Well, dear peeps.  By this time next week, all the presents will be unwrapped, canned Christmas hits will be silenced, brave souls will be lining up for boxing day bargains and festivities will be on hiatus for a few days.

But, for us as Christians it will be the Feast of St Stephen and the first day of Christmas.. . or is it the second?  Christmas is a SEASON.  Twelve days.  Ending at Epiphany, when the Magi really found Jesus, having followed the light to where he was.  This is Christmas for me. This is the time that we have been preparing for, and waiting for!  When a child arrives it isn’t a one-day thing.  It is a life-time together.  Celebrating continues right into the New Year and beyond.

Emmanuel.  God with us.  Not just on Dec 25.  It is an eternal connection.  Once we meet that babe in the manger we discover a love unlike anything we’ve known before.  A love that nurtures us and treasures us.  A love that empowers us and transforms us.  A love that inspires us to become a part of the story and follow this Newborn King in this life and the next.  O Come, make your hearts ready to receive him.  O Come, let us adore him.

Blessings,
Deb

Today’s prayer service:
Wednesday in Advent

We greet the Day

O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.
Amen.

Hear, O Israel

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is the first and the great commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.

Kyrie
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Collect
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen

Bendicite

1    Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

2    Bless the Lord you heavens:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

3    Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

4    Bless the Lord all people on earth:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

5    O people of God bless the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

6    Bless the Lord you priests of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

7    Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

8    Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:

bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart;

bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

The Song of the Three 35–37, 60–65

Reading:  John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

Psalm 96

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
⁹ Worship the Lord in the splendor of his^[a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.

¹¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
¹³ Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

 

Reflective Prayer
Gracious God, gifts without measure flow from your goodness to give us your peace. Our life is your gift. Guide our life’s journey, for only your love makes us whole. Keep us strong in your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessory Prayers
We  offer to God the prayers of our hearts-

Gracious God source of all love and fount of all blessing, your Son Jesus Christ promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith.  Confident in his word, we offer you our prayers.

We pray for our world, for the leaders of nations and all in authority, that everyone may live in peace and mutual trust, sharing with justice the resources of the earth. May your love guide each heart.
(offer personal prayers for the world, leaders, the planet)

We give thanks for our church and every faith community across the world. Encourage clergy and religious leaders to lead with compassion, mirroring your love and grace by their lives and teaching.

We offer to your care, merciful God, all who are in sorrow, sickness, discouragement or any other trouble. Give them patience and a firm trust in your goodness. Change lives today through your mighty healing touch and bring to know your loving presence at work in their lives.

We pray for our own needs and concerns, giving thanks that answers and resolution are already on their way to us.  Especially, we offer these concerns to you…….

We give thanks for those who have died and for those who mourn their passing. May they find comfort and hope in the joy of your promise that you will greet us at the last and take us to your Father’s house.

Hear us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The 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 today our daily bread.
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,
now and for ever.
Amen.

O Emmanuel, most gracious and loving Lord Jesus, I choose you, this Advent, as my Saviour and my God. I offer my heart to you and seek to put all my trust in your tender care. Draw me close to you and free me from my sin so that I may love you with a pure and holy heart. Amen

May the God of peace enable me to do His will in every kind of goodness, working in us what pleases Him, through Jesus  Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!