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
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