Sunday readings and prayers

This Sunday we light the second Advent candle, the candle of Peace. 

Despite the many anxieties suffered by those around us at the current time, despite the ongoing conflicts in our own country and in many areas around the world, we trust that God is always present with us, inviting us to be instruments of His peace as He leads us forward into a new Christian year.

We light this candle for all God’s people

Seeking to be peace makers in an insecure world.

Heavenly Father, as we prepare for the birth of the Prince of Peace,

Grant that we too may be bearers of the good news of peace and goodwill.

First Reading:  Isaiah 11:1-10 

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. 

Second Reading:  Romans 15:4-13 

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Gospel Reading: Matthew Chapter 3:1-12 

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” ’ 

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptise you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’   John the Baptist in the Wilderness  Hieronymus Bosch  1516

John the Baptist was a real person and in no way a figment of the imagination.  Some sixty years later, the historian Josephus still recalled John’s popularity with the people. ‘He had exhorted the Jews to lead righteous lives, to practise justice towards their fellows and piety towards God, and so doing to join in baptism…. when others too joined the crowds about him, because they were aroused to the highest degrees by his sermons, Herod became alarmed’. John the Baptist’s preaching clearly had an impact, so much so that his life was soon in danger, even though he came as a man of peace. But John was not preaching to draw attention to himself, he was announcing the entry of God into  human history, something of much greater significance that had the potential to transform the world.

During Advent we are invited to reflect on the part we play today in bringing about that transformation. We should never underestimate the importance of the “little things”!

O God, our Heavenly Father, give us a vision of our world as your love would make it:
A world where the weak are protected and none go hungry or poor;
A world where the benefits of civilised life are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
A world where different races, nations and cultures live in tolerance and mutual respect;
A world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love;
And give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
   St Martin-in-the-Fields prayer for the world

-   Heavenly Father, we pray for our local church community that we may heed the call to be peacemakers.

• We pray for the  leaders of the world at this time of great uncertainty.

• We continue to hold in our prayers the many across the globe who live in war torn countries.

• We pray for social workers and charity volunteers as the cost of living crisis bites.

• We pray for members of our farming community who are facing so many challenges, from the weather, from the market place and from government policy.
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• We pray for those who are unwell or in distress that they may feel the loving presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for .....................................  and for all known to ourselves who are living with anxiety, ill health or loneliness. …………. We pray that they may  know your compassionate presence and find in it a source of renewed strength. 

• We pray  for those who have departed this life and are now in the fullness of God's presence, thinking among others.......... ……. We ask you to be with the bereaved that they may find new strength and hope.

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.