Sunday Worship, 19 December 2021

Sunday 19 December 2021 (Choir)

Welcome

To fulfil his purpose

God chose the most unsuspecting of women

to bear and bring up his Son.

God still calls unlikely people

ordinary people

to carry out his work

taking his love and his Good News

to everyone around us

Hymn 315 Once in royal David’s city (choirs sing v1)

Lighting the Advent candle

Hymn 282 Christmas is coming (vvs 1 2 3 & 4 and choruses)

Prayer

‘Let us praise the Lord!

He has come to help his people and has set them free.’

In the fields above Bethlehem the Host of Heaven

sang your praises

in your closest presence in Heaven they sing to you

without ceasing

and in this time of worship we join with them

and with all your people round the world

in bringing you our praise and thanks

You are a great God, you are a Holy God

and yet in your love and mercy

you know and care for each one of us

in Jesus you suffered and died for each one of us

you set us free

free from the things in our past we are embarrassed by,

 and ashamed of

free from our base human instincts

free to be your children for ever

Yet we so often make light of your goodness and grace

we do not follow your teachings and guidance

we do not follow the example of Jesus

we take your love and kindness for granted

we ignore the promises we have made to you

we do what we know is wrong

and we come to you now asking forgiveness

Cleanse us

Restore us

Fill us again with your Spirit

 That we may walk faithfully in the way of Jesus

Readings     Isaiah 11: 1-9

Micah 5: 2-5a

Hymn 300 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy

Readings     Hebrews 1: 1-3

1 John 1: 1-4

Hymn 302 It was on a starry night

Reading       Luke 1: 39-55

Hymn 309 Still the night

Prayers for others and Lord’s Prayer

Lord

We are the ones you have sent out to share your love and Good News

We are the ones who are to be an example to the world of how people should be able to live together

We need your help to do that

We ask that you would bless and guide us

our partners in Dumbarton and our partners overseas

and your whole worldwide church

to be faithful witnesses to Jesus

We pray for those who are close to us and special to us

We pray for those who are ill, who are receiving treatment, those for whom there is no treatment

and those who look after them and worry about them

We pray for those who are worried about home, family or friends

work or money

do not have enough to eat, do not have a home

who are looking for the peace, the righting of wrongs

 of which the prophets spoke and angels sang

We pray for those approaching Christmas with dread rather than hope

We pray for the Queen and for those in authority here and in every land

We pray for your church

the worldwide church

the wider church in Dumbarton

our own congregation

We bring to you our prayers for people and situations of special concern to us

We bring our gifts of money, we bring ourselves

Take and use them, take and use us

And we sum up our prayers in the words of the prayer Jesus gave us

Hymn 301 Hark the herald angels sing

Blessing

Look forward in hope

to the coming of your Saviour

prepare the way for Christ your Lord

welcome him with love and faith

when he comes in glory

and the blessing of God Almighty

 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

 rest and remain with you,

 today, and every day, and for ever. Amen

1 thought on “Sunday Worship, 19 December 2021”

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