First Hymn

Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here;
come bow before him now
with reverence and fear:
in him no sin is found we stand on holy ground.
Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.

Lighting of
the Advent Candle

The Lord is my light

and my salvation.
The Lord is my light
and my salvation.

Glory be to the Father and the son,

and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is my light
and my salvation.

Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
how awesome is the sight our radiant King of light!
Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.

A Light no darkness
can quench.

Prayers

As we celebrate, eager and

expectant, this solemn season of
Advent, looking forward to the birth of
the Christ Child, let us renew in
ourselves that vision of Gods perfect
kingdom which is the end of all our
strivings and the consummation of
Gods loving purpose for us.
Come Lord Jesus

Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
he comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace no work too hard for him.
In faith receive from him.
Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.

In sorrow and penitence we confess

our failures and our shortcomings
and seek pardon for those sins which
frustrate his redemptive purpose and
hinder the advent of his reign of love.
Come Lord Jesus
2

So, in prayer, praise and song do we 3

Prayer for the
give voice to the hope set forth in the
World-Wide
scriptures, that his kingdom shall
Mothers Union
come; and, as we prepare for that
O God,
day to dawn upon us from on high,
our heavenly Father,
so we commend ourselves and the
we ask you to bless the
whole human family to his keeping.
work of the Mothers Union
Come Lord Jesus
throughout the world,
and especially
May he guide us into the way of
in each diocese
peace, give light to those who sit in
for which we pray today.
darkness and in the shadow of
Bless our members
death, and kindle in us the fire of his
in their lives
love
and in their homes,
Come Lord Jesus
that they,
being strengthened in love
The Lords Prayer
to you and to each other,
Our Father in heaven,
may serve you faithfully
Hallowed be your name,
to your glory;
Your kingdom come,
through Jesus Christ,
Your will be done,
our Lord.
On earth as in heaven,
Amen
Give us today
our daily bread.
Reading
Forgive us our sins
Luke Chapter 1 v 26 to 38
As we forgive those
The angel Gabriel was sent
Who sin against us/
by God to Mary
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power,
And the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
3

Second Hymn

O come, O come, Immanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice, rejoice! Immanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes on Sinais height
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice, rejoice.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satans tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory oer the grave.
Rejoice, rejoice.
O come, Thou Dayspring,
come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And deaths dark shadows
put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads
on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice, rejoice.

Reading
Matthew Chapter 1 v 18 to 25
An angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream

Third Hymn

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.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of ev'ry nation,
joy of ev'ry longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver;
born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us for ever;
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit,
rule in all our hearts alone:
by thine all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Reading
Luke Chapter 1 v 39 to 45
Mary visits Elizabeth

Fourth Hymn

Hark, the glad sound!

The Saviour comes
the Saviour promised long;
let every heart prepare a throne,
4 and every voice a song.

He comes, the prisoners to release

in Satans bondage held;
the chains of sin before him break
the iron fetters yield.
He comes to free the captive mind
where evil thoughts control;
and for the darkness of the blind,
gives light that makes a whole.

5 Tell out, my soul,

the greatness of his name!
Make known his might,
The deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure,
from age to age the same;
His holy name - the Lord,
the Mighty one.
Tell out, my soul,
the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions
lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills
are put to flight,
the hungry fed,
the humble lifted high.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

the wounded soul to cure;
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
your welcome shall proclaim;
and heavens eternal arches ring
with your beloved name.

Tell out, my soul,

the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise,
and his mercy sure:
tell out, my soul,
the greatness of the Lord
to childrens children
and for evermore!

Reading
Luke Chapter 1 v 46 to 56
Marys Song

Fifth hymn

Tell out, my Soul,

the greatness of the Lord;
unnumbered blessings
give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise
of his word;
in God my Saviour
shall my heart rejoice.

Reading
Luke Chapter 1 v 57 to 66
The naming of John

Sixth Hymn

Lo, he comes with

clouds descending,
Once for favoured sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia! (x3)
God appears on earth to reign.

Reading
John Chapter 1 v 2 to 14
The coming of Christ

Prayers

Lord our God; on the first day of

creation you made the light that
scatters all Darkness. Let Christ,
the Light of Lights, hidden from all
eternity, shine at last on your people
and free us from the Darkness of
sin. Fill our lives with joy as we go
out to welcome your son at his
coming. We ask this in the name of
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Every eye shall now behold him

Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who set at naught
and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, (x3)
Shall their true Messiah see.
Those dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshippers:
With what rapture, (x3)
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

May God the Father

Who loved the world so much
That he sent his only Son,
Give us grace to prepare
for eternal life.
May God the Son, who comes to us
As Redeemer and Judge
Reveal to us the path
from darkness to light.

Yea, Amen, let all adore Thee,

High on Thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for Thine own:
Come, Lord Jesus! (x3)
Everlasting God, come down!

May God the Holy Spirit, by whose

working, the Virgin Mary
conceived the Christ.
Help us bear the fruits
of holiness. Amen
6

Final Hymn

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.

We wait for your loving kindness,

O God,
In the midst of your temple.
The glory of the Lord
shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall
see it together.

Isles of the Southern seas,

sing to the listening earth,
carry on every breeze
hope of a world's new birth:
in Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is sure, his promise true.

Show us your mercy, O Lord,

And grant us your salvation.

Advent Blessing

May Christ the Son of Righteousness

shine upon us Scatter the darkness
from before our path, and make us
ready to meet him when he comes in
glory; and may the blessing of God
almighty, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, be upon us and those
whom we love, this day and always.
Amen.

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, & calls you now.
Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heavenly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o'er our darkest night.
Shout, as you journey on,
songs be in every mouth,
lo, from the North they come,
from East and West and South:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the sons of earth be blest.

Closing Response