04. Year B - Fourth Sunday in Advent

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

In 2002: 22 Dec

In 2005: 18 Dec

In 2008: 21 Dec

In 2011: 18 Dec

In 2014: 21 Dec

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Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Advent season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The angel said to Mary, 'Do not be afraid, for you have found favour with God.

You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.'

(Luke 1:30-32 NRSV alt)

OR, use the standard Advent Sentence in the document 'Advent season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Stir up, O Lord, your power and come;

and support us by your great might,

so that, as we are hindered by our sins,

your grace and forgiveness

may help and hasten us on our way;

for you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Stir up your power and come, Lord.

Support and help us,

so that what is hindered by our sins

may be hastened by your great mercy.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new (revised alternative)

(Let us pray for God to be with us. [silence])

Thank you, loving heavenly Father,

for coming with power to the Virgin Mary

and making her the mother of our Lord.

Come to us with your Holy Spirit,

so that we receive your saving word

and rejoice in our Saviour.

For he lives with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 God's promise to David

PSALM

Luke 1:(46b) 47-55

This is the Song of Mary (Magnificat). Do not use it here if it was used as the alternative psalm last week. Omit the opening words 'Mary said'. For versions, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in the 'General and seasonal' folder, and the Music Packages 2, 4, and 7.

Antiphon:

Jesus Christ our Saviour, eternal God, and Mary's son, we adore you forevermore. (Vespers, LHS)

OR

My soul is praising the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:47)

OR

Psalm 89:1-4,19-26

Antiphon:

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever. (Ps 89:1a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Romans 16:25-27 God reveals his age-long purpose in Jesus

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 1:38 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Mary said:) Here am I, the servant of the Lord,

let it be with me according to your word.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 1:26-38 God's call to Mary

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for showing favour

to Mary and to us.

Help us to trust in you as the Son of God.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord, as Mary accepted your will,

may we also accept your will

and rejoice in Christ our Saviour.

Let your good news change our lives,

and make us trusting and obedient,

always ready to serve you with all we are and all we have.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Our Lord remembers the promises he makes to his people, and does great things for those who call on his name. Let us pray to our Father in heaven, confident that he will hear our prayers and act in his loving mercy.

The regular response, OR:

Lord God, in your mercy,

let your will be done.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Just as Mary heard your word, trusted you, and bore the fruit of your Spirit, lead us to hear your word and trust you, so that we may live fruitful lives, filled with the joy of your Holy Spirit. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You fulfilled your promise to comfort your people

by sending Jesus the Redeemer,

and to make all things new through him

when he comes to judge the world

and set it right.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

Blessed are those who have been invited

to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For an Advent post-communion prayer, see the document 'Advent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Thank you, loving heavenly Father,

for coming with power to the Virgin Mary

and making her the mother of our Lord.

Be with us

through the healing gift of this sacrament,

so that we receive your saving word

and rejoice in our Saviour.

For he lives with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine on you and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory . . .

DISMISSAL

Go in the peace of the Lord, who has sent his Son to rule forever.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Romans 16:25-27

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel reading: Luke 1:26-38

LHS

AT

-

TIS

SONG OF MARY

For various versions of the Song of Mary (Magnificat), the first alternative 'psalm' for today, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Musical settings are in the Music Packages 2, 4, and 7.

PSALM 89:1-4,19-26

For musical settings of Psalm 89:1-4,19-26, see Music Package 4. TIS 46 I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord is a version of Psalm 89:1-6,13-16. There is also a version of Psalm 89 at ATA 152 by Karen Barrie that may be used for the psalm.

Below is a metrical paraphrase by David Sch¸tz of Psalm 89:1-4,19-26, which may be sung to the tune Yorkshire LH 625 / Stockport TIS 306. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Lord, I proclaim your faithfulness to all,

and I will sing forever of your love.

For I declare, your love is always sure;

your faithfulness is firm as heaven above.

You made a promise to your chosen one,

your servant David, and made firm his throne.

And to your faithful people you have said:

'I've set a youngster over mighty men.

I've chosen David - he will be your king -

and with my holy oil anointed him.

My hand will give him help in all his ways,

my arm will give him strength through all his days.

'He shall not be defeated by his foes,

for I will strike down those who hate his reign.

My faithfulness and love will be with him,

and he will be exalted in my name.

He'll rule the land from river to the sea.

"You are my Father, God", he'll cry to me!'

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

2 SAMUEL 7:1-11,16 : This special prophecy has its decided place here in the Advent lead-up to the birth of the King. King David, after defeating Israel's long-standing enemies, established peace for the land. He made Jerusalem the capital city and built a royal palace, a king's house. Being such a man of God, he thought it only right to build also a fitting house for God, a temple. However, God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David that this was not to be. God did not need such a 'house' as David envisaged. Instead, he would make a 'house' out of David - a play on words. This 'house' or 'dynasty' would be a kingship which would last forever (v 16). The New Testament sees the descendant of David who rules forever as none other than our Lord Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 16:25-27: This magnificent doxology concludes the mighty letter of St Paul to the Christians at Rome. Paul sums up all he has written in the letter in adoration of the only wise God. God is so gracious as to employ his limitless power to work within believers in Christ. In this way they are established in their faith and can stand firm in their salvation. The wondrous gospel planned before the ages, attested in the Old Testament by the prophets, brings about this obedience of faith. To God alone be glory!

LUKE 1: 26-38: The annunciation of Gabriel to Mary most fittingly prepares us for the marvellous event of the Christmas gospel. The prophecy made to King David in the first reading is brought to its full meaning in Gabriel's announcement. Mary's son will be called Jesus, Saviour. As an adopted son of Joseph he was a descendant of David. This Son of God, fully human and fully God (conceived by the Holy Spirit), will rule a kingdom which will never end, both in time and in space. No wonder a puzzled Mary should ask for explanation! Like all believers, her acceptance of Gabriel's explanation came from trust which God's servants always place in his word of promise.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, symbols and pictures of the annunciation could be displayed during the gospel, or during the whole service. Symbols of the annunciation include the fleur-de-lis and the archangel Gabriel.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by four readers: narrator, David, Nathan, the Lord; and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Gabriel, Mary.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could make/display pictures - see above under 'Visuals for the readings'. Older children could also be included in a dramatised reading - see above under 'Dramatising the readings'.

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

The annunciation to Mary by Gabriel could be discussed with the children (if it wasn't done last week).

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'Mary  visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, 4 Advent, year B (in 3rd Series A book)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, same