Advent 4 21 dec 2025
Welcome and notices given by Elder on duty
Lighting the advent candles
First Reader: Today, we come face to face with the scandal of Advent: Mary, the unmarried mother; God Incarnate growing in Mary’s womb as a vulnerable baby; Joseph contemplating leaving Mary because of her pregnancy; God’s love at work in ways that society and propriety could not understand; God calling Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace.
All: With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of Love instead of responding in fear to the world’s judgment.
Elder: We light this candle of love as a sign of our faithfulness as we seek, find, and follow Emmanuel, God with us.
Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.
Hymn 138 Come thou long expected Jesus
Opening prayers
We gather, as Advent draws to a close:
Come Jesus, be with us.
In the stillness of the night:
Come Jesus, be with us.
In the movement of the day:
Come Jesus, be with us.
In the rest and balm of sleep:
Come Jesus, be with us.
In the activity of our waking:
Come Jesus, be with us.
As Advent draws to a close and Christmas dawns:
Come Jesus, be with us.
As Christmas approaches, we prepare to
join in adoration of you with the humble shepherds,
the proclaiming angels and the gifting wise men.
We adore you with our all, with our everything.
Amen.
A prayer of confession
In the darkness of our days, when light seems far away:
bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy and we will be saved.
When our sins seem to surround us and drown out our good:
bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy and we will be saved.
When we are overwhelmed and pained by what we have done:
bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy and we will be saved.
Amen.
Assurance of forgiveness
The Almighty God brings us from the depths of our sorrow and shame, saves us, redeems us, renews and refreshes us. Go in peace, go in joy, go in love, go in the light, knowing God has forgiven you and gifted you life.
Amen.
Sharing Good News
LYCIG (Leading your church into growth) Prayer said together
God of Mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give,
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading(s) Isaiah 7: 10-16, Matthew 1:18-25
Reflection
Hymn 178 Who would think that what was needed
Prayers for the people
God of Unity and Diversity
At this time of year when we think especially of those close to us, we pray for those who are a long way from the country of their birth and from those they love.
Joining with the UN on International Migrants Day, we remember those denied dignity and safety and those who are exploited and abused. We pray for fairer, clearer and more inclusive migration systems.
We pray for our divided world, that the music of tolerance would ring out more loudly than the bullets of hatred.
We pray especially for the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting: for the injured, the grieving and for the whole community impacted so terribly.
We pray for all those who are victims of violence and especially young people who have lost their lives to gun and knife crimes.
We pray for juveniles convicted of violent crimes, for mentors to guide them and for role models to inspire them.
We pray for our NHS: For all those struggling to care for the volume of patients entrusted to them; for those hospitalised with flu and life-threatening illnesses; and for all those afraid that their treatment will be impacted or their appointments cancelled by the Resident Doctors' strike.
We pray for those who will be working over Christmas, and those on call.
Come Lord Jesus. Be with those who are overwhelmed by responsibilities and those who are vulnerable.
Bring hope, peace, courage and comfort to all.
We pray for King Charles and all those whose journey through illness is very public and for those who face their journey alone. We think particularly of those known to us, ...
We pray for those who know this will be their last Christmas; those who fear that it might be; and those who are celebrating their first Christmas with someone they love.
Come Lord Jesus. Be with those who are joyful and those who are sad.
Bring hope, peace, courage and comfort to all.
We pray for our church and the pastorate as we prepare to consider Naomi as a minister some time soon. We pray for Naomi and her family.
We pray for our churches as they both sing out the joy of Christmas and sit quietly with those whose hearts are heavy and whose lives are broken. For all those known to us who have lost loved ones this year.
Come Lord Jesus. Be with those who are celebrating and those who are mourning.
Bring hope, peace, courage and comfort to all.
And on this shortest day of the year we pray for one another and for the light of Christ to shine brightly in our hearts. We pray for our families, our friends, and our communities. May these last days before Christmas bring opportunities to heal broken relationships; reflect on our journey of faith amidst the tyranny of undone tasks; and give and receive God's precious gift of love.
In Jesus' name, Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Offertory dedication
To the God of us all; the God who gives, and wills all people freedom; we pray that our daily giving and receiving, may be like this offertory, not tired habit or empty duty alone but prompted and steered by celebration of the love of Christ. Amen
Hymn 163 Angels from the realms of glory
Blessing
Thank you, Lord, that you came at Christmas to be with us
and that you come afresh to us each new day.
Send us out now to be signs of your loving presence
to others who need you too.
For your name’s sake, we pray.
Amen.