Principal Service

Almighty God,
Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,
and put upon us the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which thy Son Jesus Christ
came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty
to judge both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

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 and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

God our deliverer,
Awaken our hearts
to prepare the way for the advent of your Son,
that, with minds purified by the grace of his coming,
we may serve you faithfully all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eternal God,
you have taught us that the night is far spent
and the day is at hand:
keep us awake and alert, watching for your kingdom,
and make us strong in faith,
so that when Christ comes in glory to judge the earth,
we may go out joyfully to greet him;
and with all your saints, may worship you for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

An asterisk (*) before the hymn number indicates that the hymn has been recorded for use in public worship by the Recorded Church Music Committee.

Jeremiah 33: 14–16

*642 – Amazing grace (how sweet the sound!)
*S23 – Christ is surely coming, bringing his reward
*323 – The God of Abraham praise

Psalm 25: 1–9

*11 – Can we by searching find out God
*17 – Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness
*652 – Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
*S112 – O merciful Creator, hear
*712 – Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
*S147 – The Lord’s my shepherd (Townend)

1 Thessalonians 3: 9–13

*S100 – My hope is built on nothing less
675 – Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
*343 – We love the place, O God

Luke 21: 25–36

*S8 – And he shall reign for ever
*567 – Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
*668 – God is our fortress and our rock
*126 – Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding
*127 – Hark, what a sound, and too divine for hearing
*95 – Jesus, priceless treasure
131 – Lift up your heads, you mighty gates
*132 – Lo! he comes with clouds descending
*S102 – My Jesus, my Saviour
538 – O Lord, the clouds are gathering
*369 – Songs of praise the angels sang
*488 – Stand up, stand up for Jesus
*73 – The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
140 – The Lord will come and not be slow
*509 – Your kingdom come, O God