Holy One, make speed to save us:
O God, come quickly to help us.
Glory to God, Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Opening
Sundays: From Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi
To you, O Lord, * I lift up my soul;
Show me your ways, O Lord, * and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
Gracious and upright are you, O Lord; *
therefore you teach sinners in your way.
You guide the humble in doing right * and teach your way to the lowly.
O Lord, all your paths are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.
Protect my life and deliver me; *
let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
Reflection: Creator of the Stars of Night
People look east is one of the most joyful Advent carols, bouncing along with enthusiasm singing through all creation for the coming of love, embodied as Christ, into the world.
“Joy” is key to the whole story of the Bible. On page one of the Bible, God says that this world is “very good,” and so naturally people find joy in beautiful and good things of life, like growing flocks or an abundant harvest on the hills. The poet of Psalm 104 says a good bottle of wine is God’s gift “to bring joy to people’s hearts.” People find joy at a wedding or in their children There’s even a Hebrew proverb that compares the joy that perfume brings to your nose with the joy a good friend brings to your heart.
However, human history isn’t just a joy-fest. When the Israelites were suffering from slavery in Egypt, God raised up Moses to lead them into freedom, and the first thing the Israelites did was sing for joy. This “joy in the wilderness,” was a defining moment, a way of saying that the joy of God’s people is not determined by their struggles but by their future destiny. This theme reappears later in Israel’s story when Israel suffered under the oppression of foreign empires. The prophet Isaiah looked for the day when God would raise up a new deliverer like Moses. That’s when “those redeemed by the Lord will return to Zion with glad shouts, with eternal joy crowning their heads; happiness and joy will overtake them.” And while the Israelites waited, they chose joy to anticipate their future redemption.
This is why it’s significant that when Jesus of Nazareth was born, it was announced as “good news that brings great joy.” We’re told that Jesus himself “rejoiced and gave thanks to God his Father” when he began to announce the Kingdom of God. He taught his followers the same “joy in the wilderness” saying, “when people reject and persecute you for following me, rejoice, be very glad, because your reward is great in heaven.”
After his death and resurrection, Jesus commissioned his followers to go out and announce the good news that he was the risen King of the world. And as they did so, the early Christian communities were known for being “full of joy” even when they were persecuted. This is very different from the trite advice to “turn that frown upside down.” Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love. This is why at this time of year we make our houses fair as we are able,
Trimming the hearth and setting the table, even if we don’t feel cheerful or live in situations of persecution like the contemporary Christians of Bethlehem. All over the world people are still making the brave decision to: look east and sing today: for
People look east is one of the most joyful Advent carols, bouncing along with enthusiasm singing through all creation for the coming of love, embodied as Christ, into the world.
“Joy” is key to the whole story of the Bible. On page one of the Bible, God says that this world is “very good,” and so naturally people find joy in beautiful and good things of life, like growing flocks or an abundant harvest on the hills. The poet of Psalm 104 says a good bottle of wine is God’s gift “to bring joy to people’s hearts.” People find joy at a wedding or in their children There’s even a Hebrew proverb that compares the joy that perfume brings to your nose with the joy a good friend brings to your heart.
However, human history isn’t just a joy-fest. When the Israelites were suffering from slavery in Egypt, God raised up Moses to lead them into freedom, and the first thing the Israelites did was sing for joy. This “joy in the wilderness,” was a defining moment, a way of saying that the joy of God’s people is not determined by their struggles but by their future destiny. This theme reappears later in Israel’s story when Israel suffered under the oppression of foreign empires. The prophet Isaiah looked for the day when God would raise up a new deliverer like Moses. That’s when “those redeemed by the Lord will return to Zion with glad shouts, with eternal joy crowning their heads; happiness and joy will overtake them.” And while the Israelites waited, they chose joy to anticipate their future redemption.
This is why it’s significant that when Jesus of Nazareth was born, it was announced as “good news that brings great joy.” We’re told that Jesus himself “rejoiced and gave thanks to God his Father” when he began to announce the Kingdom of God. He taught his followers the same “joy in the wilderness” saying, “when people reject and persecute you for following me, rejoice, be very glad, because your reward is great in heaven.”
After his death and resurrection, Jesus commissioned his followers to go out and announce the good news that he was the risen King of the world. And as they did so, the early Christian communities were known for being “full of joy” even when they were persecuted. This is very different from the trite advice to “turn that frown upside down.” Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love. This is why at this time of year we make our houses fair as we are able,
Trimming the hearth and setting the table, even if we don’t feel cheerful or live in situations of persecution like the contemporary Christians of Bethlehem. All over the world people are still making the brave decision to:
look east and sing today: for
Love, the guest, is on the way.
MAGNIFICAT
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,*
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
2 for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
3 The Almighty has done great things for me* and holy is his name.
4 He has mercy on those who fear him* in every generation.
5 He has shown the strength of his arm;*
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
6 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones*
and has lifted up the lowly.
7 He has filled the hungry with good things,*
and the rich he has sent away empty.
8 He has come to the help of his servant Israel,*
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
9 the promise he made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
PRAYERS
We have been afraid of the fierceness of your love, which sears our hearts as with a laser. Lord, have mercy upon us.
We have refused to believe that you are gentle in judgment, that your hands loosen the knots of our bitterness. Christ, have mercy upon us.
We have failed to see that your eyes are wise in discernment, that your justice restores us and heals. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
COLLECTS
Stir up our prayers, Lord, and hear us: that they who are sorrowful and suffering may rejoice at the Advent of your only-begotten Son; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity. Amen.
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St Ternans Banchory 