Advent 1 Songs of Praise at St Laurence

First Candle – The Candle of Hope -The Patriarchs, Abraham, the Old Testament Ancestors of Jesus

Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord
All: Thanks be to God

Leader: Today is the First Sunday of Advent, in which we recall the hope we have in Christ.

God told Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed, because he trusted and put his hope in God. The Old Testament spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of King David. He would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations. We too believe in God’s promise to send Jesus again to this world to establish his kingdom upon the earth.

(A person lights the First Candle here)

Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Leader: Let us pray:
All: God of Abraham and Sarah and all the Patriarchs of old, you are our Father too. Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Son of David. Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth, to make our hearts ready and to place our hope in you. Help us today and every day to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with others. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Hymn – Hark! A trilling Voice Is Sounding

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding:
“Christ is nigh!” it seems to say,
“Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day!”
Wakened by the solemn warning,
Let the Earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, the Sun, all ill dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.
Lo! the Lamb, so long-expected,
Comes with pardon down from Heav’n;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiv’n.
So when next he comes with glory
And the world is wrapped in fear,
With his mercy he may shield us,
And with words of love draw near.
Honor, glory, might, and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
With the everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run. (by Edward Caswall 1814 – 1878)

Preparation

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All – And also with you.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

All – Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We have come together in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may give ourselves to the service of God.

All – We say Sorry

Jesus says, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’

So let us turn away from our sins and turn to Christ. Confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

All – Lord God, we have sinned against you;

We have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent.

Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

Renew a right spirit within us and restore to us the joy of your salvation;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in His image to the praise and glory of His name through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All – Amen.

Hymn – What a friend we have in Jesus,

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there. (by Joseph Medlicott Scriven – 1819 to 1886)

Blessed is the Lord,

All – For He has heard the voice of our prayer;

There-fore shall our hearts dance for joy

All – And in our song will we praise our God.

Blessed are you, Lord our God,

creator and redeemer of all;

to you be glory and praise for ever.

From the waters of chaos you drew forth the world.

And in your great love fashioned us in your image.

Now, through the deep waters of death,

you have brought your people to new birth by raising your Son to life in triumph.

May Christ your light ever dawn in our hearts as we offer you our sacrifice of thanks and praise.

Blessed be God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

All – Blessed be God for ever.

Hymn – Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.(by William Whiring – 1825 to 1878)

Collect for the First Sunday in Advent – 30^th November 2025

Almighty God,

give us grace to cast away the works of darkness

and to put on the armour of light,

now in the time of this mortal life,

in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;

that on the last day,

when he shall come again in his glorious majesty

to judge the living and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal;

through him who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.

All – And Christ shall give you light.

You have died and your life is hid with Christ in God.

All – Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.

Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on the earth.

All – And Christ shall give you light.

When Christ our life appears, you will appear with him in glory.

All – Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

Hymn – Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

Tell me the stories of Jesus

I love to hear;

things I would ask Him to tell me

if He were here;

scenes by the wayside,

tales of the sea,

stories of Jesus,

tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round His knee;

that I may know of His blessing

resting on me;

words full of kindness,

deeds full of grace,

signs of the love found

in Jesus’ face.

Tell me, in words full of wonder,

how rolled the sea,

tossing the boat in a tempest

on Galilee.

Jesus then doing

His Father’s will,

ended the storm saying,

‘Peace, peace, be still.’

Into the city I’d follow

the children’s band,

waving a branch of the palm-tree

high in my hand;

worshipping Jesus,

yes, I would sing

loudest hosannas,

for He is King!

Show me that scene in the garden,

of bitter pain;

and of the cross where my Saviour

for me was slain;

and, through the sadness,

help me to see

how Jesus suffered

for love of me.

Gladly I’d hear of His rising

out of the grave,

living and strong and triumphant,

mighty to save:

and how He sends us

all men to bring

stories of Jesus,

Jesus, their King. (by William Henry Parker (1845-1929) & Hugh Martin (1890-1964)

Our First Reading is Taken from – Romans Chap:13

11 You must do this, because you know that the time has come for you to wake up from your sleep. For the moment when we will be saved is closer now than it was when we first believed.

12 The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light.

13 Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day – no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.

14 But take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop paying attention to your sinful nature and satisfying its desires.

This is the Word of God

All –Thanks be to God

Hymn – There is a Redeemer

Here the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to – Matthew Chap: 24

36 “No one knows, however, when that day and hour will come – neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows.

37 The coming of the Son of Man will be like what happened in the time of Noah.

38 In the days before the flood people ate and drank, men and women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat;

39 yet they did not realize what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes.

40 At that time two men will be working in a field: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.

41 Two women will be at a mill grinding meal: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.

42 Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.

43 If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house.

44 So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.

This is the word of Christ

All – Thank be to God

Benedictus

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,

All – who has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,

All – born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old

All – to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,

To show mercy to our ancestors,

All – and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:

All – to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship him without fear,

All – holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,

All – for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

To give his people knowledge of salvation

All – by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

All – the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

All – and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever.

Amen.

Hymn – Jesus is Lord! Creation’s Voice Proclaims It

Hymn – As the Deer Pants for the Water

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

[Refrain]
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye

[Refrain]
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You’re my friend and You’re my brother
Even though you are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

[Refrain]
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You (by Martin Nystrom – 1985)

The Creed

All – I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 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.

Hymn is – O Lord My God! When I in Awesome Wonder

Prayers and Intercessions

Prayers for King Charles

Through this tritium of prayer we ask God’s continuing blessing on our new King Charles

Prayer

O God, to whom every human power is subject,
grant to your servant our sovereign Charles
success in the exercise of his high office,
so that, always revering you and striving to please you,
he may constantly secure and preserve
for the people entrusted to his care
the freedom that comes from civil peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen

Prayer for the Royal

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,

we humbly beseech thee to bless

Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the

Royal Family:

Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly

grace; prosper them with all happiness;

and bring them to thine everlasting

kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

Generous God,

we thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.

We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.

Lord, come to bless us