Services for the coming week
Sunday, 4th December Second Sunday of Advent
8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00 am Parish Communion
6.00 pm Evensong
8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00 am Parish Communion
6.00 pm Evensong
Welcome to our worship for
the First Sunday of Advent
27th November
Bidding Prayers
Heavenly Father, as we mark the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year and begin our Advent journey, help us to be enveloped in your presence as we await your joyful coming. Hear our prayers.
Let us begin our Advent journey in joyful hope and wonder.
We pray for residents that are currently living in one of the tens of thousands of homes throughout the UK that are deemed unsafe. Everyone should be provided with safe and warm shelter, help government leaders ensure this is the case. We particularly remember and pray for the toddler, Awaab Ishak, who died due to exposure to mould at home.
As energy bills rise, and temperatures plunge, we pray for those that are living in fear and anxiety for the coming months. We principally remember the elderly, infirm and isolated.
In a world of war and disaster, famine, and disease, as Christians we pray together for all of our brothers and sisters around the globe that are living in daily despair. Let us remember them this Advent and pray for their safety.
We pray for those experiencing new beginnings, may their new path lead them to happy fulfilment.
As the commercial side of Christmas is upon us, let us remember those that have nothing and remind ourselves the greatest gift we can give this year is our time and attention to those in need.
Let us pray for a moment for our own personal petitions…
Lord, as we light our first Advent candle, we remember you are the light of the world. Amen.
Let us begin our Advent journey in joyful hope and wonder.
We pray for residents that are currently living in one of the tens of thousands of homes throughout the UK that are deemed unsafe. Everyone should be provided with safe and warm shelter, help government leaders ensure this is the case. We particularly remember and pray for the toddler, Awaab Ishak, who died due to exposure to mould at home.
As energy bills rise, and temperatures plunge, we pray for those that are living in fear and anxiety for the coming months. We principally remember the elderly, infirm and isolated.
In a world of war and disaster, famine, and disease, as Christians we pray together for all of our brothers and sisters around the globe that are living in daily despair. Let us remember them this Advent and pray for their safety.
We pray for those experiencing new beginnings, may their new path lead them to happy fulfilment.
As the commercial side of Christmas is upon us, let us remember those that have nothing and remind ourselves the greatest gift we can give this year is our time and attention to those in need.
Let us pray for a moment for our own personal petitions…
Lord, as we light our first Advent candle, we remember you are the light of the world. Amen.
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.
Amen
Readings for today
First Reading: Isaiah 2. 1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Psalm 122
Response: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R
Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. R
According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. R
Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good. R
Second Reading: Romans 13. 11-end
Brothers and sisters, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 24. 36-44
Jesus spoke to his disciples: ‘About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Psalm 122
Response: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R
Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. R
According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. R
Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good. R
Second Reading: Romans 13. 11-end
Brothers and sisters, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 24. 36-44
Jesus spoke to his disciples: ‘About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Thoughts on the readings for today.
From Redemptorist Publications
It was in the run-up to Christmas some years ago that a British supermarket became the first in the country to open its doors for twenty-four-hour shopping. At last it was possible to shop at two, three or four in the morning – and shop people did. The first night’s opening was a resounding success in retail terms – and a dismal failure in terms of seasonal goodwill. In the scramble, many of the “luxury” items – such as prawns, smoked salmon and brandy butter – sold out. The consumer frenzy gathered pace, and by midnight people were pinching things from each other’s trolleys. By the early hours, the store had run out of trolleys and was forced to close for a while in order to restore order.
Taken together, today’s three Bible texts remind us that Advent is a season of penitence and preparation, and give us an insight into the second coming of Christ. Perhaps surprisingly, of the three, the Gospel passage is the most alarming. Jesus’ stark warning is all the more immediate because of his vivid depiction of people going about their ordinary, day-to-day lives – eating, drinking, marrying, working in the field – oblivious to the catastrophic events that are about to befall them.
