2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

BEFORE your prayers - collect 2 candles and be ready to light them during this time of prayer. If you have no candle just omit the candle lighting.

INTRODUCTION: Advent is a season of expectation and preparation as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ and looks ahead to his return as judge at the end of time. During Advent we are reminded to be alert, watchful and expectant as we pray for our Lord’s second coming. Today on the Second Sunday of Advent, we remember the Prophets. Through them the birth of the Messiah was foretold.

Light 1st Candle from last week and then the 2nd candle.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus light of the world, the prophets foretold you would bring peace and save your people. Heavenly Father, you call us to repent of our sins: soften our proud and stubborn hearts. Lord Jesus, you declared the forgiveness of God: teach us to forgive one another. Holy Spirit, you search our hearts and show us the truth: direct us in your way of righteousness. Give peace in our hearts and show all the world God’s love. Lord make us one in the love of Christ today and forever. AMEN

READING: 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. John 1.23

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

Readings: Isaiah 11v1-10; Psalm 72v1-7&18-19; Romans 15v4-13; Matthew 3v1-12.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: As we continue our Advent journey of watching, waiting and getting ready for the day when the Lord returns; we hear in Romans, the scriptures were written to give us hope. For through them we learn what God promised of old.

For, as we hear In Isaiah, a descendent of Jesse is promised to the world. A descendent who will bring the spirit of the Lord into the world. A descendent who is to be sent by God to judge the world with righteousness, faithfulness and equity. A descendent with the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, counsel and might. A descendent who delights in and fears the Lord. A descendent who will bring forth peace between all of God’s creatures.

Then in the psalm we hear a prayer asking God to send his everlasting prince into the world to us. A prince who will bring the Lord’s righteous and just judgements to the earth. A prince who will defend the poor, deliver the needy and bring peace to the earth.

These are wonderful promises that, as we continue our Advent journey, we remember were fulfilled for us in Jesus. For as we hear in Matthew, John the Baptist was teaching the people that they needed to change and put their lives right because he had been sent to prepare the Lord’s way by getting them ready. For John knew that God’s promised descendent of Jesse had been fulfilled and the Lord’s promised one was amongst them.

As we give thanks for what God has done for us through Jesus, we call to mind that in Romans we learn that all people are called to come and praise the Lord because of the hope and joy they are filled with because of Jesus.

Let us Pray: O Lord and God, our Father in heaven, we thank you for sending your son into the world to save us. Turn us away from our sins and wickedness. Give us the grace we need to follow the example of Jesus and run the race you have set before us. Help us to be ready to meet Him when he returns to judge us. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.

Blow out the 2 candles and keep them for next week.

Thank you for joining us today