FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – with Blessing of Advent Wreath

PRIEST:     My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation … learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory … learning to welcome with love our brother Jesus who has already come … learning to yearn with hope for the final coming of the Kingdom upon the earth.

Let us now sing the ancient prayer of our Christian forebears, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’

[proceed to wreath]

Let us pray…
O God, Father and Mother of all Life, by your Word all things are made holy. Send forth your Blessing upon our Advent Wreath, and upon our parish family: may we use this sign of Your growing Light to prepare our hearts and minds to serve Your Kingdom, and so hasten that day when the Lord Jesus will come in His Glory … In the Name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit … AMEN!

READER:     The purple candles and ribbon call us to repentance,
making our hearts wide open and ready for His Coming:
Lord, grant us the grace of conversion to your Gospel this Advent…

                                               LORD HAVE MERCY …

The circle of evergreen reminds us that God is ever faithful to us,
                            His love is eternal and infinite, and His mercy never ends:
Lord, forgive us all our unfaithfulness to your call to love…

                                               CHRIST HAVE MERCY …

The red berries make us mindful that Jesus came among us
                              to die on a Cross, and that we drink of His Redeeming Blood:
Lord, by Your wounds we are healed,
                              and by Your death we are freed from the death of sin…

                                               LORD HAVE MERCY …

PRIEST:       O Lord, stir up Your might and come!
                         Be our protector and liberator;
                         rescue us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins,
                        and lead us to our salvation, for ever and ever…

Let us now sing once more the Cry for Jesus’ Coming  [Come Lord Jesus…]

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