The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer
Making the love of God known in our community & homes
Week commencing 13th December 2020
The Third Sunday of Advent
Our Prayer List
Each week we pray for a different street: this week is Gardener Road
We remember those who are ill or need our prayers at this time, especially:
Sebastian, Adam Bennett, Anne-Marie Miller
We pray for the souls of those who have died:
Theresa Beirne
We remember those whose anniversaries of death are at this time:
Win Francis, Frederick Whiteman, John Wittering, Harold Baddeley, Bert Mason, John Bosworth
Contact details:
The Rector: The Revd Jez Safford, The Rectory, Preston Court, Burton Latimer, NN15 5LR. Telephone: 01536 723810.
Assistant Curate: The Revd Tom Houston, 3 Virginia Crescent, Burton Latimer, NN15 5GB. Telephone: 01536 685664.
Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, 3 Clipson Close, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GH. Telephone: 07944597181.
Website: www.stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk or visit us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk
Collect
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All Amen
First Reading
1 Thessalonians 5.16-24
My brothers and sisters, 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; 21hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
This is the Word of the Lord
All Thanks be to God
Gospel
Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
All Alleluia
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All Glory to you, O Lord.
John 1.6-8,19-28
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 21And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ 22Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 23He said,
‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
“Make straight the way of the Lord”’,
as the prophet Isaiah said.
24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ 26John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
All Praise to you, O Christ
Prayer 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.
Stewardship If you have already signed up to our Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), thank you. If you would like to join this scheme, please contact our treasurer Charmaine Augustus (telephone 352914), who will be happy to provide you with the necessary form/information. We now have so little take up on the boxed weekly stewardship envelopes that it is no longer viable for us to purchase them. We hope therefore that those of you who currently give via this method will feel able to change to PGS or at least will still feel that you can support us via the collection plate. We shall of course still provide gift-aid envelopes in the pews.
Prayer list: The names of those who are ill or in need of prayer will remain on the prayer list for three weeks. However, we realise that some people may need to be on for longer and, if this is the case, please speak with Carol Sharman who will be happy to arrange this.
Our Outside Nativity Scene: Hopefully, this will be finished and lit up for Sunday evening.
Hymn
1) See, amid the winter’s snow,
born for us on earth below,
see, the Lamb of God appears,
promised from eternal years.
Refrain)
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, Redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
2) Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
sits amid the Cherubim!
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
© St Mary the Virgin Burton Latimer, 2011.
CCL Licence No. 480320
Internet Order of Advent Eucharist Service for use at home or church.
Welcome
Lighting of the candle(s)
The Collect
The minister prays the collect on your weekly sheet
All Amen.
Reading
Please see the weekly sheet.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Invitation to Confession
Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.
Confession
Silence is kept.
Lord of grace and truth,
we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
All forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call
to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned: All forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour
was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned: All forgive and heal us.
The shepherds left their flocks
to go to Bethlehem. Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned: All forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star
to find Jesus the King. Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned: All forgive and heal us.
Absolution
The minister says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him:
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and bring you to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Please refer to the weekly sheet
Eucharist Prayer
Have your bread a wine ready
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Father, on the night before he died,
Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
the new promise of God’s unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine,
and remember his death and resurrection,
send your Holy Spirit,
that we who share these gifts, though apart but together now in you,
may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Jesus Christ has died.
All Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
All Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
All Jesus Christ will come again.
And now we give you thanks
because you sent him to redeem us from sin and death and to make us inheritors of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may with joy behold his appearing,
and in confidence may stand before him.
All Amen
We take communion.
Prayer after Communion
Post communion prayer available on your sheet
The Lord’s Prayer
Awaiting his coming in glory,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All 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.
The Blessing
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.