The passage from Isaiah mentions the judgement of God, but also brings us a beautiful vision of the peace – with an end to war and the people walking in the light of the Lord. Similarly, in his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds his readers that “salvation is nearer to us now… the night is far gone, the day is near”. Although the second coming will without doubt be traumatic, for those who are prepared it will ultimately lead to unimaginable joy, peace and light.
In the frenzied struggle for cranberry sauce and brandy butter, the late-night shoppers of our illustration were caught up in the whirl of preparation which characterises Advent for so many of us. And indeed, the chances are that you are thinking about how you will prepare for the season, or your preparations might already be under way. Perhaps you’ve drawn up a Christmas card list, or you might have bought your cards when they were reduced in price last year. You might be in the process of writing and posting them, or be compiling a “round robin” letter with family news. For many of us, the “to-do” list in the run-up to Christmas seems to be never-ending.
We already know that, along with the Christmas cards, the tree, the stockings, the turkey and the tinsel, we need to prepare ourselves spiritually for the season. It is spelt out starkly in today’s readings. But if we allow ourselves to only half-hear the message of the Gospel, we can become resistant and rebellious. So the first thing to do is to reframe it, not a dull obligation but as a God-given opportunity to rethink our priorities and engage more deeply with our faith.
In Christian terms, penitence is the first step towards true preparation. That is why, when we gather in worship, one of our first acts is to bow our heads and confess our wrongdoing. We often confuse penitence with guilt, regret and remorse. Although those things can play a part in contrition, the momentum must always be forward-looking. Rather than simply berating ourselves and thinking that we have “dealt” with anything through guilt or regret, true penitence always involves a real commitment to the future – a resolve to amend our ways and live differently.
So why not decide this Advent to face Jesus’ words with prayerful resolve? That might take soul-searching; it will certainly mean a lot of prayer, and could involve making some changes. The best way forward is to revitalise our prayer life. That might mean finding a bit of time each day, or adding a few minutes to our existing prayer time. Because it’s impossible to really listen and talk to God without growing in faith.
Taken together, today’s three Bible texts remind us that Advent is a season of penitence and preparation, and give us an insight into the second coming of Christ. Perhaps surprisingly, of the three, the Gospel passage is the most alarming. Jesus’ stark warning is all the more immediate because of his vivid depiction of people going about their ordinary, day-to-day lives – eating, drinking, marrying, working in the field – oblivious to the catastrophic events that are about to befall them.
The passage from Isaiah mentions the judgement of God, but also brings us a beautiful vision of the peace – with an end to war and the people walking in the light of the Lord. Similarly, in his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds his readers that “salvation is nearer to us now… the night is far gone, the day is near”. Although the second coming will without doubt be traumatic, for those who are prepared it will ultimately lead to unimaginable joy, peace and light.
In the frenzied struggle for cranberry sauce and brandy butter, the late-night shoppers of our illustration were caught up in the whirl of preparation which characterises Advent for so many of us. And indeed, the chances are that you are thinking about how you will prepare for the season, or your preparations might already be under way. Perhaps you’ve drawn up a Christmas card list, or you might have bought your cards when they were reduced in price last year. You might be in the process of writing and posting them, or be compiling a “round robin” letter with family news. For many of us, the “to-do” list in the run-up to Christmas seems to be never-ending.
We already know that, along with the Christmas cards, the tree, the stockings, the turkey and the tinsel, we need to prepare ourselves spiritually for the season. It is spelt out starkly in today’s readings. But if we allow ourselves to only half-hear the message of the Gospel, we can become resistant and rebellious. So the first thing to do is to reframe it, not a dull obligation but as a God-given opportunity to rethink our priorities and engage more deeply with our faith.
