Advent Holy Communion, Wednesday 7 December 2022, 6pm
This service is being held via Zoom
To join us, please follow this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87505225036?pwd=NldJdzNGdGw2VTFMRno3MG1lQVd4Zz09
Welcome
Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Gathering Prayer
Lord, you are the source of all hope and healing. As we gather today, and winter
approaches fast, may you warm our cold hearts and strengthen our weak spirits.
Lead us away from the dark places where our doubts take us, and take us instead along
your holy, hope-filled way.
Amen.
Silence
Confession
Living God, thank you for the opportunity to reflect and mull Scripture together. We know that sometimes to doubt is to grow – so, forgive us when we allow our doubts to diminish us; sometimes looking back helps us to advance – so, forgive us when we allow our memories to cripple us; sometimes recognising our tiredness can lead to real rest – so, forgive us when we allow our weariness to demoralise us. Forgive us, and help us to glimpse your presence in our lives and in our world, that we may negotiate all obstacles to our faith and be empowered afresh. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Silence
Reliable God,
you heal us when we are wounded,
you free us when we are bound,
you reassure us when we wobble;
and when we lose sight of you,
you show us your love in action
and your presence with us.
Thank you holy, humble, here and now God.
Thank you. Amen.
Bible Reading
Matthew 11.2-11
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’
4 Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see:5 the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
The Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world. In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise. We join with them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh whose brokenness and suffering makes love real, who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup saying, drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
This is the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth. We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish. We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.
Send your Spirit on us now that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power Be yours forever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 forever.
Amen.
THE COMMUNION
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. Amen.
After Communion
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts; kindle in us the fire of your Spirit that when your Christ comes again we may shine as lights before his face; who is alive and reigns now and for ever.
Amen
Blessing
Lord, as we go out into the world, may we be signs of your coming kingdom.
As we struggle through the dark, may we know that you are there with us.
And, as we walk the way of faith, may we know that your faithfulness is deeper than our doubts. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you today and always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.
Amen
