St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Collect of the Day

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.

 

First Reading   Isaiah 40.1-11

1Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid,           that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins. 3A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,         and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ 6A voice says, ‘Cry out!’
And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. 9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ 10See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. 

 

Psalm   Psalm 85.1-2,8-13

Lord, you were gracious to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the offence of your people and covered all their sins. I will listen to what the Lord God will say, for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, that they turn not again to folly. Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together,  righteousness and peace have kissed each other; Truth shall spring up from the earth and righteousness look down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give all that is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness shall go before him and direct his steps in the way.

 

Second Reading

2 Peter 3.8-15a

8Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. 

 

Gospel   Mark 1.1-8

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”’, 4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

 

Post Communion Prayer

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Post Communion (2nd of Advent) ©  1980, 1986 Mowbray, a Cassell Imprint: Prayers for the Alternative Services comp. David Silk. 2 Peter 3.8-15a ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Isaiah 40.1-11 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Mark 1.1-8 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Psalm 85.1-2,8-13 ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000. Collect (2nd of Advent) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)