02. Year B - Second Sunday in Advent

Top Previous Next

VERSION: 9 April 2002

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

In 2002: 8 Dec

In 2005: 4 Dec

In 2008: 7 Dec

In 2011: 4 Dec

In 2014: 7 Dec

- - -

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.

Comfort my people, says our God. Comfort them!

Encourage the people of Jerusalem.

Tell them they have suffered long enough

and their sins are now forgiven. (Isa 40:1,2 TEV)

OR

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isa 40:3 NRSV)

OR

There is good news for the city of Zion.

Shout it as loud as you can from the highest mountain.

Don't be afraid to shout to the towns of Judah,

Your God is here! (Isa 40:9 CEV)

OR

John said: 'After me will come one more powerful than I,

the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

I baptise you with water,

but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.' (Mark 1:7,8 NIV)

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 our hearts, O Lord,

to prepare the way for your only Son,

so that by his coming

we may be enabled to serve you

with pure minds;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Stir up our hearts, Lord,

to prepare the way for your only Son.

Help us by his coming

to serve you with pure hearts and minds.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new (revised alternative)

(Let us pray that we are ready for Christ's coming. [silence])

Merciful God,

you sent your messengers to preach repentance

and prepare the way for our salvation.

Turn us away from our sins,

so that we greet our coming redeemer,

Jesus Christ, with joy.

For he lives

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 40:1-11 Prepare the way of the Lord

PSALM

Psalm 85:1,2,8-13

Antiphon:

Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. (Ps 85:13 NRSV)

OR

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

(Ps 85:7 NRSV)

SECOND READING

2 Peter 3:8-15a The day of the Lord

ALLELUIA VERSE (Mark 1:3 comp)

Alleluia, alleluia.

A voice cries out in the desert:

Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.

Alleluia.

As an alternative to the alleluia verse, the congregation could sing ATO 337 'The grass withers', by Robin Mann. This could be sung both before and after the gospel.

GOSPEL

Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist prepares the way

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

for sending John the Baptist

to announce your coming to save people.

Help us to repent and believe in you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord, lead us to show in our lives,

by our repentance and faith,

that we are your people.

As you have made us holy,

help us to live holy lives,

dedicated to you,

preparing the way for your coming.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has baptised us with the Holy Spirit, and given us the privilege of calling God 'Father'. Let us pray to our Father in heaven.

The regular response, OR:

Lord, hear us.

Father, hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord God, as your servant John the Baptist called your people to prepare a way for the Lord, let us always be prepared to receive the blessings that you freely give us through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

Merciful God,

you sent your messengers to preach repentence

and prepare the way for our salvation.

May the body and blood of Christ

which we have received in this meal

give us strength to turn away from our sins,

so that we may greet our coming redeemer,

Jesus Christ, with joy.

For he lives and reigns

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 peace, joyfully preparing the way for the Lord.

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: Isaiah 40:1-11

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading : 2 Peter 3:8-15a

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel : Mark 1:1-8

LHS

AT

-

TIS

PSALM 85:1,2,8-13

For musical settings of Psalm 85:1,2,8-13, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 9. See also TIS 45 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying.

Below is a metrical version by David Sch¸tz of Psalm 85:1,2,8-13, which may be sung to the tune Ave virgo (LH 469, TIS 391). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Lord, you have been merciful

to your land of Israel;

and you give prosperity

to the tribes of Jacob.

You forgave the sinfulness

of your wayward people;

you have pardoned all their wrongs

and restored their fortune.

Let me hear what God will say -

say to all his faithful.

He will speak his peace to us -

peace to all who trust him.

His salvation now is near -

near to all who fear him.

He in glory comes to us -

comes and makes his dwelling.

Love and faithfulness will meet -

meet in peace and justice.

Faithfulness will spring from earth,

righteousness from heaven.

God will give us what is good

and our land will prosper.

Righteousness will pave his way

as he comes to save us.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

ISAIAH 40:1-11: Exiled as captive slaves for over fifty years in Babylon, God's people had lived in guilt, despondency, lonely forsakenness and spiritual depression. Now a comforting prophetic voice announces that God is coming to them gloriously, so that even the desert and mountains must give way to this majestic procession. The people, of course, can similarly clear their hearts of sin's obstacles; for they can know that their punishment is not permanent! While human flesh vanishes, the word of the Lord remains firm and effective forever. The exiles can therefore be assured. Inhabitants of the desolated cities of Judah may also be told that the all-powerful Lord is coming with reviving mercy.

2 PETER 3:8-15a: There are always people who laugh about the end of the world. St Peter says, 'Don't.' If God has delayed this event, it is simply because in his eternal way of working the main consideration is human repentance. He wants for himself every person who will turn from sin before that end assuredly comes. The physical world and all that is done in it will be consumed, thus ending sin and establishing total and eternal righteousness. Christians accordingly should not only believe, but give their deep faith clear expression through holy and peaceable living in the church.

MARK 1:1-8: Part of today's first reading is picked up by Mark as a prophecy reaching its ultimate fulfilment. The coming of the Lord to his people in a special way in the promised Messiah was announced by the voice in the wilderness, John the Baptist. His message called for people to make straight their lives through repentance. Baptism, an outward bodily washing, was to be accompanied by the inward washing by God through forgiveness. The one who was coming would baptise with fire.  Jesus fulfilled this promise by sending the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day, having attained the forgiveness of the whole world. God's people have indeed returned home, led by the Lord himself.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be accompanied by a picture of John the Baptist or a symbol of him, such as leather belt and locust. These could be drawn and/or displayed by children.

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 (parts indicated in TEV): a reader to introduce and close reading, voice of God, Isaiah, the voice crying out; and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Isaiah, John.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could draw and/or display a picture of John the Baptist or a symbol of him, such as leather belt and locust. See 'Visuals for the readings' above (in connection with the gospel).

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

The children could be told about John the Baptist (or next 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 'John the Baptist prepares the way (Mark 1:1-8)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, 2 Advent, year B (in 3rd Series A book)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, same