Third Sunday of AdventDecember 13th, 2020

The GatheringHark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes,the Saviour promised long!Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne,and ev'ry voice a song.

He comes the pris'ners to release,in Satan’s bondage held;the gates of brass before Him burst,the iron fetters yield.

He comes the broken heart to bind,the bleeding soul to cure,and with the treasures of His grace,t'enrich the humbled poor.

Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,Thy welcome shall proclaim;and heav'n’s eternal arches ring,with Thy beloved Name.

The GreetingIn the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.

The Lord be with youAll and also with you.

Lighting the third candle on the Advent standBlessed are you, sovereign Lord, just and true:to you be praise and glory for ever.Your prophet John the Baptist was witness to the truthas a burning and shining light.May we your servants rejoice in his light,and so be led to witness to himwho is the Lord of our coming kingdom,

Jesus our Saviour and King of the ages.All Blessed be God for ever.

Prayers of PenitenceWhen the Lord comes,he will bring to light things now hidden in darknessand disclose the purposes of the heartIn that light, let us call to mind our sins.

Lord Jesus,you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom:Lord, have mercy.

All Lord, have mercy.

You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness:Christ, have mercy.

All Christ, have mercy.

You will come in glory with salvation for your people:Lord, have mercy.

All Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive you your sins, open your eyes to God’s truth, strengthen you to do God’s will and give you the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

CollectLet us pray,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.

All Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-end

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,   because the LORD has anointed me;he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,   to bind up the broken-hearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,   and release to the prisoners;to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour,   and the day of vengeance of our God;   to comfort all who mourn;to provide for those who mourn in Zion—   to give them a garland instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning,   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.They will be called oaks of righteousness,   the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.They shall build up the ancient ruins,   they shall raise up the former devastations;they shall repair the ruined cities,   the devastations of many generations.For I the LORD love justice,   I hate robbery and wrongdoing;I will faithfully give them their recompense,   and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.Their descendants shall be known among the nations,   and their offspring among the peoples;all who see them shall acknowledge   that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,   my whole being shall exult in my God;for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,   he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.For as the earth brings forth its shoots,   and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise   to spring up before all the nations. 

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,then were we like those who dream.Then was our mouth filled with laughterand our tongue with songs of joy. R.

Then said they among the nations,‘The Lord has done great things for them.’The Lord has indeed done great things for us,and therefore we rejoiced. R.

Restore again our fortunes, O Lord,as the river beds of the desert.Those who sow in tearsshall reap with songs of joy.Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed,will come back with shouts of joy,bearing their sheaves with them. R.

Second Reading  1 Thessalonians 5.16-24

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.  This is the word of the Lord.All Thanks be to God.

Gospel AcclamationAlleluia! Alleluia!Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

All Alleluia!

Gospel Reading John 1.6-8, 19-28

The Lord be with youAll and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.All Glory to you, O Lord.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said,‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,“Make straight the way of the Lord” ’,as the prophet Isaiah said.Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. 

This is the Gospel of the Lord.All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The CreedAll 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 Maryand was made man.For our sake he was crucifiedunder Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand 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 baptismfor the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the deadand the life of the world to come.Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Liturgy of the SacramentThe 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 darknessand in the shadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

The OffertoryOn Jordan's bank the Baptist's cryannounces that the Lord is nigh;come then and hearken, for he bringsglad tidings from the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every Christian breast,and furnished for so great a guest.Yea, let us each our hearts preparefor Christ to come and enter there.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,our refuge, and our great reward;without thy grace our souls must fadeand wither like a flower decayed.

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.

All praise, eternal Son, to theewhose advent sets thy people free,whom, with the Father, we adore,and Spirit bless, for evermore.

Pray, my brothers and sisters,that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God,the almighty Father.

All May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands,for the praise and glory of his name,for our good and the good of all his Church.

