Welcome to the Hawkinge Baptist Church Service

Sunday 29 November 2020

Act of worship

First week of Advent

Join with Rev Ali Bodington as she lights the first candle on the first Sunday of Advent

Call to worship - Galatians 4

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."
Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Opening Prayer
God of majesty and power, who spoke and this world was, who breathed and this world lived,
who counts the hairs upon our head, who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts,
who loves us more than we deserve, how can we not bring today our sacrifice of praise?
For in the child at Bethlehem lies the promise of hope, a Saviour who would die even for me,
and the promise of an eternity in which to praise you more each day. God of promise we praise your name,
Amen

Please sing (read /pray or proclaim out loud the words of today's songs.)

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like thee His praise should sing.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King!

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress.
Praise him, still the same for ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Glorious in his faithfulness!

Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Widely as His mercy flows!

Angels, in the height adore him;
Ye behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise with us the God of grace!

Let us say The Lord’s prayer..

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever
Amen.

Listen to today's reading, Psalm 33
and message with Rev Ali Boddington

Prayer

Lord of hope, we always look forward in expectation to Christmas and the first
glimmering of Advent makes us smile. But what our hearts really yearn for is to
know how to bring your love to the dark places; this Advent help us to stand with
those whose expectations have been trampled by the difficulties of life.

We pray for those in our community who expect little: the ill, the lonely, the troubled;
and the families who are struggling this Christmas, whether financially or emotionally.
[we think of ................]
Help us to bring your warmth into troubled lives this advent.

We pray for societies struggling to find their way; we are told that globally times are hard, there are no easy answers,
and there is so much we don't understand in this world.
[we think of................]
Help us, your people, to be a fixed point; a light amid the turmoil: give your church the strength to care where others don't.

We pray for all those nations expecting only continued war, famine or flood. Our minds turn to the lands of the Bible
where strife rarely ceases, and to surrounding nations torn apart by hate-filled factions.
[we think of................]
Bless the tireless work of those who bring hope to the hurt and the oppressed, and show us how we can support them.

We pray for the children of this world: our own, and those suffering from lack of food or shelter or love.
At a time of year that many say is for the children, help us to support those who work
to give a future to young people and remind us all to let the children around us just be children.

As the nights draw in, we know that your light is shining.
Help us to be that light:
help us to bring warmth,
help us to share love,
help us to touch lives as ours have been touched.

Amen

Jesus is King and I will extol Him

Jesus is King and I will extol Him
Give Him the glory, and honour His name
He reigns on high, enthroned in the heavens
Word of the Father, exalted for us

We have a hope that is steadfast and certain
Gone through the curtain and touching the throne
We have a Priest who is there interceding
Pouring His grace on our lives day by day

We come to Him, our Priest and Apostle
Clothed in His glory and bearing His name
Laying our lives with gladness before Him
Filled with His Spirit we worship the King

O Holy One, our hearts do adore You
Thrilled with Your goodness we give You our praise
Angels in light with worship surround Him
Jesus, our Saviour, forever the same

Blessing

May you be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, now and always .

Amen