1. Welcome and Intimations

  2. Lighting of the Advent Candle

  3. Candle liturgy

    4. One:
    Last Sunday we lit the first candle—the candle of hope. Today we light the second candle, the candle of peace. We light it knowing full well that peace is elusive, and in some parts of the world, it is almost completely absent. Yet in this season of Advent, we trust that God is never absent from us. God is always preparing something new. And even where there is war and discord, whether between countries, within families, or within our own hearts, God is present, gently leading us to new possibilities.

    (Two purple candles are lit.)

    O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
    who to thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
    in ancient times didst give the law
    in cloud and majesty and awe:

    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
    shall come to thee, O Israel.


    All:
    Loving God, in this time of preparation and planning,
    We thank you for the hope and peace you unfailingly offer us.
    Show us the creative power of hope.
    Teach us the peace that comes from justice.
    Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
    That we may walk in the light of Christ.

  4. Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

    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.

  5. CH4 277 Hark the Glad Sound!

    1. Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
      the Saviour promised long:
      let every heart exult with joy,
      and every voice with song!

    2. He comes, the prisoners to relieve,
      in Satan's bondage held;
      the gates of brass before him burst,
      the iron fetters yield.

    3. He comes the broken hearts to bind,
      the bleeding souls to cure;
      and with the treasures of his grace
      to enrich the humble poor.

    4. The sacred year has now revolved,
      accepted of the Lord,
      when heaven's high promise is fulfilled,
      and Israel is restored.

    5. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
      thy welcome shall proclaim;
      and heaven's exalted arches ring
      with thy most honoured name.

    1. Isaiah 40:1-11
    2. Mark 1:1-8

  7. CH4 274 Comfort, Comfort Now My People

    1. Comfort, comfort now my people;
      speak of peace - so says your God.
      Comfort those who sit in darkness,
      burdened by a heavy load.
      To Jerusalem proclaim:
      God shall take away your shame.
      Now get ready to recover;
      guilt and suffering are over.

    2. Hear the herald's proclamation
      in the desert far and near,
      calling all to true repentance,
      telling that the Lord is near.
      Oh, that warning cry obey!
      For your God prepare a way.
      Let the valleys rise to greet him
      and the hills bow down to meet him.

    3. Straighten out what has been crooked,
      make the roughest places plain.
      Let your hearts be true and humble,
      live as fits God's holy reign.
      Soon the glory of the Lord
      shall on earth be shed abroad.
      Human flesh shall surely see it,
      God is ready to decree it.

  8. Meditation

  9. CH4 286 Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

    4. 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 children’s children and for evermore!

    1962 renewal, 1990 Hope Publishing Co

  10. Offering

  11. Prayer of Intercession

  12. CH4 334 On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry

    1. On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
      announces that the Lord is nigh.
      Awake and harken, for he brings
      glad tidings of the King of kings!

    2. Then cleansed be every heart from sin:
      make straight the way for God within,
      prepare we in our hearts a home,
      where such a mighty Guest may come.

    3. For you are our salvation, Lord,
      our refuge and our great reward.
      Without your grace we waste away
      like flowers that wither and decay.

    4. Stretch out your hand, to heal our sore,
      and make us rise to fall no more.
      once more upon your people shine,
      and fill the world with love divine.

    5. All praise to you, eternal Son,
      whose advent has our freedom won,
      whom with the Father we adore,
      and Holy Spirit, evermore.

  13. Blessing