Suggested Advent Liturgical Elements

Suggested ADvent Liturgical Elements

The Greeting

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who has come to set us free,

who has raised up for a mighty Saviour,

born from the house of David.  Amen.

The Candles of Advent

On the First Sunday of Advent as the first candle is lit we sing

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

On the Second Sunday of Advent as two candles are lit we sing

O come, O come thou Lord of might,

who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height

in ancient times didst give the law,

in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

On the Third Sunday of Advent as three candles are lit we sing

O come, thou Dayspring from on high,

and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death’s dark shadow put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent as four candles are lit we sing

O come, O come thou Wisdom from on high,

who orderest all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show

and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

After the Lighting of the Candles the Collect of the Day is said or sung.

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Confession and Absolution

Our Lord comes to bring to light things now hidden in darkness and to disclose the purposes of the heart.  Let us open our hearts and prepare for Christ’s coming by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves and in the world you have created.

We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done

and the evil done on our behalf.

Forgive, restore and strengthen us

through our Saviour Jesus Christ,

so that we may abide in your love

and serve only your will.  Amen.

May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from our sins, heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit and raise you to new life in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ whose coming draws near be with you.

And also with you.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth;  we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in the fullness of time came among us in our flesh and opened to us the way of salvation.  Now we watch for the day when he will come again in power and great triumph to judge this world, that we, without shame or fear, may rejoice to behold his appearing. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:  Blessed are you for the birth of creation.  Blessed are in the darkness and in the light.  Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams.  Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.  Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:  Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:  Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.  We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.  We look with hope for his coming.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.  Come among us.  Bless this meal.  May your Word take flesh in us.  Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.  Bring the gift of peace on earth.  Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

God of promise, 

you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.

Happy are those who are called 

to the supper of the Lamb.

The Invitation to Communion

In tender mercy our God has prepared a table  for all who seek goodness rather than evil, love rather than hate, light rather than darkness, life rather than death.  Come and share in the feast prepared for those beloved of God, for these are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends us forth in these or similar words

As we await our coming Saviour,

go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia!

Liturgical elements are taken from (i) Common Worship of the Church of England, (ii) Enriching Our Worship of the Episcopal Church, (iii) Evangelical Lutheran Worship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, (iv) The Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada and (v) materials adapted by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett, Ph.D.