In Christian terms, penitence is the first step towards true preparation. That is why, when we gather in worship, one of our first acts is to bow our heads and confess our wrongdoing. We often confuse penitence with guilt, regret and remorse. Although those things can play a part in contrition, the momentum must always be forward-looking. Rather than simply berating ourselves and thinking that we have “dealt” with anything through guilt or regret, true penitence always involves a real commitment to the future – a resolve to amend our ways and live differently.
So why not decide this Advent to face Jesus’ words with prayerful resolve? That might take soul-searching; it will certainly mean a lot of prayer, and could involve making some changes. The best way forward is to revitalise our prayer life. That might mean finding a bit of time each day, or adding a few minutes to our existing prayer time. Because it’s impossible to really listen and talk to God without growing in faith.
Prayers for this week, from Sue Billett
In the power of the spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
As we prepare ourselves
For the time when Christ comes again in glory
We pray for the grace and honesty
To see what needs transforming in our lives as individuals
And as the members of the Church of God.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
Come among the nations with mercy and judgement
Raise up rulers and leaders of integrity and peace
We bring before you the areas of the world
That for those suffering through war, famine and other disasters at this time
We can do as much as possible to alleviate their suffering through practical solutions
And give your people cause to sing the song of freedom from these ills
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
Come among our communities and homes with mercy and judgement
And at these times of considerable hardship for many families
Give them hope and support.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
May those for whom the days and nights
Creep past in pain or sorrow be given comfort and hope
May the frightened find reassurance
And the anxious find peace of mind
At this time we pray especially for …
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
May those who have reached the point of death
Be given knowledge of God’s closeness
On that last journey]and may those who have died
Know the eternal peace and joy of heaven
At this time we remember especially …….
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
May we all be given a new enthusiasm
For walking God’s way
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As we prepare ourselves
For the time when Christ comes again in glory
We pray for the grace and honesty
To see what needs transforming in our lives as individuals
And as the members of the Church of God.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
Come among the nations with mercy and judgement
Raise up rulers and leaders of integrity and peace
We bring before you the areas of the world
That for those suffering through war, famine and other disasters at this time
We can do as much as possible to alleviate their suffering through practical solutions
And give your people cause to sing the song of freedom from these ills
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
Come among our communities and homes with mercy and judgement
And at these times of considerable hardship for many families
Give them hope and support.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
May those for whom the days and nights
Creep past in pain or sorrow be given comfort and hope
May the frightened find reassurance
And the anxious find peace of mind
At this time we pray especially for …
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord Christ, we look to your coming again
May those who have reached the point of death
Be given knowledge of God’s closeness
On that last journey]and may those who have died
Know the eternal peace and joy of heaven
At this time we remember especially …….
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
May we all be given a new enthusiasm
For walking God’s way
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Please pray for:-
the sick, and those who care for them, including Robert Heal, Kathleen Pape and Nigel.
those who have lit candles and those for whom candles have been lit
those who have recently died, including Jennifer Pearson and June Arundale
those whose anniversary of death falls at this time, including Barbara Day, Jack Campbell, Pip Asquith, Barbara Charles, Donald Campbell and Dorothy Tindall
the sick, and those who care for them, including Robert Heal, Kathleen Pape and Nigel.
those who have lit candles and those for whom candles have been lit
those who have recently died, including Jennifer Pearson and June Arundale
those whose anniversary of death falls at this time, including Barbara Day, Jack Campbell, Pip Asquith, Barbara Charles, Donald Campbell and Dorothy Tindall
Post Communion Prayer:
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Click to set custom HTML
CHURCH GIVING
A few people have asked how they can support the church financially if they can't do their normal weekly giving. Please continue to use Pam’s letterbox to drop off church donations – either envelopes, cheques (made payable to PCC of Pickering Parish Church) or other loose cash (In a sealed envelope marked for the Church). If you are unable to go outside, please ring, and we will see if there is an alternative way to collect.
Pam Robb at 16 Garden Way, Pickering, YO18 8BG. 07769 801708
WITH VERY MANY THANKS.
