Worship at Home
Worship for the Week Beginning 28th November 2021
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Sunday 28th November
Rev Francis M’Itiiri has prepared this week’s message
This short act of worship is for use from home. Please use this service whenever you like during the week.
Pause to settle yourself in God’s presence, knowing that other people are sharing in worship with you.
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© ROOTS for Churches Ltd www.rootsontheweb.com. Reproduced with permission.
Gathering of God’s people.
As we gather, together as God’s children, let us join others gathering around the vestry or in front of churches in preparation to worship our God. Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as intense, the lifting of our hearts and hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold your presence, be present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you are in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of your love to keep your light burning.
Amen
Advent 1 – the Advent hope
Jesus said, ‘Keep awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ’Amen.
Come soon, Lord Jesus!
The first candle is lit and this response is used
Jesus is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can ever put out.
we sing:
Advent candles tell their story as we watch and pray, longing for the Day of Glory,
’Come, Lord, soon,’ we say.
Pain and sorrow, tears and sadness,
Changed for gladness on that Day.
@copyright Words © Mark Earey
Call to worship – Psalm 25:1-2, 4-5
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. O my God, in you I trust.do not let me be put to shame. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.
Prayers of confession
For the mending of our hearts, torn apart by our unkindness. For the healing of our souls, wasting away from the despair around us;
Holy God, hear our prayer
for the forgiveness we seek for the sin we have allowed to persist. For the reconciliation of the world, whose division condemns us; we pray for the courage to admit our fault, the strength to amend our actions, and the hope that your grace awaits us. Through Christ we pray.
Amen
Hymn: 172; Hills of the north, rejoice
Hills of the north, rejoice,
Echoing songs arise,
ail with united voice
Him who made earth and skies:
He comes in righteousness and love,
He brings salvation from above.
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.
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
ln Christ draws near, and calls you now.
Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
Welcome the heavenly guest
ln 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.
Bible Reading
25 ‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’
29 He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig-tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 ‘Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 ‘Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.’
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Time to Reflect
I am glad to bring to you the reflection of today from Luke Gospel 21:25-36
Jesus employs a momentous image that suggests effects on the cosmic order expressing an embodiment of threat to humanity, hence calling for immediate response and action.
The gospel of Luke welcomes us to contemplate on these emerging threats but with hope and joyful expectation in preparedness for our redemption on Christ’s return. Christ loves creation that is restored and in peace. The prayer is then to live in the words of the hymn, ‘’when you come with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
The central message for this advent is called to be preparing, watchful and in continuous prayers. And when times decide to be tough and perilous, we are encouraged to surrender to the will of the almighty. In the words of the hymn, will your Anchor hold….
The invite in Verse 27 demonstrates a momentous period standing up into the gaze of the messianic coming, for liberation which humanity has been waiting for.! There will be no secret for the return of Christ. His arrival will be witnessed by a world at large. the things that have happened bringing about several anxieties will be overshadowed by the joyful of advent. God’s children will be able to hold their heads high. Amen
Hymn: There is a hope that burns within my heart
There is a hope that burns within my heart,
that gives me strength for every passing day.
A glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part,
yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven.
And Christ in me, the hope of heaven!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
to make His will my home.
There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
a consolation strong against despair,
that when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Saviour there!
Through present sufferings, future’s fear,
He whispers ‘courage’ in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.
There is a hope that stands the test of time,
that lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
to see the matchless beauty of a day divine
when I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
and every longing satisfied.
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
for I am truly home.
Take a time to sit quietly. A time of prayer
Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and many are struggling with the heaviness of life, Jesus, we need your peace. When wondering and worried of so many things that bring pressure on us, give us peace, as believers help us to treat our roles in your Kingdom crucial and not secondary. And as the salt of the earth and its component that keeps it being salt, May we too be the salt and your light in sharing the message of your love .Now as you have promised in your holy word to give rest for the weary, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the broken hearted, We know that peace on earth can only come when our hearts find peace with you. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
Take some silent moments, to be thankful to God for things that come into your heart,
or sing a verse of a hymn that comes to mind
A prayer of blessing
May the words we have heard and prayed and shared echo in our minds, stay in our hearts and re-shape our lives. May we know the Living Word of God with us now and always.
Amen
Service prepared by Rev Francis M’Itiiri
Webpage: Paul Deakin