Week 2 of Advent

(words to hymns and bible readings follow the Call to Worship)

Welcome and Intimations
Call to Worship
MP 249 :How lovely on the mountains
All age talk
Lighting the second candle
Prayer
JP 144 : Joy is the flag
Advent video
Giving Service thoughts
Prayer
Introduction to reading
Reading Luke 1 : 57 – 64 & 68 – 79
MP 210 : Hark the glad sound
Reflection
Prayer
CH4 662: Jesus thou joy of loving hearts
Communion
MP211: Hark the Herald
Benediction

 

Call to Worship
Let us hear the word
Comfort, comfort my people,
Let us hear the word
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.

MP 249 :How lovely on the mountains

1 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news, good news proclaiming peace,
announcing news of happiness,
our God reigns, our God reigns!
our God reigns, our God reigns,
our God reigns, our God reigns!

2 You watchmen, lift your voices joyfully as one,
shout for your King, your King,
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion:
your God reigns, your God reigns!
your God reigns, your God reigns,
your God reigns, your God reigns!

3 Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy,
we are redeemed, redeemed.
The Lord has saved and comforted His people;
your God reigns, your God reigns!
your God reigns, your God reigns,
your God reigns, your God reigns!

4 Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God,
Jesus is Lord, is Lord
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm:
your God reigns, your God reigns!
your God reigns, your God reigns,
your God reigns, your God reigns!

JP 144 : Joy is the flag

Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart,
from the castle of my heart,
from the castle of my heart,
Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart,
when the King is in residence there.
So let it fly in the sky, let the whole world know
let the whole world know
let the whole world know
So let it fly in the sky, let the whole world know
That the King is in residence there.

Luke 1:57-64  & 68 – 79 Good News Translation

The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbours and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.
When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.”
They said to her, “But you don’t have any relative with that name!” Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.
Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God.
“Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free. He has provided for us a mighty Saviour, a descendant of his servant David. He promised through his holy prophets long ago that he would save us from our enemies, from the power of all those who hate us. He said he would show mercy to our ancestors and remember his sacred covenant.
With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham he promised to rescue us from our enemies and allow us to serve him without fear, so that we might be holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.
“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his road for him,  to tell his people that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace.”

Luke 1 : 57 – 64 New International Version

 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Luke 1 – 68 – 79 New International Version – UK

‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),  salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us – to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness
and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,  because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace

MP 210 : Hark the glad sound

1 Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long;
let every heart prepare a throne,
and every voice a song.

2 He comes, the prisoners to release
in Satan’s bondage held;
the chains of sin before Him break,
the iron fetters yield.

3 He comes to free the captive mind
where evil thoughts control;
and for the darkness of the blind,
gives light that makes them whole.

4 He comes the broken heart to bind,
that wounded soul to cure;
and with the treasures of His grace
to enrich the humble poor.

5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
Your welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven’s eternal arches ring
with Your beloved name.

CH4 662: Jesus thou joy of loving hearts

1 Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts,
thou light of life, thou fount of grace;
from the best bliss that earth imparts
we turn unfilled to seek thy face.

2 Thy truth unchanged has ever stood;
thou savest those that on thee call:
to those that seek thee thou art good,
to those that find thee, all in all.

3 We taste thee, O thou living bread,
and long to feast upon thee still;
we drink of thee, the fountain head,
and thirst our souls from thee to fill.

4 Our restless spirits yearn for thee,
where’er our changeful lot is cast,
glad when thy gracious smile we see,
blest when our faith can hold thee fast.

5 O Jesus, ever with us stay;
make all our moments calm and bright;
chase the dark night of sin away:
shed o’er the world thy holy light.

 

MP211: Hark the Herald

1 Hark the herald – angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled’
Joyful, all you nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
Chorus – Hark! the herald-angels king,
“Glory to the new-born King!’

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold Him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail, the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel.

3 Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that man no more may die;
born to raise the sons of earth
born to give them second birth.