Outline of Ritual Prayer for Advent / Christmas

Transcription

1 Outline of Ritual Prayer for Advent / Christmas Gather: Welcome Gathering Song Call to Prayer Lighting of the 1 st Candle in the Advent Wreath (with sung verse) Listen: Scripture Reading Faith Sharing Lighting of 2 nd Candle in the Advent Wreath (with sung verse) Respond: Prayers of the People (with bell ringing) Lighting of the 3 rd Candle in the Advent Wreath (with sung verse) Closing Prayer Lighting of the 4 th Candles in the Advent Wreath (with sung verse) Go Forth: Blessing Dismissal You will need: A Bible A Choir and a Musician Copies of the Service for everyone 4 Candles arranged in an Advent Wreath + matches + a person to light each candle at the required moment during the Service A Leader of Prayer Readers X 3 A person who will proclaim the Gospel (This may be the Leader who will then invite some sharing on the Scripture) Voices X 4 (for the Prayers of the People) Bells (any kind - could be distributed around the group and rung on cue when each voice proclaims Ring out the bells!...) An adaptation may be made by placing a star in the Southern Cross each time instead of lighting a candle in an Advent Wreath. The text would need to be adapted accordingly. the sacred space would be set appropriately with Advent colours. The central focus is, of course, the Scriptures - then, the Advent Wreath OR the stars to be placed in the pattern of the Southern Cross.

2 Ring out the Bells A Ritual Prayer for Advent/Christmas

3 After the Leader of Prayer welcomes the group, all join in the Gathering Song: 1 Suggestions: O Come, O Come Emmanuel AOV I #174 Christ Be Our Light AOV II #3 Comfort My People Comfort My People M Brown Ev ry Valley G&P I #56 Bring Forth the Kingdom AOV II #4 City of God AOV I #57 O Emmanuel Michael Mangan Greeting & Call to Worship: or any other suitable Advent Song that the group can sing with confidence Reader 1: Long ago, God spoke to the people of Israel through the prophets, promising that a great leader would come from the tiny town of Bethlehem; someone who would care for the people in the same way a shepherd tends his precious sheep. Reader 2: In time, a baby was promised to Mary and she sang of God s love ~ a love that fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich and powerful away empty handed. Reader 3: And so we light this candle of love, celebrating the child of peace and goodwill that was born in Bethlehem all those years ago yet whose life-giving presence remains with us still. All: Great God of all, from a shabby stable in a tiny town, you taught us the real meaning of love. Help us to rejoice with Mary at how your peace and goodness changes everything. May we continue to ring out this message with gladness. Amen. Lighting of the 1 st Candle in the Advent Wreath. SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT. ROUND YON VIRGIN MOTHER AND CHILD, HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD. SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE.

4 Scripture (Choose the Reading for the appropriate Cycle): Matthew 1: (from 4 th Sunday in Advent in Cycle A) Mark 1: 1-8 (from 2 nd Sunday in Advent in Cycle B) Luke 1: (from 4 th Sunday of Advent in Cycle C) Reflection / Sharing on the Word Simply ask the question: How has this Word touched your heart? 2 Lighting of the 2 nd Candle in the Advent Wreath SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, SHEPHERDS QUAKE AT THE SIGHT. GLORIES STREAM FROM HEAVEN AFAR, HEAV NLY HOSTS SING ALLELUIA! CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR IS BORN! CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR IS BORN! Prayers of the People: Voice 1: Ring out the bells of freedom. O Lord, we pray for a free world, A world in which people are free to make decisions, Where choice and option are not taken away. We pray at this Advent season for the freedom of refugees, For those who seek a new start in a new land. May they be given access to all the benefits of life That we so often take for granted. Ring out the bells of freedom! Voice 2: Ring out the bells of justice. O Lord, we pray for a fair society, Where Governments would care more about those who have very little, Instead of siding with the rich and powerful; A society where children of all backgrounds and appearances Are warmly welcomed in classrooms and playgrounds. During this season of Advent we pray especially for fair and humane treatment of the many forgotten prisoners in our jails. Ring out the bells of justice!

5 3 Voice 3: Ring out the bells of mercy. Dear God, we pray for a kinder community, A place of understanding rather than criticism, A place of forgiveness, not hate, A place of apology, not blame. During this season of Advent, we remember those who are hungry and homeless, Hoping that as we become more generous and concerned, We sill see less poverty and loneliness. Ring out the bells of mercy! Voice 4: Ring out the bells of love. Good and loving God, We pray for greater love in our world; Peace between nations, trust and good will between religions. During this season of Advent we pray particularly for our families May we take the time to listen carefully, And to appreciate just how much other people mean to us. May we find words to say how much we love those around us, And sincerely work through any problems we might have with them. Ring out the bells of love! Lighting of the 3 rd Candle in the Advent Wreath SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, SON OF GOD, LOVE S PURE LIGHT RADIANT BEAMS FROM THY HOLY FACE, WITH THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE, JESUS, LORD, AT THY BIRTH, JESUS, LORD, AT THY BIRTH. Let us join our hearts and voices in the prayer that Jesus taught us: Our Father Closing Prayer: Let us pray All: O God who has sent us the Radiant Dawn, Our hearts desire the warmth of your love And our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour And give us the strength to grow in love, That the dawn of his coming May find us rejoicing in his presence And welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in Jesus name And in the power of the Holy Spirit.

6 Lighting of the 4 th Candle in the Advent Wreath SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT, ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT. ROUND YON VIRGIN MOTHER AND CHILD, HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD. SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE. 4 Blessing & Dismissal: We bow our heads and pray for God s blessing We believe that the Son of God once came to us; We look for him to come again. May his coming bring us the light of his holiness and his blessing bring us freedom. May God make us steadfast in faith, Joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of our life. We rejoice that our Redeemer came to live among us. When he comes again in glory, May he reward us with endless life. May God bless us: the Father + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Go in the freedom and joy of Christ. All: Thanks be to God! Some of the ideas for this Ritual Prayer were adapted from an Intergenerational Advent Service presented at Christ Church, Wayville, Adelaide SA. Used with permission. Ritual Prayer 2008 Erica Marshall (with the exception of graphics and otherwise acknowledged material).