INTRODUCTION
Well it is official Christmas is definitely on its way, today marks the start of the liturgical year and we go into Year A for our readings and prayers. The first Sunday of Advent, a season of preparation and reflection, rather than a mad panic about getting things ready for that one day of eating and presents. We all know that Christmas is much more than this and as Lent is to Easter our Advent season is a quiet time to fast and pray and think about the coming of our Lord.
The Mission Community Advent Carol Service takes place this evening at 7.30 at St Paul’s Astley Bridge and all are welcome. Last Sunday we were honoured to host the Team confirmation service at St. Maxentius and 6 of our young people were confirmed by Bishop Mark Ashcroft. It was a lovely service and Bishop Mark took time to get to know the young people and chat with them and their sponsors supported by Rev Hannah. The Bishop’s words were inspiring and motivational and I am sure were very well received by all. Being just 6 young people it was also very personal to them and their families.
We are all feeling the pinch of fuel and energy prices and are doing what we can to save money but I’m sure all churches are struggling so we hope if you feel you can give a little extra we would really appreciate it.
Our reflection today is by Rev Peter and intercessions are by myself.
God bless
Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Our Lord says “surely I come quickly” Even so’ Come, Lord Jesus – Revelation 22.20
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.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
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.
May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring us his pardon
and peace , now and forever. Amen.
KYRIE ELEISON
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
THE 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.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING
ISAIAH 2. 1-5.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you O Lord.
MATTHEW 24. 36-44.
‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
As we change to the purple of Advent we also change gospels; we now focus on Matthew’s gospel, and today we are in the fifth section of teaching, which is about the Day of the Lord.
All three of Matthew, Mark and Luke have extended sections on this, and all three passages are difficult to make complete sense of. It is not made easier when the section chosen for the Sunday reading is only a part of the longer teaching passage. We begin at v36 where Jesus seems to be talking about the final in breaking of the Kingdom, whereas the previous verses have been more about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem
Advent – as we know- means “arrival” or “coming” and in Advent we focus both on the first coming of Jesus, the incarnation of God into our world (Christmas as we call it), and on the future coming of Jesus in glory. That it will happen our Scriptures are confident; when it will happen our Scriptures are equally clear that we do not and will not know. We do not live in constant anxiety, as it were with an emergency suitcase packed, but we should live with the definite knowledge that this earth and this life and this history are temporal, so that we are not taken by surprise (as the house-owner was by the night-time burglar) and so that we do not lose sight of what is more important. Meanwhile we also engage with “history” around us, seeking to discern what God is saying, what we should do, what we should speak against.
God has given us a wonderful world, and wants us to make the most of the life we have here; we should continue to work for the well-being of our churches and communities and world, because the “end” may not be for a long time. It is in our living and how we live that we either show the love of God, share the peace of God, stand up for the Kingdom and justice and truth, because they matter, or we do not.
A slightly different way to look at this might be to ask if we are excited for the coming of God in glory? Is it the most wonderful thing, or would it be nuisance to our work, or our plans, the ultimate disruption!!?
We work for the Kingdom, we witness to the Kingdom, but we also know that at times apathy, evil, greed, selfishness etc. may triumph or appear to triumph. We need to stay awake, alert, and aware.
Rev Peter
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
We believe in God the Father, who created all things;
For by his will they were created and have their being.
We believe in God the Son who was slain;
For his blood, he purchased us for God, from every tribe and language, from every people and nation.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit;
The spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Even so come Lord Jesus! Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
Here we pray for the church, for the world, those in need and those who have died, you can follow your own prayers or these below on today’s theme.
Lord God, you have created us out of your love and you have given us eyes to see, minds to understand and hearts to love. Help us to be aware of your presence and your coming to us this day and always.
We ask your blessing upon all who preach and teach us about yourself and your kingdom, may they proclaim your presence and guide us to live our lives to your service and word. We pray for our clergy and lay ministry teams within our mission community. We pray for our faithful people as they prepare to celebrate Christmas and to rejoice in your love for them.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our Prayer.
We pray for all who watch over us during the darkness of night and seek our safety. We remember the police, coastguards, fire crews, the ambulance service and all doctors and nurses. We ask your blessing upon all who work through the night to provide our daily needs.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We give you thanks for our homes and loved ones. As we prepare for Christmas help us to make sure we have time for each other and for you. We remember all who are troubled or stressed at this time.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We give thanks for our own health and wellbeing, but remember all those who are ill at home or away from home. May they know your presence and have hope for their future and we ask that you give strength to those that are looking after all who are sick or distressed, in pain or lonely. Especially today we pray for Irene Bennett, Mary Cooper, Sandra Valentine, Doreen Wood, Kathryn Browning, Maureen Hulme, Peter Warburton and Kevin Maguire. We pray that you bring healing and peace according to their needs.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Lord we rejoice that you come to us and offer us eternal life. We remember in your presence those loved ones departed from us and today we pray for the soul of Irene Biggs and from our book of remembrance Herbert Halliwell, Greta Fox, Norman Nightingale and Stanley Foster.
Merciful Father. Accept these prayers for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
THE BLESSING
May God himself, the God of peace, make us perfect and Holy; and keep us all safe and blameless, in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us always.
Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ Amen.
