This Liturgy of the Word is taken from the Scottish Liturgy 1982, which can be seen in full here. The expanded Liturgy has been published on our website as a temporary measure since early in Covid lockdown at Easter 2020: this will be discontinued after Christmas Day 2022.
Within this page • Introduction, Hymn 1 • Collect, Old Testament reading, Psalm
Epistle, Hymn 2 • Gospel, Sermon • Creed • Prayers • Blessing, Hymn 3 • Voluntary
Introduction
Rev Sydney Maitland
We open this Liturgy of the Word with hymn 12, On Jordan’s banks …
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Hymn 12
On Jordan’s bank (words and music) | Virtual Choir of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Michigan
Collect
Almighty God, who sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah, inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth, to turn our disobedient hearts to you, that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge, we may stand with confidence before his glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
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Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 11: 1-10
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Psalm
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 (words) Give the King thy judgments, O God | Choir of York Minster
Epistle
Romans 15: 4-13
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Hymn 8
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (words and music) | Choir of First Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska
Gospel
Matthew 3: 1-12
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Sermon by Rev Sydney Maitland
Encrusted with its own importance
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer | Anglican Cycle of Prayer | Barnabas Fund Prayer Diary
• Pray for the world and its people, for those who suffer and those in need …
• Pray for Church and its members, especially Jenny Morgan, Douglas Nicol, Catriona McLaughlin, Brian Skillen, Andrew Harrower, Rosemary Guerrier …
• Pray for the departed, especially those whose year’s mind falls this month: Alan Colvin, Patrick Lauderdale, Margaret and William Marshall, Robert Murray, Neil Ross, George Staines …
• The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians:
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.‘
And so let us each bring our own prayers, petitions and thanksgivings to the Lord …
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O God, whose will it is that all should find salvation and come to know the truth: receive the prayers and petitions which we offer in faith and love; through him who gave proof of your purpose, and who sacrificed himself to win freedom for all mankind, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us and scatter the darkness from before our path; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.
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Hymn 500
Thy kingdom come, on bended knee (words and music) | Choir of Manchester Cathedral
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Dismissal
Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord!
Organ Voluntary
J.S. Bach: Nun komm der heiden Heiland (‘Saviour of the nations, come’ or, literally, ‘Now come, Saviour of the heathen’) | Introduced and played by Simon Johnson, organist and assistant director of music at St Paul’s Cathedral, on the OBE Chapel organ, Advent 2, 2014
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