Be pleased, O Lord, with our humble prayers and offerings,and, since we have no merits to plead our cause,come, we pray, to our rescue with the protection of your mercy.Through Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

The Eucharistic PrayerThe Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.All It is right to give thanks and praise.

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 worldto open for us the way of salvation.Confident that your promise will be fulfilled,we now watch for the daywhen Christ our Lord will come again in glory.And so we join our voices with angels and archangelsand with all the company of heavento proclaim your gloryfor ever praising you and: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 comesin the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.We praise and bless you, loving Father,through Jesus Christ, our Lord;and as we obey his command,send your Holy Spirit,that broken bread and wine outpouredmay be for us the body and bloodof your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supperwith his friends and, taking bread, he praised you.He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;do this in remembrance of me.When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:Drink this, all of you;this is my blood of the new covenant,which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Christ is the bread of life:All When we eat this bread, and drink this cup,

we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,

until you come in glory.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,in him we plead with confidence his sacrificemade once for all upon the cross.Bringing before you the bread of lifeand cup of salvation,we proclaim his death and resurrectionuntil he comes in glory.

Lord of all life,help us to work together for that daywhen your kingdom comesand justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.Look with favour on your people,gather us in your loving armsand bring us with Mary the mother of Jesus, Francis, and all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,for ever and ever.

All Amen.

Silence will be kept

The Lord’s PrayerAwaiting his coming in glory,let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All Our Father...

Breaking of the BreadWe break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All Though we are many, we are one body,because we all share in one bread.

All Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world,grant us peace.

Giving of CommunionBehold the Lamb of God.Behold him who takes away the sin of the world.Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

Communion will be given in one kind only

Please leave a space between you and the person in front of you, and return to your seat down the side aisles

Wake, O wake! With tidings thrillingthe watchmen all the air are filling,arise, Jerusalem, arise!Midnight strikes! No more delaying,'The hour has come!' we hear them saying,'where are ye all, ye virgins wise?The Bridegroom comes in sight,raise high your torches bright!'Alleluia!The wedding song swells loud and strong:go forth and join the festal throng.

Zion hears the watchmen shouting,her heart leaps up with joy undoubting,she stands and waits with eager eyes;see her Friend from heaven descending,adorned with truth and grace unending!Her light burns clear, her star doth rise.Now come, thou precious Crown,Lord Jesus, God's own Son!Alleluia!Let us prepare to follow there,where in thy supper we may share.Every soul in thee rejoices;from earth and from angelic voicesbe glory given to thee alone!Now the gates of pearl receive us,thy presence never more shall leave us,

we stand with angels round thy throne.Earth cannot give belowthe bliss thou dost bestow.Alleluia!Grant us to raise, to length of days,the triumph-chorus of thy praise.

Prayer after CommunionSilence will be kept

Let us pray.We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;kindle in us the fire of your Spiritthat when your Christ comes againwe may shine as lights before his face;who is alive and reigns now and for ever.

All Amen.

Notices will be given

The DismissalThe Lord be with you

All and also with you.

May God the Father,who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son,give you grace to prepare for life eternal.

All Amen.

May God the Son,who comes to us as redeemer and judge,reveal to you the path from darkness to light.

All Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit,by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ,help you bear the fruits of holiness.

All Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son and the Holy Spiritbe among you and remain with you always.

All Amen.

As we await our coming Saviour,go in the peace of Christ.

All Thanks be to God.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Copyright material is included fromCommon Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England; copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and

Common Worship: Times and Seasonscopyright © The Archbishops' Council 2006

The Incumbent and the Parochial Church Council have agreed to use of the service in accordance with Canon B3 of the Canons of the Church of England

Copies of the full text are available for the inspection of the congregation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Copyright material is included fromCommon Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England; copyright

© The Archbishops' Council 2000 and Common Worship: Times and Seasons

copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2006

The Incumbent and the Parochial Church Council have agreed to use of the service in accordance with Canon B3 of the Canons of the Church of England

Copies of the full text are available for the inspection of the congregation