Topic: Morning Prayer Advent -2
Time: Nov 15, 2020 11:00 AM
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Killiskey Parish
Sunday 15th November 2020 @ 11.00am
The Second Sunday before Advent
SERVICE OF MORNING PRAYER
The Gathering of God’s People
GREETING
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Opening Hymn: CH140 “The Lord will come and not be slow” (vs. 1, 4-6)
The Lord will come and not be slow,
his footsteps cannot err;
before him righteousness shall go,
his royal harbinger.
Rise, God, and judge thou the earth in might,
this wicked earth redress;
for thou art he who shall by right
the nations all possess.
The nations all whom thou hast made
shall come, and all shall frame
to bow them low before thee, Lord,
and glorify thy name.
For great thou art, and wonders great
by thy strong hand are done:
thou in thine everlasting seat
remainest God alone.
John Milton (1608-74) altd.
based on a selection of verses from Psalms 82, 85, 86
SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40 : 31
INTRODUCTION
Beloved in Christ,
we come together to offer to Almighty God
our worship and praise and thanksgiving,
to confess our sins and to receive God’s forgiveness,
to hear his holy word proclaimed,
to bring before him our needs and the needs of the world,
and to pray that in the power of his Spirit
we may serve him and know the greatness of his love.
Let us confess our sins to God our Father.
Silence is kept.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
The First Reading: Zephaniah 1: 7, 12-18
Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is at hand;
the Lord has prepared a sacrifice,
he has consecrated his guests.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
and I will punish the people
who rest complacently on their dregs,
those who say in their hearts,
‘The Lord will not do good,
nor will he do harm.’
Their wealth shall be plundered,
and their houses laid waste.
Though they build houses,
they shall not inhabit them;
though they plant vineyards,
they shall not drink wine from them.
The great day of the Lord is near,
near and hastening fast;
the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter,
the warrior cries aloud there.
That day will be a day of wrath,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
against the fortified cities
and against the lofty battlements.
I will bring such distress upon people
that they shall walk like the blind;
because they have sinned against the Lord,
their blood shall be poured out like dust,
and their flesh like dung.
Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath;
in the fire of his passion
the whole earth shall be consumed;
for a full, a terrible end
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
After the reading silence may be kept.
The Psalm: Psalm 90 (sung)
1 Lord, thou hast been our refuge : from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made : thou art God
from everlasting; and world without end.
3 Thou turnest man to destruction : again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday : seeing that is past as a watch in the night.
5 As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep : and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up : but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7 For we consume away in thy displeasure : and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee : and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 For when thou art angry all our days are gone : we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is
told.
10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten : and though men be so strong that they come to
fourscore years : yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are
gone.
11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath : or feareth aright thy indignation?
12 So teach us to number our days : that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13 Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last : and be gracious unto thy servants.
14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon : so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us : and for the years wherein we have
suffered adversity.
16 Shew thy servants thy work : and their children thy glory.
17 And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us : prosper thou the work of our hands upon
us, O prosper thou our handywork.
Glory be to the Father, ♦︎
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, ♦︎
is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written
to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour
pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness,
for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not
of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;
for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the
day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died
for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another
and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
After the reading silence may be kept.
Hymn before the Gospel: CH487 “Soldiers of Christ, arise”
Soldiers of Christ, arise,
and put your armour on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies,
through His eternal Son;
Strong in the Lord of Hosts,
and in His mighty power:
who in the strength of Jesus trusts
is more than conqueror.
Stand then in His great might,
with all His strength endued;
and take, to arm you for the fight,
the panoply of God,
To keep your armour bright
attend with constant care,
still walking in your Captain’s sight
and watching unto prayer.
From strength to strength go on,
wrestle, and fight, and pray;
tread all the powers of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day:
that, having all things done,
and all your conflicts past,
ye may o’ercome, through Christ alone,
and stand complete at last.
Charles Wesley (1707-88) altd.
based on Ephesians 6: 10-18
The Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30
‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one
he gave five talents to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more
talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had
received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long
time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the
five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents;
see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you
have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your
master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two
talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy
slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the
joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I
knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter
seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his
master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and
gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my
return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to
the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an
abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this
worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
After the reading silence may be kept.
THE SERMON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 again 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 Prayers of the People
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Kneel
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
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.
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
O Lord, guide and defend our rulers
and grant our government wisdom.
Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness
and let your servants shout for joy.
O Lord, save your people
and bless those whom you have chosen.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
O God, make clean our hearts within us
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
THE COLLECTS
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
Grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory,
we may be made like him
in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
COLLECTS AT MORNING PRAYER
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
to know you is eternal life, and to serve you is perfect freedom:
Defend us in all assaults of our enemies,
that we, surely trusting in your protection,
may not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everliving God,
we give you thanks for bringing us safely to this day:
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger,
and in all things guide us to know and do your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
United in the company of all the faithful
and looking for the coming of the kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God,
the source of all life and holiness.
Merciful Lord,
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, have mercy.
Bless Michael our bishop, and all ministers of your Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy temple in the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit,
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ
from glory to glory.
Lord, have mercy.
Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Lord, have mercy.
Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all those who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, have mercy.
Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain,
that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, have mercy.
Remember in your mercy all those gone before us,
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity;
preserve in your faith your servants on earth,
guide us to your kingdom,
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord, have mercy.
Hasten the day when many will come
from east and west, from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them,
be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Closing Hymn: CH598 “Take this moment, sign and space”
Take this moment, sign and space;
take my friends around;
here among us make the place
where your love is found.
Take the time to call my name,
take the time to mend
who I am and what I’ve been,
all I’ve failed to tend.
Take the tiredness of my days,
take my past regret,
letting your forgiveness touch
all I can’t forget.
Take the little child in me,
scared of growing old;
help me here to find my worth
made in Christ’s own mould.
Take my talents, take my skills,
take what’s yet to be;
let my life be yours, and yet,
let it still be me.
John L Bell (b. 1949)
and Graham Maude (1958-2019)
Going Out as God’s People
To him who is able to keep us from falling
and to present us without blemish
before the presence of his glory with rejoicing,
to the only God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, dominion and authority,
before all time and now and for ever.
Amen.
Jude 24, 25