Choral Eucharist for Advent will be livestreamed and available online at Holy Trinity’s YouTube site from 10.55am Sunday at
THE ADVENT PROSE (From Isaiah 64)
Refrain
Drop down ye heavens from above:
and let skies pour down righteousness.
Verse sung by cantor only
Be not wroth, very sore O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever.
The Holy Cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation,
our holy and beautiful house, wherefore our forefathers praised thee.
REFRAIN
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen;
that ye may know me and believe me:
I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour:
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
REFRAIN
Comfort ye, Comfort ye, my people, my Salvation shall not tarry.
I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions.
Fear not, for I will save thee; for I am the Lord thy God,
the Holy one of Israel, thy redeemer.
REFRAIN
Introit Hymn
1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
2 Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
3 Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
APPROACH TO GOD
To you O Lord, I lift up my soul
my God I trust in you.
Show me your ways, O Lord
and teach me your paths.
We wait upon your loving kindness O Lord
in the midst of your Temple.
Be strong and do not fear,
for God will come to save us.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Our Lord Jesus Christ said,
'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
Let us turn from sin and turn to the Lord,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Silence
CONFESSION
God and Father of all:
We prepare our hearts for the coming of your Son,
And we confess our sins, of thought, word and deed:
In what we have done and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive our sins, cleanse our hearts,
and keep us faithful for the coming of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE ABSOLUTION
Almighty God, who sent your only-begotten Son to reconcile the world to Yourself;
lift our hearts from the darkness of sin,
have mercy upon us, pardon and forgive us,
and raise us to new life, in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
KYRIE
COLLECT(S)
The Liturgy of the Word
FIRST READING (from the Old Testament)
A reading from the book of Wisdom
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect. Wisdom 3:1-9
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
PSALM 25:1-6
Response: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you;
let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame;
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
Response
3 Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of
my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
Response
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
remember me according to your love and for the sake of your
goodness, O Lord.
Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the book of Revelation
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Revelation 21:1-6a
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
GRADUAL HYMN
1 Hark! a herald voice is calling:
‘Christ is nigh!’ it seems to say;
‘Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day!’
2 Startled at the solemn warning,
let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
3 Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heav’n;
let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all to be forgiv’n.
4 So when next he comes with glory,
wrapping all the earth in fear,
may he then, as our defender,
on the clouds of heav’n appear.
5 Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
to the Father and the Son,
with the co-eternal Spirit,
while unending ages run.
GOSPEL
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
When the Gospel is announced:
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’
Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’
John 11:32-44
SERMON
CREED from Philippians Chapter 2
We believe in One God
Father Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity in Unity.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son:
Though he was divine
he made himself nothing
Taking the form of a slave.
He was born in human likeness
He humbled himself
and became obedient even to death on a cross.
God has raised him on high
and given him the name that is above all names;
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
and every tongue proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
PEACE
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN
1 Hills of the north, rejoice,
echoing songs arise,
hail with united voice
him who made earth and skies:
he comes in righteousness and love,
he brings salvation from above.
2 Isles of the southern seas,
sing to the list'ning earth,
carry on ev'ry breeze
hope of a world's new birth:
in Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is sure, his promise true.
3 Lands of the east, arise,
he is your brightest morn,
greet him with joyous eyes,
praise shall his path adorn:
the God whom you have longed to know
in Christ draws near, and calls you now.
4 Shores of the utmost west,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heav'nly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o'er our darkest night.
5 Shout, as you journey on,
songs be in ev'ry mouth,
lo, from the north they come,
from east and west and south:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the longing earth be blest.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
PRAYERS OF OFFERING
Even as this broken bread was once scattered over the hills as wheat,
and when gathered together, became one mass,
so let your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom,
for Yours is the Glory and the Power through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Worship and praise belong to you, author of light and life.
Out of nothing you formed the heavens and the earth,
and still you create and renew all things.
The Universe proclaims your power until time will be no more.
In Christ your Son, the life of heaven and earth were joined,
sealing the promise of a new creation, given, yet still to come.
For now we know only in part; then we shall fully understand.
