Evening Prayer
Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 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 Second week of Advent, and we will light the Candle of Peace.
Last Sunday we lit the First Candle and celebrated the patriarchs and matriarchs of our
faith, recalling our hope in Christ.
The first candle is lit.
Today we light the second candle of Advent, the candle of peace. We remember the
prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saiour would be born, a king in
the line of David. The prophet Isaiah called Christ “the Prince of Peace.” They told us
how he would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations.
Jesus taught that the peacemakers shall be called the children of God. Christ came in
and when he returns he will bring peace everlasting.
The second candle is lit.
Peace is like a light shining in the dark. As we look at the light of this candle we
celebrate the peace we have in Jesus Christ.
Let us pray:
All: Lord Jesus, Light of the World, the prophets said you would bring peace and save
your people. Give us peace as we await your coming again. Help us to worship you,
to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with one another. In
your name we pray. AMEN
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: Comfort, Comfort O My People
Common Praise 100
1 1 Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak ye peace: thus saith our God.
comfort those who sit in darkness
bowed beneath oppression's load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them:
tell her that her sins I cover,
and her warfare now is over.
2 Hark! The herald's voice is calling
in the desert far and near,
calling us to new repentance
since the reign of God is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for Christ a way;
let the valleys rise to meet him,
and the hills bow down to greet him.
3 Make ye straight what long was
crooked;
make the rougher places plain.
let your hearts be true and humble
as befits Messiah's reign.
For the glory of the Lord
now o'er earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that God's word is never broken.
Text: Johann Oleariusnch(1611-1684) trans. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
Music: GENEVAN 42 Louis Bourgeois
The Proclamation of the Word
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and
cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has
received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: "In the
wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for
our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the
glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken." A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I
cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass
withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the
people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will
stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift
up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not
fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Lord God comes with
might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense
before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his
arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
ISAIAH 40:1-11
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
PSALM: Psalm 85
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 SECOND LETTER OF PETER
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a
thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about
his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to
perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements
will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be
disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of
persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set
ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with
his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at
home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be
found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our
Lord as salvation.
2 PETER 3:8-15A
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
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out
in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" John the baptizer appeared in
the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the
whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by
him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather
belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I
have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
MARK 1:1-8
Sermon : Peace on the left, justice on the right. The Judgment of Christ,
and the Gift of Peace.
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
Hear O Israel
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,
who sent your servant John the Baptist
to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah,
inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth,
to turn our disobedient hearts to you,
that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge,
we may stand with confidence before his glory;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn: Praise the One who Breaks the Darkness
Common Praise 397
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
May the Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.