Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 11 December 2022 – Third Sunday of Advent, Year A

Liturgy in one document: Liturgy in One Document, Advent 3A

Opening sentence

Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.’ (Isa 35:3,4a NRSV)

OR
Be patient. Strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near. (Jas 5:8 NRSV)

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

Lord, hear our prayers,
and graciously come into our hearts
to lighten our darkness;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Modernised Traditional

Lord, listen to our prayers.
Come to us in your kindness,
and lighten the darkness of our hearts.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternative

(Let us pray that we may receive Christ with joy. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God,
each year you make us glad
as we look forward to the birthday of your Son.
May we who joyfully receive him
as our redeemer
confidently face him
when he comes to be our judge.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

New

(Let us pray that we receive Christ with joy. [silence])
Jesus, our promised Messiah,
John the Baptist went ahead of you
and proclaimed the good news
of your coming.
Encourage us to receive you with joy
as our redeemer,
and faithfully follow you.
For you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse

Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the poor.
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming as the promised Messiah.
Help us to receive you in joyful faith.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

Our loving heavenly Father,
we thank you for all the good things you have given us.
Teach us to serve you with patience
and with compassion to one another and all people.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

Alternative Prayer of the Church for Advent 3A

Additional Prayer Points

LCA International Mission

Services with Holy Communion:

Preface

It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You fulfilled your promise to comfort your people
by sending Jesus the Redeemer,
and to make all things new through him
when he comes to judge the world
and set it right.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

Communion Invitation

Blessed are those who have been invited
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

We give you thanks, almighty God,
that you have fed us with this promise of salvation.
We pray that through it
you would graciously strengthen us
in faith toward you and in love toward one another,
so that we may be prepared
for the coming of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as given above) at this point. It may be modified as follows:

Almighty and merciful God,
each year you make us glad
as we look forward to the birthday of your Son.
May we who have joyfully received him
as our redeemer in this sacrament
confidently face him
when he comes to be our judge.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

Seasonal Blessing

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine on you and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory . . .

Dismissal

Go in peace. Wait for the Lord with patience, and stand firm.
Thanks be to God.

OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

Liturgical Resources