Online Worship for 17 December | Windmill United Benefice

This Sunday, 17 December, there are services of Holy Communion at 9.30am at St Bartholomew, Burstow, and Morning Worship at 10am at St Mary the Virgin, Horne.

At 5pm there is a Christmas Carol Service at St John the Baptist, Outwood and at 6.30pm there is a hristmas Carol Service at St Mary the Virgin, Horne.

As always, there is an online service here, too, which this week is led by the Revd Charles Sargent

To follow today’s online service just click on the arrow here and find the words below.

Thou, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the Gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.

Thou, who didst come to bring
On thy redeeming wing,
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
O now to humankind
Let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving, holy Dove,
Speed forth thy flight;
Move on the water’s face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth’s darkest place
Let there be light.

Holy and blessèd Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might;
Boundless as ocean’s tide
Rolling in fullest pride,
Through the earth far and wide
Let there be light.

John Marriott (1780-1825) alt. CCLI: 845257

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The prayer for the lighting of the third Advent candle

Lord Jesus, light of the world,
John told the people to prepare,
for you were very near.
As Christmas grows closer day by day,
help us to be ready to welcome you now. Amen

The Collect prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent

God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The readings
Judith Calver

The first reading, is from Isaiah 61: 1-4 and 8-11

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John .
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel reading is from John 1: 6-8 and 19-28

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Talk
by Revd Charles Sargent

The Prayers

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.

Blessing

God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year.
God is working his purpose out, and the day is drawing near.
Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

From the east to the utmost west wherever foot has trod,
Through the mouths of his messengers echoes forth the voice of God:
‘Listen to me, ye continents, ye islands, give ear to me,
That the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

How can we do the work of God, how prosper and increase
Harmony in the human race and the reign of perfect peace?
What can we do to urge the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea?

March we forth in the strength of God, his banner is unfurled;
Let the light of the gospel shine in the darkness of the world:
Strengthen the weary, heal the sick and set ev’ry captive free,
That the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

All our efforts are nothing worth unless God bless the deed;
Vain our hopes for the harvest tide till he brings to life the seed.
Yet ever nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)
Adapted by Michael Forster (b.1946)

Organist: Peter Nye