 17 December until Christmas Eve
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,
almighty God and everlasting Father,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
He is the one foretold by all the prophets,
whom the Virgin Mother bore with love beyond all telling.
John the Baptist was his herald
and made him known when at last he came.
In his love Christ fills us with joy
as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
so that when he comes again he may find us watching in prayer,
our hearts filled with wonder and praise.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your glory,
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Blessings and Ending
P1 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 …
P2 May God himself, the God of peace,
make you perfect and holy,
and keep you safe and blameless, in spirit, soul and body,
for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;
and the blessing …
P3 May God the Father,
who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son,
give you grace to prepare for life eternal. Amen.
May God the Son,
who comes to us as redeemer and judge,
reveal to you the path from darkness to light. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit,
by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ,
help you bear the fruits of holiness. Amen.
And the blessing …
P4 May God the Father, judge all-merciful,
make us worthy of a place in his kingdom.
Amen.
May God the Son, coming among us in power,
reveal in our midst the promise of his glory.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith,
joyful in hope and constant in love.
Amen.
And the blessing …
Resources taken from Common Worship Times and Seasons. ©The Archbishops Council 2006.
Intercessions for Advent
H1 In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
We pray for…
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…
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.
We pray for…
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…
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 [N and] 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.
Intercessions for Advent
H2 Watchful at all times,
let us pray for strength to stand with confidence
before our Maker and Redeemer.
That God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That God may establish among the nations
his sceptre of righteousness,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That we may seek Christ in the Scriptures
and recognize him in the breaking of the bread,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That God may bind up the brokenhearted,
restore the sick
and raise up all who have fallen,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That the light of God’s coming may dawn
on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
That, with all the saints in light,
we may shine forth as lights for the world,
let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.
We commend ourselves and all for whom we pray
to the mercy and protection of our heavenly Father:
Silence is kept.
Almighty God,
as your blessed Son Jesus Christ
first came to seek and to save the lost;
so may he come again to find in us
the completion of his redeeming work;
for he is now alive
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.
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