We're using a special liturgy from the Northumbria Community during Advent. Please join us in the Chapel at 10.00 am each weekday, or use these words at home instead.
Welcome to our Advent journey
We are pausing our usual Morning Prayer format to intentionally slow down and reflect as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light in our dark world.
We hope that you will join us and take time to ‘be’ in His presence as we also look forward to Him coming back to make all things new.
Week 3 - beginning Mon 4th December
Reflection for the day
Soft, Celtic worship music can be played as people quietly enter and silently read and reflect.
We enter quietly and silently read the Bible readings and reflection for that week, which are found below. There will be opportunity to pray about anything which God lays on our hearts during the time of open prayer later on.
Bible readings for week 3 to be used each day of this week.
Psalm 105: 5-11
5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
Genesis 28: 10-17
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Reflections for week 3
We are pausing our usual Morning Prayer format to intentionally slow down and reflect as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light in our dark world.
We hope that you will join us and take time to ‘be’ in His presence as we also look forward to Him coming back to make all things new.
Week 3 - beginning Mon 4th December
Reflection for the day
Soft, Celtic worship music can be played as people quietly enter and silently read and reflect.
We enter quietly and silently read the Bible readings and reflection for that week, which are found below. There will be opportunity to pray about anything which God lays on our hearts during the time of open prayer later on.
Bible readings for week 3 to be used each day of this week.
Psalm 105: 5-11
5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
Genesis 28: 10-17
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Reflections for week 3
The Ladder
Heaven is not far away if only our eyes were open to see how kind God’s heart is. His messengers bring peace and tell us that God wants all that is best for us. Heaven is not far away and surely the Lord is here where we are.
Heaven is not far away if only our eyes were open to see how kind God’s heart is. His messengers bring peace and tell us that God wants all that is best for us. Heaven is not far away and surely the Lord is here where we are.
The Lion of Judah
The King is coming! He is called the Lion, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; and all the people will gather to Him. He came to us, gave us His life; He lives again; and He will come in glory!
Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two p.1376-77
Leader: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
A prayer for Christmas preparations
All: Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness
Send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to Your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of Your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence.
We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To You we say, ‘Come Lord Jesus!’ Amen.
Making our hearts ready
All: We make our hearts ready for the King of Glory to come in.
Leader: Through the doors of our heart, though they are made of only the simplest wood.
All: We make our hearts ready for the King of Glory to come in.
Leader: We open these doors now, fully and completely with all of our will and all of our strength. With all of our uncertainty and all of our weakness we pray
All: Come dwell among us and be our peace today.
Advent carol verses 1, 2 and 3 to the tune of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’.
Within the deepest darkness
a glowing light is lit.
The darkness cannot put it out
Or do away with it.
The prophets said Messiah
would come to set us free,
to rule the world with life and justice:
The Prince of Peace is He.
Wild desert John Baptiser,
Shouted, ‘Prepare the way!
Level out the hills! Fill the potholes in!
Make way for God today!’
Advent path
Leader reads the verses reflecting the theme for this week of Advent.
This is the path that John marked ,
whose voice called in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’,
who cried, ‘Repent for the Kingdom of God is near!’
and baptised in the River Jordan many who confessed their sins
and who pointed out Jesus
‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’
Today during the third week of Advent,
We light three candles.
(Leader lights three candles)
All: We mark out the advent path with candle flames.
Leader: When our path is menaced by shadows,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep light within
Keep darkness without
Leader: When our path is targeted by conflict,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep love near
Keep hatred afar
Leader: When our path is threatened by worry,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep peace within
Keep fear without
Leader places candles next to praying hands and says:
This is the path that John marked,
‘The Kingdom of God is near.’
This is the path the prophets marked,
Who promised someone to preach good news.
This is the path that God marked
With light that shines in the darkness.
Prayers focusing on the needs of the world.
Each person in the chapel takes a piece of paper from a basket and reads the prayer aloud and then places it into the wooden hands representing the hands of God.
If you are joining us on WhatsApp, you are invited to pray for the needs of the world as you reflect on the image below.
The King is coming! He is called the Lion, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; and all the people will gather to Him. He came to us, gave us His life; He lives again; and He will come in glory!
Adapted from Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two p.1376-77
Leader: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
A prayer for Christmas preparations
All: Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness
Send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to Your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of Your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence.
We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To You we say, ‘Come Lord Jesus!’ Amen.
Making our hearts ready
All: We make our hearts ready for the King of Glory to come in.
Leader: Through the doors of our heart, though they are made of only the simplest wood.
All: We make our hearts ready for the King of Glory to come in.
Leader: We open these doors now, fully and completely with all of our will and all of our strength. With all of our uncertainty and all of our weakness we pray
All: Come dwell among us and be our peace today.
Advent carol verses 1, 2 and 3 to the tune of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’.
Within the deepest darkness
a glowing light is lit.
The darkness cannot put it out
Or do away with it.
The prophets said Messiah
would come to set us free,
to rule the world with life and justice:
The Prince of Peace is He.
Wild desert John Baptiser,
Shouted, ‘Prepare the way!
Level out the hills! Fill the potholes in!
Make way for God today!’
Advent path
Leader reads the verses reflecting the theme for this week of Advent.
This is the path that John marked ,
whose voice called in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’,
who cried, ‘Repent for the Kingdom of God is near!’
and baptised in the River Jordan many who confessed their sins
and who pointed out Jesus
‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’
Today during the third week of Advent,
We light three candles.
(Leader lights three candles)
All: We mark out the advent path with candle flames.
Leader: When our path is menaced by shadows,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep light within
Keep darkness without
Leader: When our path is targeted by conflict,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep love near
Keep hatred afar
Leader: When our path is threatened by worry,
All: Circle me Lord
Keep peace within
Keep fear without
Leader places candles next to praying hands and says:
This is the path that John marked,
‘The Kingdom of God is near.’
This is the path the prophets marked,
Who promised someone to preach good news.
This is the path that God marked
With light that shines in the darkness.
Prayers focusing on the needs of the world.
Each person in the chapel takes a piece of paper from a basket and reads the prayer aloud and then places it into the wooden hands representing the hands of God.
If you are joining us on WhatsApp, you are invited to pray for the needs of the world as you reflect on the image below.
Open prayers for our community, ourselves and each other
Everyone is invited to pray for whatever is on their heart.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
A prayer in the preparation days of Celtic Advent
Leader: We have waited long for You
All: Deep has been the darkness
Leader: We long for You to shine
All: Right here among us where we are.
Leader: We will not fear the shadows that surround us
All: If only You will come among us.
Leader: We await the sound of a cry in the night,
the joy that follows pain
All: the coming of hope.
Blessing to be said together
Everyone is invited to pray for whatever is on their heart.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
A prayer in the preparation days of Celtic Advent
Leader: We have waited long for You
All: Deep has been the darkness
Leader: We long for You to shine
All: Right here among us where we are.
Leader: We will not fear the shadows that surround us
All: If only You will come among us.
Leader: We await the sound of a cry in the night,
the joy that follows pain
All: the coming of hope.
Blessing to be said together
Leader: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Keep silence and leave quietly when ready.
If you are in church, do meet for a chat and a drink in the café area.
All: Amen.
Keep silence and leave quietly when ready.
If you are in church, do meet for a chat and a drink in the café area.
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