The Fourth Sunday of Advent
18th December 2011
For services, please see Daily Prayer (Morning), Daily Prayer (Evening) and Holy Communion.
Principal Service
Collect One
Lord,
we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers,
and by thy gracious visitation
lighten the darkness of our hearts
by our Lord Jesus Christ;
who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Collect Two
God our redeemer,
who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
Grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Advent Collect
God our redeemer,
who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
Grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
This collect is said after the Collect of the day until Christmas Eve.
Almighty God,
Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,
and put upon us the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which thy Son Jesus Christ
came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty
to judge both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.
The First Reading
The Psalm
The Second Reading
The Gospel Reading
View readingsPost Communion Prayer
Heavenly Father,
you have given us a pledge of eternal redemption.
Grant that we may always eagerly celebrate
the saving mystery of the incarnation of your Son.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Suggested Hymns
1st Reading 2 Samuel 7: 1–11, 16
342 Sweet is the solemn voice that calls
73* The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
343* We love the place, O God
Canticle for Psalm Magnificat (Luke 1: 47–55) [A3AB/A4C]
704* Mary sang a song, a song of love
712* Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
373* To God be the glory! Great things he has done!
Alternative Psalm Psalm 89: 1–4, 19–26
690* Come, worship God who is worthy of honour
374* When all thy mercies, O my God
2nd Reading Romans 16: 25–37
636* May the mind of Christ my Saviour
175 Of the Father’s heart begotten
The Gospel Luke 1: 26–38 [3–25]
119* Come, thou long–expected Jesus
263* Crown him with many crowns (vv. 1, 2, 5, 6)
462 For Mary, mother of our Lord
123 God the Father sends his angel
125* Hail to the Lord’s anointed
92* How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
94* In the name of Jesus
97* Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
99* Jesus, the name high over all
133* Long ago, prophets knew
704* Mary sang a song, a song of love
175 Of the Father’s heart begotten
472 Sing we of the blessèd mother
139 The angel Gabriel from heaven came
73* The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
185 Virgin–born, we bow before thee
477 We praise you, Lord, today