Evening Prayer 22nd December 2021

Topic: Suzanne Harris’ Zoom Meeting
Time: Dec 22, 2021 07:30 PM London

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EVENING PRAYER – Wednesday 22nd December  2021

 

 

The Greeting

 

May the light and love and peace of Christ be with you all, this Christmas time.

And also with you.

 

 

Sentence of Scripture

 

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him”                1 John 4 v 9

 

 

Penitence

 

During Advent, we have remembered how the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and                                     Mary, all gave themselves fully in doing God’s will.

 

Let us confess our failings in the service of our Lord,

 

When we are faced with a challenge but regress to old attitudes,

Lord have mercy,                                Lord have mercy,

 

When we face difficult times but fail to trust in your good purposes,

Christ have mercy,                              Christ have mercy,

 

When we look inwards to our selfish concerns rather than outwards to a world in need,

Lord have mercy,                                Lord have mercy,

 

When we are agents of gloom rather than messengers of hope,

Christ have mercy,                              Christ have mercy,

 

 

The almighty and merciful God, grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, time for                           amendment of life and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

 

 

Reading – Micah 4 verse 1 – 5 The Mountain of the Lord

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.                                                                   Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Everyone will sit under their own vine  and under their own fig tree,                                                                 and no one will make them afraid,  for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
All the nations may walk  in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord  our God for ever and ever

 

 

Ephesians 2 v 11 – 22 Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

 

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—

12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

 

 

 

Few thoughts

 

 

Canticle – MAGNIFICAT

My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices
My God forever he will be, bless his holy name.

He looks upon me his servant, looks on me in my lowliness.
He works marvels for me, Hence forth all ages call me blessed, Call me blessed.

He scatters the proud hearted, casts the mighty from their thrones.
His mighty arm before me, In strength he raises the lowly, raises the lowly.

He fills the starving with plenty, but empty sends the rich away.

From age to age his mercy, The mercy promised us forever, promised forever.

My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices
My God forever he will be, bless his holy name

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen

 

 

Advent Creed

 

We believe in one God, who is Creator,

maker of all we see and all we don’t see.

Who is Ruler of the universe: Source of all creation!

 

We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ,

God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human.

He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh,

our Messiah: Saviour of all creation!

 

We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit,

Breath of God moving among us;

Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ;

our Comforter and our Guide: Mentor of all creation!

 

 

The Prayers of the People

 

Lord hear us                            Response – Lord help us

 

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.

 

The Blessing

 

God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith;

the warmth of Christmas, which is love;

the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;

the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;

the belief in Christmas, which is truth;

the all of Christmas, which is Christ and the blessing of God Almighty,                                                                          the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always.  Amen.