Evening Prayer
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020
(adapted from the Book of Alternative Services, pages 61-71)
Our Service Begins with the Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Advent I: The Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel
Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: Today is the First week of Advent, in which we recall the hope we have in Christ.
God told Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed,
because he trusted and put his hope in God. The Scriptures spoke of the coming of
Christ, how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of King David. He would rule
the world wisely and bless all the nations. We too believe in God’s promise to
send Jesus again to this world to establish his kingdom upon the earth.
The first candle is lit.
Hope is like a light shining in the dark. As we look at the light of this candle we
celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
Let us pray:
All: God of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel, Your love is revealed to us in Jesus
Christ your Son. Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth, to make our hearts
ready and to place our hope in you. Help us to worship you to hear your word, and
to share your hope with others. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in
Bethlehem. AMEN
Opening Sentence:
Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke
21.28
Officiant O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
People Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Officiant Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as
incense,
People The lifting up of my hands as the evening
sacrifice.
All Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Except in Lent, add,
Alleluia!
Opening Hymn: People Look East! The Time is Near
Common Praise 91
1 People loo east! The time is near of
the crowning of the year. Make your
house fair as you are able, trim the
hearth and set the table. People, look
east and sing today: Love the guest is
on the way.
2 Furrows be glad! Though earth is
bare, one more seed is planted there:
give up your strength the seed to
nourish, that in course the flower may
flourish. People, look east and sing
today: Love, the rose, is on the way.
3 Birds, though you long have ceased
to build, guard the nest that must be
filled; even the hour when wings are
forezen God for fledging time has
chosen. People, look east and sing
today: Love, the bird, is on the way.
4 Stars, keep the watch: when night is
dim one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east, and sing today: Love,
the star, is on the way.
5. Angels, announce with shouts of
mirth Christ who brings new life to
earth. Set every peak and valley
humming with the word, the Lord is
coming. People, look east and sing
today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Text: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)
Music: BESANÇON French trad.)
The Proclamation of the Word
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF 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 forever. Now consider,
we are all your people.
ISAIAH 64:1-9
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
PSALM: Psalm 80
80
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like
a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the
cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and
Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall
be saved.4 O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our
neighbours, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall
be saved.
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right
hand, *
the son of man you have made so strong for
yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your name.
18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall
be saved.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd; you have
led us to the kingdom of your Father’s love. Forgive our
careless indifference to your loving care for all your creatures,
and remake us in the likeness of your new and risen life. We
ask this in your name.
A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
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.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:3-9
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
The congregation may stand or sit for a Gospel reading. The
reader may say,
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to . . .
People Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then at the conclusion of the Gospel, the reader says,
The Gospel of Christ.
People Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus said, "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."
MARK 13:24-37
Sermon : Is it Tomorrow or Just the End of Time: Advent and the Four
Last Things.
A sermon or other comment on the readings is appropriate at principal
services on Sundays and at other major gatherings of the Christian
community. A silence for reflection may follow.
Affirmation of Faith
Apostle’s Creed
The celebrant may invite the people, in these or similar words, to join in the
recitation of the creed.
Celebrant Let us confess our faith, as
we say,
All I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the
Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Intercessions and Thanksgivings
Intercession or thanksgiving may be offered for
the Church
the Queen and all in authority
the world
the local community
those in need
the departed.
The Collect of the Day:
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ
came to us in great humility,
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge both the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn: O Come Divine Messiah!
1 O come, divine Messiah,
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.
Dear Saviour, haste! Come, come to
earth.
Dispel the night and show your face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, Divine Messiah,
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.
2 O Christ, whom nations sigh for,
Whom priest and prophet long
foretold,
Come, break the captives' fetters,
Redeem the long-lost fold.
Dear Saviour, haste! Come, come to
earth.
Dispel the night and show your face,
and bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, Divine Messiah,
the world in silence waits the day
when hope shall sing its triumph,
and sadness flee away.
3 You come in peace and meekness
and lowly will your cradle be;
all clothed in human weakness
shall we your Godhead see.
Dear Saviour, haste! Come, come to
earth.
Dispel the night and show your face,
and bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, Divine Messiah,
the world in silence waits the day
when hope shall sing its triumph,
and sadness flee away.
Dismissal
Then may be said or sung,
Officiant Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
From Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost, Alleluia is added to
the
dismissal and the people’s response
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.