Sunday 15th November 2020

Second Sunday before Advent



Organ Prelude on Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughan Williams played by Gareth Green, organ (T.C. Lewis organ, 1963)


Prayer of Praise and Adoration

Let us offer our praise to God

We lift our voices in gratitude and praise

Creator we adore you
All creation reflects your glory.

You have made women, men, girls and boys in your image You welcome those who are vulnerable
with open arms of compassionate acceptance:

Redeemer we adore you
All creation is reconciled in you.

Where the weak and broken lie bruised and discarded
You challenge the complacent, revealing the truth behind our lies and invite the wounded to your feast of life.

Sustainer we adore you
All creation is inspired by you.

You breathe life into places of deathly fear;
you increase our understanding of things hard to comprehend and draw us into your dance of loving joy.

God, three in one,
All creation sings of your great deeds.
We lift our voices in gratitude and praise

Amen

The Hymn : How Great Thou Art The Fron Male Voice Choir

Together we pray: 

Most merciful God, 

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

we confess that we have sinned 

in thought, word and deed. 

We have not loved you with our whole heart. 

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. 

In your mercy 

forgive what we have been, 

help us to amend what we are, 

and direct what we shall be; 

that we may do justly, 

love mercy, 

and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. 


 Almighty God, 

who forgives all who truly repent, 

have mercy upon us, 

pardon and deliver us from all our sins, 

confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, 

and keep us in life eternal; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



The Lord's Prayer 


The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

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,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come 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.

The Word of God 

Zephaniah 1.7,12-18
Psalm 90.1-8,12 
1 Thessalonians 5.1-11  

Hymn I want to walk as a child of the light

I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world, The star of my life is Jesus. Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all, The night and the day are both alike. The lamb is the light of the city of God, Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus. I'm looking for the coming of Christ; I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race, We shall know the joy of Jesus. Refrain


Matthew 25.14-30

Homily  for the Second Sunday before Advent

 by Revd Stephen Hannam

Revd. Stephen Hannam

Intercessions (Prayers for Others)

Let us pray for the Church and the World and let us thank God for his goodness, 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,  you promised through Jesus Christ your Son, to hear us, when we pray in faith. We bring before you now in prayer our concerns for the world in which we live, its leaders and its people :

Let us remember before God all those who are suffering throughout the world from the effects of the Covid-19 Coronanvirus -

Those in hospital struggling for their lives and those on the road to recovery.Those who have lost loved ones, close friends or family. Those whose lives have been disrupted and are struggling to make ends meet

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


Let us remember before God all those who are working in the NHS, whether on the front line or in support roles. We thank you for their courage and fortitude  - protect them and deliver them from the virus.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

We pray for those who are close to us in Rastrick and who might be in need of a word of love and hope. in particular we pray for those who are living  or working on Minstead Avenue, Lower Edge Road, Mount Pleasant, Shannon Road, Shannon Close, Bellgrave Court, Church Lane, Sugdens Yard, Sugdens Terrace, Longroyde School, Rastrick Fire Station and  The Care Homes in Rastrick

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

We pray for those in Care homes or at home who are lonely, having seen their world collapse during the Corona virus restrictions. We pray that  volunteers, from whatever background, might come into their lives bringing joy and friendship. 

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 



Our service ends with the Grace, 

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. 


Organ Postlude Arrival of the Queen of Sheba G.F Handel Gert van Hoef - Saint Martin Church, Dudelange