A01

Year A
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 1 December 2013

Eucharistic Preface

Let us lift up our hearts.
........We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
........It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for the night is nearly gone,
and your light is dawning in the darkness.

You created the earth and its inhabitants,
and when the flood came in the days of Noah,
you saved a people and called them to walk in your light.
Though the day and hour cannot be known,
through your prophets, you have given us
visions of our approaching salvation.

In your child, Jesus the Christ,
you have called all peoples to yourself
and taught us your ways.
When he was killed,
you raised him to new life
and promised a day when he will come
at an unexpected hour
to gather up your faithful ones
and bring them home to your house,
so that the weapons and works of darkness
might be discarded
and all might be securely clothed in Christ Jesus himself.

Therefore with .....

©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Short Preface
(for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)

We thank you that though the day and hour cannot be known,
you have given us visions of our approaching salvation,
when Christ will gather your faithful ones
and bring them home to your holy mountain.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

General Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for the night is nearly gone,
and your light is dawning in the darkness.

You created the earth and its inhabitants,
and when the flood came in the days of Noah,
you saved a people and called them to walk in your light.
Though the day and hour cannot be known,
through your prophets, you have given us
visions of our approaching salvation.

In your child, Jesus the Christ,
you have called all peoples to yourself
and taught us your ways.
When he was killed,
you raised him to new life
and promised a day when he will come
at an unexpected hour
to gather up your faithful ones
and bring them home to your house,
so that the weapons and works of darkness
might be discarded
and all might be securely clothed in Christ Jesus himself.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Declaration of Grace / Absolution

Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
The night is far gone, the day is near.
God comes to us in mercy and love.

Sisters and Brothers,
........your sins are forgiven;
................be at peace.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Commission & Benediction

Go now and walk in the light of the Lord.
Stay alert for the Lord is near.
Put on the armour of light
and live openly and honourably.
Pray for peace for all God’s people.

And may God clothe you in the light of Christ;
May Christ Jesus teach you his ways;
And may the Holy Spirit keep you alert and prepared
for the coming day of the Lord.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
........In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Paraphrases of the Scripture Lections
for the 1st Sunday of Advent - Year A - Sunday 1 December 2013
Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary.
Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT)
P. O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.

* Isaiah 2: 1-5

This is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was given to me, Isaiah:

The days are coming
........when the mountain on which the LORD’s temple stands
................will be the greatest mountain of all,
It will tower above every other peak and hill,
........and all the world’s nations
................will come rushing to it like a flood.

People everywhere will say:
........“Come, let’s go and climb the LORD’s mountain;
................let us worship in the temple of the God of Jacob.
........There the LORD will teach us how to live right
................so that we can get our lives on track.”

The holy mountain will be the place of enlightenment.
........In the holy city, the LORD’s truth will be made known.

The LORD will settle all disputes between nations,
........and sort out their competing claims.
They will turn weapons into welcome signs
........and bombs into tools and toys.
Never again will nations take up arms against one another;
........never again will young people be trained for war.

Come now, all you people of God,
........let us stick to the tracks that the LORD lights up!

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

* Psalm 122

When they invited us to your house, LORD,
........our hearts leapt for joy!

And now, here we are,
........standing inside the gates of your holy city.

Jerusalem, your sacred home;
........the place where city and temple are one.

All your tribes gather here, LORD;
........all your people come up here to celebrate.
They name you as the one to whom all thanks is due,
........just as your people have always done.

The seats of law and justice are here,
........safeguarded by David’s throne.

We pray for peace for Jerusalem;
........may all go well for those who love your city.

Fill the city with peace and joy, LORD,
........and stand guard to keep it secure.

For the love of sisters and brothers in Jerusalem,
........we pray for the welfare of the city.

For the love of your house, LORD God,
........we will work for peace in the holy land.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

* Romans 13: 11-14

........You, of course, understand the significance of the times we are living in. It is time to wipe the sleep out of your eyes; to be on your feet, fully alert. Salvation is at hand. It has been approaching ever since we first put our trust in God, and it is now drawing near. The night is almost gone; the new day is about to dawn. So let’s make sure that we get rid of any old ways of living that belong to the darkness of our past. Let us live our lives in such a way that we’ll be able to hold our heads high when the broad light of day shows up everything for what it really is. Avoid the desperate pursuit of pleasure with its common pitfalls of substance abuse, sexual sleaze, hostile belligerence, and crippling jealousy. Instead, take on the persona of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and don’t give any encouragement to the selfish desires that clamour for your attention and seek to hijack your life.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

* Matthew 24: 36-44

Speaking in private with his followers, Jesus said:

“Time has almost reached its goal, but just when that day and hour will come, nobody knows. The angels of heaven don’t know and not even the Son knows. The Conceiver of everything is the only one who knows. What I can tell you is this: things will be much the same when the New Human arrives as they were in Noah’s day. Before the flood burst upon them, people were going about their business as though everything was normal, right up until the day that Noah went aboard his boat. They didn’t suspect a thing until the flood hit and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the New Human hits the scene. Two mates will be working shoulder to shoulder; one will be taken and one will be left behind. Two women will be working on the one bench; one will be taken and one will be left behind. So keep your eyes open and your ears pricked, because you have no way of knowing which day will see your Lord arrive. Think about it. No one would ever let their houses get burgled if the house-breakers worked set hours and made appointments. You have got to be on the ready all the time, because you have no way of knowing when the New Human is going to show up.”