Sunday 1 December
1st Sunday of Advent
Purple
Readings:
- Jeremiah 33:14–16
- Psalm 25:1–9
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13
- Luke 21:25–36
Collect
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
(or)
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Sunday 8 December
2nd Sunday of Advent
Purple
Readings:
- Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1–4
- Canticle: Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)
- Philippians 1:3–11
- Luke 3:1–6
Collect:
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.
(or)
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
Sunday 15 December
3rd Sunday of Advent
Purple
Readings:
- Zephaniah 3:14–20
- Canticle: Isaiah 12:2–6 [ or Psalm 146:4–10]
- Philippians 4:4–7
- Luke 3:7–18
Collect:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
(or)
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday 22 December
4th Sunday of Advent
Purple
Readings:
- Micah 5.2–5a
- Canticle: Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55) or Psalm 80.1–8
- Hebrews 10.5–10
- Luke 1.39–45 [46–55]
Collect:
God our redeemer,
who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
(or)
Eternal God,
as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,
so we wait for his coming in glory;
bring us through the birth pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday 29 December
1st Sunday of Christmas
White
Readings:
- 1 Samuel 2:18–20, 26
- Psalm 148:1-14 [ or Psalm 148:7–14]
- Colossians 3:12–17
- Luke 2:41–52
Collect:
Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
(or)
God in Trinity,
eternal unity of perfect love:
gather the nations to be one family,
and draw us into your holy life
through the birth of Emmanuel,
our Lord Jesus Christ.