Bulletins

We are gathered in His presence to hear His Word, call upon Him in prayer, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us, therefore, first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot save ourselves. Together as God’s people, let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and pray:

It is in the name of Jesus that we come before you, heavenly Father, pleading the merits of his holy life, his innocent suffering and death.

Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts, that they may be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Adapted from the Advent Carol Service used at St. Paul’s Cathedral in England, today’s service is part of a long tradition of vivid Advent services whose purpose is to help us as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and for his coming again in glory. Much of the service is drawn from ancient sources. Some of the images have been used from the beginnings of Israel, through the period of the New Testament, through the Middle Ages to the present day. Every age has found in them a new richness through which God’s continuous mercy, revealed most dramatically in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, can be seen.

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.