Advent 1 at minus 12!

Well, the air temperature was extraordinary but the fellowship warm! Great to see Tony, Frances and Charlotte able to join us again. We kept the bandstand part fairly brief – using liturgy found on a terrific website called liturgyAT wellsprings.org.uk – which gave us an exhilarating start to Advent. We also used The Message’s version of Matthew 16:21 – 17:13 – linking the Transfiguration with the theme of Jesus’ return. We’re all doing our ‘secret santa’ type prayer activity again – secretly praying for one other person in the group (names drawn out of a hat). That feels good to do. Anyway – here are the words we used  and a picture of folk beginning to gather in a little snow – not realising what was yet to come! (And yes we are meeting this coming week in what must be getting on for two feet of snow – Bring it on!!!)

Hardy Northerners!

The Return of the King        Advent 1       2010       

Opening Responses
Reader In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails
ALL IN HIS DAYS JUSTICE SHALL FLOURISH
  AND THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED WILL BE HEARD.
  THE POOR WILL RECEIVE ENOUGH ON WHICH TO LIVE
  AND THE RICH WILL SHARE GLADLY
  THE ABUNDANCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED AT THE HAND OF GOD.
   
 .  
Reader In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.
ALL THE WOLF LIES DOWN WITH THE LAMB:
  THE FIERCE GIVES WAY TO THE TAME
  THE WEAK PROTECT THE STRONG
  THE POWERLESS CONTAIN THE POWER OF THE MIGHTY.
   
.  
Reader In his day justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fades.
ALL GOD WILL GIVE JUDGEMENT TO THE KING
  TO THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
  TO ESTABLISH PEACE AND JUSTICE
  WITH INTEGRITY AND WITH MERCY.
   

 

 

 
   
Litany of the King
RESPONSE      MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME
.  
Reader Into places of conflict
.  
  Into the heart of the terrorist
.  
  Into the heart of the soldier
.  
  Into the heart of the politician
.  
  Into the heart of one bereaved by war
.  
  Into the heart of one made hungry
.  
  Into the heart of one made homeless
.  
  Into the heart of one who is in despair
.  
  Into the heart of one who is ill
.  
  Into the heart of one who has been abused
.  
  Into the heart of one who is addicted
.  
  Into the heart of one who is faced with unpayable debt
.  
  Into the heart of the lonely
.  
  Into the heart of the fearful
.  
  Into the heart of the depressed
.  
  Into the heart of one we wish to pray for…
.  
  Into the heart of our world.
   
Communion response  TILL HE COMES  Closing Responses
Reader In his day justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.
ALL MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS SHALL MEET AND EMBRACE
  AND THE GLORY OF GOD SHALL BE REVEALED
  IN BEAUTY, IN AWE AND IN WONDER.
   
  .  
Reader The King will establish his kingdom
ALL AND THE HAND OF THE KING, MIGHTY AND STRONG
  IN THE BATTLE WITH EVIL,
  SHALL BE THE HAND OF THE HEALER:
  OPENING THE EYES OF THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING,
  RAISING PEOPLE TO THEIR FEET,
  AND REJOICING IN THEIR WELL-BEING.
   
.  
Reader And the Spirit of God shall be with him
ALL AND UPON HIS PEOPLE.
  AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT GOD HAS MADE HIS HOME WITH THEM
  AND HE SHALL BE THEIR KING AND THEIR GOD
  AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE:
  BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE
  MADE RADIANT IN HIS LIGHT
  AND AT PEACE
  IN BODY MIND AND SPIRIT.
  A PEOPLE MADE WHOLE
  BY THE RETURN OF THEIR KING.www.liturgyATwellsprings.org.uk