SELF-SERVICE for SUNDAY, 13th DECEMBER 2020
ORDER OF SERVICE
for the Third Sunday of Advent
Our thanks to all contributing to this service, particularly to Revd. Paul Frostick, who has led a number of services here in the past, and who is giving the final blessing.
HYMN Click and join in or listen:
Ye servants of the Lord
1 Ye servants of the Lord,
each in his office wait,
observant of his heavenly word,
and watchful at his gate.
2 Let all your lamps be bright,
and trim the golden flame;
gird up your loins as in his sight,
for aweful is his name.
3 Watch! 'tis your Lord's command,
and while we speak, he's near;
mark the first signal of his hand,
and ready all appear.
4 O happy servant he
in such a posture found!
he shall his Lord with rapture see,
and be with honour crowned.
5 Christ shall the banquet spread
with his own royal hand,
and raise that faithful servant's head
amid the angelic band.
COLLECT for the Third Sunday of Advent:
God for whom we watch and wait,
You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
Give us courage to speak the truth,
To hunger for justice,
And to suffer for the cause of right,
With Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
INSPIRATION Virginia Smith talks about a lady who inspired her greatly.
ANTHEM Click and listen to members of the choir accompanied by James:
Jesus Christ the apple tree
sung to the Somerset folk tune 'O Waly, waly', collected by Cecil Sharp,
arranged by Alan Bullard
FIRST READING
Rejoice, pray, give thanks always, for God is faithful.
Marilyn Coates reads 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 24
HYMN Click and join in or listen:
Hark, a thrilling voice is calling
GOSPEL READING
John is the one crying in the wilderness, making straight the Lord's way.
David reads John 1: 6 – 8
SERMON Preached by David
Instructions for Advent, or what to do while you're waiting
HYMN Click and join in or listen:
Hail to the Lord's annointed
PRAYERS Led by Martha
Let us join with Francis and Liz, saying
THE LORD'S PRAYER:
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
HYMN Click and join in or listen:
BLESSING given by Paul Frostick
ORGAN VOLUNTARY
James Stanton plays Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
(Sleepers awake, a voice is calling) by J.S. Bach
COLLECTION If you would like to make a donation to St Mary's Church, please click here to make a secure credit card payment.
Heart-felt thanks to all who are supporting the work of the church.
PLEASE NOTE that the link below now takes you to a new, secure online donation platform for churches, Give a Little, which is financially supported by the Church of England.
Background illustration: a detail from
St John the Baptist preaching
by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Raphael), c1483 - 1520
The Ansidei Altarpiece, San Fiorenzo, Perugia, Italy