In the beginning your spirit brooded over the face of the waters,
calling into being all that is.
And so we wait in joyful hope,
for the fulfilment of all things in the coming of your Son.
As children of your redeeming purpose,
who watch and work for the coming of your Kingdom,
we offer you our praise, with angels and archangels
and the whole company of heaven
singing the hymn of your unending glory.
SANCTUS
CONSECRATION PRAYER
Glory and thanksgiving be to you, most loving creator,
for the gift of your son, born in human flesh.
He is the word existing beyond time,
both source and final purpose,
bringing to wholeness all that is made.
Obedient to your will, he died upon the cross.
By your power you raised him from the dead.
He broke the bonds of evil, and set your people free
to be his body in the world.
On the night when he was given up to death,
knowing that his hour had come,
having loved his own, he loved them to the end.
At supper with his disciples
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying,
‘Take, eat. This is my Body: it is broken for you.’
After supper, he took the cup, he offered you thanks,
and gave it to them saying:
‘Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant;
it is poured out for you, and for all,
that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.’
We now obey your Son’s command.
We recall his blessed passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension;
and we look for the coming of his Kingdom.
Made one with him, we offer you these gifts
and with them ourselves,
a single, holy, living sacrifice.
THE EPICLESIS
Hear us, most merciful God,
and send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and this wine,
that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,
they may be the Body and Blood of your Son,
and we may be kindled with the fire of your love
and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.
Help us, who are baptised
into the fellowship of Christ’s Body,
to live and work to your praise and glory;
may we grow together in unity and love
until at last, in your new creation,
we enter into our heritage,
in the company of the Virgin Mary,
the apostles and prophets,
and of all our brothers and sisters
living and departed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be to you,
Lord of all ages,
world without end. Amen.
THE FRACTION
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
LORD’S PRAYER
As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us,
we are bold to say;
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
AGNUS DEI
PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS
We do not presume to come to this holy sacrament, merciful Lord,
because we are strong, but because we are weak;
not because of our goodness,
but because we need mercy and help.
We come in weakness, and frailty, and humility.
We come because we love the Lord a little,
and seek to love him more.
We come to take, and eat, in remembrance of you.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
COMMUNION
Communion hymn
Refrain; Continuous:
Wait for the Lord, whose day is near
Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart
Rejoice in the Lord always
God is at hand.
Joy and gladness for all who seek the Lord.
The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed
All the earth will see the Lord.
I waited for the Lord.
God heard my cry.
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord our God.
Seek first the the Kingdom of god.
Seek and you shall find.
O Lord, show us your way.
Guide us in your truth.
THANKSGIVING AND SENDING OUT
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious.
And his mercy endures for ever.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Loving God, your steadfast purpose is the completion of all things in your Son.
May we who have received the pledges of the kingdom,
live by faith, walk in hope and be renewed in love,
until the world reflects your glory and you are all in all;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING
Now may Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us,
and scatter all darkness from before our path;
and the blessing of God Almighty;
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be with us and those for whom we pray,
now and always. Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.
FINAL HYMN
1 Wake, O wake! With tidings thrilling
the watchmen all the air are filling,
arise, Jerusalem, arise!
Midnight strikes! No more delaying,
'The hour has come!' we hear them saying,
'where are ye all, ye maidens wise?
The Bridegroom comes in sight,
raise high your torches bright!'
Alleluia!
The wedding song swells loud and strong:
go forth and join the festal throng.
2 Sion hears the watchmen shouting,
her heart leaps up with joy undoubting,
she stands and waits with eager eyes;
see her Friend from heaven descending,
adorned with truth and grace unending!
Her light burns clear, her star doth rise.
Now come, thou precious Crown,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son!
Alleluia!
Let us prepare to follow there,
where in thy supper we may share.
3 Every soul in thee rejoices;
from earthly and angelic voices
be glory given to thee alone!
Now the gates of pearl receive us,
thy presence never more shall leave us,
we stand with angels round thy throne.
Earth cannot give below
the bliss thou dost bestow.
Alleluia!
Grant us to raise, to length of days,
the triumph-chorus of thy praise.