First Sunday of Advent

℣. I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.
℟. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?
℣. High and low, rich and poor, one with another.
℟. Go ye out to meet him and say.
℣. Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
℟. Tell us, art thou he that should come?
℣. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come.
℟. To reign over thy people Israel.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.
℣. Go ye out to meet him and say:
℟. Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

The Lord comes, bringing to light things now hidden in darkness,
and disclosing the purposes of the heart.

Silence

Let us open our hearts and prepare for his coming,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

Merciful God,
our maker and our judge,
we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
and in what we have failed to do:
we have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves;
we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God,
who has promised forgiveness
to all who turn to him in faith:
pardon you and set you free from all your sins,
strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.

Eternal God,
through long generations you prepared a way
for the coming of your Son,
and by your Spirit you still bring light to illumine our paths:
renew us in faith and hope
that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts
and claim our love;
to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence – as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.

For the word of the Lord,
thanks be to God.

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock:
you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine out in glory;

2  Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh:
stir up your power, and come to save us.

3  Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:
show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

4  O Lord God of hosts:
how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?

5  You have fed them with the bread of tears:
and given them tears to drink in good measure.

6  You have made us the victim of our neighbours:
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7  Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:
show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

17  Let your power rest on the man at your right hand:
on that son of man whom you made so strong for yourself.

18  And so we shall not turn back from you:
give us life, and we will call upon your name.

Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:
show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

The beginning of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the word of the Lord,
thanks be to God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and show us your saving help.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

For the Gospel of the Lord,
praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION FOR ADVENT SUNDAY

In South Australia for much of our society the Christmas season begins from the day of the Christmas Pageant, then ends on Christmas Day. In the Church we begin the Christmas season on Christmas Day then conclude it on the Feast of the Epiphany – either on January 6^th or later on January 13^th.

Prior to Christmas the Church gives us the season of Advent lasting four weeks. It is a beautiful season easily lost in the commercial and social rush of December. No matter how much we try to make something of Advent in church we fight a severely difficult battle against the mighty forces of shopping, social engagements, work festivities and the general anticipation of the coming holidays. We cannot underestimate the energy needed to organise family gatherings at Christmas time, either.

The term “Advent is from a Latin word which means “coming”.  In Advent we think of the two comings of Jesus among us – the first time as a baby in Bethlehem, the second time in glory at the end of time. Accordingly, Advent presents to us themes of encouragement and themes of the need to be prepared, on watch, and to staying awake, ready for the second coming whenever that may be.

To start with in Advent we look ahead to the second coming. Then from the middle of Advent we concentrate on the birth of Jesus as a baby in human history. It is this second theme which captures our imaginations and to some extent society’s imaginations, too. With both themes the focus is on Jesus, the very heart of our faith. Advent captures something of the person, the mystery, and the message of Jesus. Advent invites us to reconsider the meaning of being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus.

Though in Advent we look back and look forward in these themes the fact remains that we have to remember that we can only live now! This means that another theme of Advent is that Christ is present in our lives now. The other two themes of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and Jesus’ second coming need to touch our lives now. Advent can be a great time to make a fresh start in life, a time to try to pray more, hope more, give more and love more.

This may make a good deal of sense after a difficult year of Covid 19. But it is certainly difficult to concentrate on Advent while we are pushed and pulled in other directions by the calls of society and family. Try to make some time each day to devote to Advent your way. The season has so much to offer. A well observed Advent makes for a truly wonderful Christmas!

Fr Graeme Kaines,

Locum Priest.

Let us together affirm the faith of the Church:

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 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
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 for the world to come. Amen.

This Advent Prayer is from Cloth for the Cradle by the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group and invites us to turn towards our living hope - for ourselves and our world…let us pray

Open our eyes, Lord,
especially if they are half shut
because we are tired of looking,
or half open
because we fear we see too much,
or bleared with tears
because yesterday and today and tomorrow
are filled with the same pain,
or contracted,
because we only look at what we want to see.

Open our eyes, Lord,
to gently scan the life we lead,
the home we have,
the world we inhabit,
and so to find,
among the gremlins and the greyness,
signs of hope we can fasten on and encourage.

Give us, whose eyes are dimmed by familiarity,
a bigger vision of what you can do
even with hopeless cases and lost causes
and people of limited ability.

Show us the world as in your sight,
riddled by debt, deceit and disbelief
yet also
shot through with possibility
for recovery, renewal, redemption,

And lest we fail to distinguish vision from fantasy,
today, tomorrow, this week,
open our eyes to one person or one place,
where we - being even for a moment prophetic -
might identify and wean a potential in the waiting.

And with all this,
open our eyes, in yearning, for Jesus.

On the mountains,
in the cities,
through the corridors of power
and streets of despair
to help, to heal,
to confront, to convert,
O come, O come, Immanuel.

God of love and power,
your word stirs within us
the expectation of the coming of your Son.
Accept all we offer you this day,
and sustain us with your promise of eternal life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 him thanks and praise.

Worship and praise belong to you, God our maker.
Out of nothing, you called all worlds to be,
and still you draw the universe to its fulfilment.

Dawn and evening celebrate your glory
till time shall be no more.

In Christ your Son
the life of heaven and earth were joined,
sealing the promise of a new creation,
given, yet still to come.

Taught by your Spirit,
we who bear your threefold likeness
look for the City of Peace
in whose light we are transfigured
and the earth transformed.

As children of your redeeming purpose
who await the coming of your Son,
we offer you our praise,
with angels and archangels
and the whole company of heaven
singing the hymn of your unending glory:

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.

Glory and thanksgiving be to you,
most loving Father.
In Jesus you showed us yourself.
Our hope is built on him,
the first, the last, the living one.
Obedient, even to accepting death,
He opened the gate of glory
and calls us now to share the life of heaven.

Before he was given up to suffering and death,
alight with the vision of a feast
that heralded a kingdom yet to come,
at supper with his disciples
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread,
and gave it to them, saying:
"Take, eat.
This is my Body: it is broken for you."

After supper, he took the cup,
he offered you thanks,
and gave it to them saying:
"Drink this, all of you.
This is my Blood of the new covenant;
it is poured out for you, and for all,
that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me."

We now obey your Son's command.
We recall his blessed passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension;
and we look for the coming of his Kingdom.
Made one with him, we offer you these gifts
with them ourselves,
a single, holy, living sacrifice.

Hear us, most merciful Father,
and send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and this wine,
that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,
they may be the Body and Blood of your Son,
and we may be kindled with the fire of your love
and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.

Help us, who are baptised into the fellowship of Christ's Body
to live and work to your praise and glory;
may we grow together in unity and love
until at last, in your new creation,
we enter into our heritage
in the company of the Virgin Mary,
the apostles, and prophets,
and of all our brothers and sisters
living and departed.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be to you,
Lord of all ages,
world without end. Amen.

Let us pray with confidence to the Father
in the words our Saviour gave us:

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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body,

for we all share in the one bread.

While the bread is broken Agnus Dei is said.

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Redeemer of the world, grant us your peace.

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

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

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there, and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.