Thank you for joining us as we celebrate the 4th Sunday in Advent
Here you can find resources for our Sunday liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are
Preparation
Organ Prelude – Flor Peeters: O come, O come, Emmanuel Op 100
Opening
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Collect for Purity
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Kyrie (CW)
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Collect
Stir up your power, Lord, and come:
and strengthen us by the might of your love;
that, although we are hindered by our sins,
your abundant grace and mercy may quickly come and save us;
for you live and reign with the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
You can find the texts of the readings on the pew sheet
First reading: 2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16 (Andrew Tyler)
The Magnificat
(please say the psalm, pausing shortly at the asterisk *)
Refrain: My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, *
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant; *
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me *
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm; *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Refrain: My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
Second reading: Romans 16.25-27 (Andrew Tyler)
Gospel acclamation (CW)
Alleluia, alleluia.
Watch and wait for the coming of the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel reading: Luke 1.26-38 (The Rector)
Sermon (The Rector)
Music for Reflection – Alexandre Guilmant: Magnificat (Six Versets) Op.41,2 iii
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Intercessions (led by Alistair Shaw)
Reflection: Wait for the Lord (music group)
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
In church, the service continues with the Eucharistic Prayer, the Breaking of Bread and Communion
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
A Blessing is pronounced:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us
and scatter the darkness from before our path;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for worship from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling
as we celebrate the 4th Sunday in Advent
Hymn – Come, thou long-expected Jesus
1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
2 Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
3 Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley
Next Week
Thursday 24th December
CHRISTMAS EVE
4 p.m. Children’s Service
11 p.m. Midnight Mass
Friday 25th December
CHRISTMAS DAY
10.30 a.m. Holy Communion
Sunday 27th December
CHRISTMAS 1
10.30 a.m. Holy Communion
In order to get an idea of numbers and to make sure that no one will need to be turned away at the church door, it will be necessary to sign up for the services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in advance.
Please let the Rector know if you are planning to attend services at Christmas:
- email rector@holytrinitystirling.org
- phone 01786 359821
- text 07522 837624
Many thanks!
We will need to clean the church in preparation for each of these services in order to comply with our guidelines and to make sure that people are safe worshipping at HT.
Extra cleaners will be needed for this: please email Rachel Campbell if you should be able to help.
