Collect for: Second Sunday of Advent
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. "
Old Testament
Isaiah 40:1-11
1 Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God.
2 Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all her sins.'
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'
6 The voice said, 'Cry out!' And he said, 'What shall I cry?' 'All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.'
9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'
10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
85
1 Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin.
Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.
*At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
New Testament
2 Peter 3:8-15
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation -- as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Mark 1:1-8
Introduction to the Gospel:
Deacon:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you. Or And with your spirit
Deacon:
May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
People:
Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon:
We are reading from Mark's Gospel chapter 1, beginning at verse 1.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the Prophets: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' '
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And he preached, saying, 'There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'
After the Gospel reading, the deacon can elevate the book and says:
Deacon:
The Gospel of the Lord.
People:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. Prayers of the People
Prayers of the People for: Second Sunday of Advent
Brothers and sisters, let us bring our needs and the needs of the whole world before God Who shows kindness to all who fear Him.
That the Church will take seriously the call to be ready for the Lord's coming again.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.That nations will establish laws respecting the basic human rights of all persons especially the unborn, the elderly and the disabled.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.That those who live daily with anger and discouragement will find God's peace and purpose for their lives.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.That God's people will earnestly desire the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and that they will be poured out in abundance upon His Church.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.That we will have eyes to see God's image in every human being, especially the poor, the imprisoned and the marginalized.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.That we will make every effort to be at peace with all men as it is in our power to do so.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer. For our own special intentions.
(Pause)
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.God of justice and peace, Your prophets challenge us to live lives holy and pleasing to You.
Hear our prayer and give us the grace to be always ready for Your Sons victorious return.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
AMEN