The Advent Antiphons, sung originally in the evenings of 17.-23. December, are well known through the hymn ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’.
While the Antiphons can be used in a variety of liturgical ways they are used here as a framework for a rite of expectation and preparation, reminding us that Advent was a time of preparation (like Lent). But while the season of Lent has always focused on personal reflection and discipline and penitence, in Advent the emphasis is more a proclamation of a Kingdom based on justice.
If at all possible do this in an evening and by candlelight.
Opening
The Advent Prose may be read to reflect on or spoken or sung:
Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Be not wroth very sore, O Lord neither remember iniquity for ever:
thy holy cities are a wilderness, Sion a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation; our holy and our beautiful house,
where our fathers praised thee.
Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness.
We have sinned, and are an unclean thing, and we all do fade as a leaf:
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away:
thou hast hid thy face from us: and hast consumed us,
because of our iniquities.
Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen:
that ye may know me and believe me:
I, even I, am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour:
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand..
Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, my salvation shall not tarry:
I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions:
Fear not, for I will save thee:
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.
Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness.
The Collect for Advent Sunday
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, in the unity of the holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
Before each Reading an ‘O” Antiphon is said or sung
After each Reading a verse of the hymn ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’ is sung
=O wisdom coming forth from the Most High, filling all creation and reigning to the ends of the earth; come and teach us the way of truth.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for all that seek out truth……
O come thou wisdom from on high
Who madest all in earth and sky
Creating man from dust and clay
To us reveal salvation’s way.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O Lord of Lords, and ruler of the House of Israel you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come with your outstretched arm and ransom us.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for true prophets of today……
O come, O come Adonai
Who in thy glorious majesty
From Sinai’s mountain, clothed with awe
Gavest thy folk the ancient law.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O root of Jesse standing as a sign among the nations; kings will keep silence before you for whom the nations long; come and save us and delay no longer.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for the world’s leaders……
O come, thou Root of Jesse ! draw
The quarry from the lion’s claw
From those dread caverns of the grave
From nether hell thy people save.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison and break down the walls of death.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for those who are imprisoned by addictions, by unhealthy relationships, by their past……
O come, thou Lord of David’s Key !
The royal door fling wide and free
Safeguard for us the heavenward road
And bar the way to death’s abode.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O morning star, splendour of the light eternal and bright sun of righteousness: come and bring light to those who dwell in darkness and walk in the shadow of death.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for those who live in fear of death……
O come, O come thou Dayspring bright !
Pour on our souls thy healing light
Dispel the long night’s lingering gloom
And pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O king of nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: cornerstone, binding all together: come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust of the earth.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
In stillness we pray for your people everywhere……
O come Desire of nations ! show
Thy kingly reign on earth below
Thou Cornerstone, uniting all
Restore the ruin of our fall.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
=O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, hope of the nations and their saviour:
come and save us O Lord our God.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
GOSPEL
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew;
Glory to Christ our Saviour.
This is the Gospel of Christ: Praise to Christ our Lord.
O come O come Emmanuel !
Redeem thy captive Israel
That into exile drear is gone
Far from the face of God’s dear Son.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn: Lo He Comes in clouds descending
A sending out prayer: A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord our God, on the first day of creation you made the light that scatters all darkness. Let Christ, the light of lights, hidden from all eternity, shine at last on your people and free us from the darkness. Fill our lives with good works as we go out to meet your Son, so that we may rejoice to welcome him at his coming.
We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A Blessing
May God the Father judge all-merciful make us worthy of a place in his kingdom. Amen.
May God the Son coming among us in power reveal in our midst the promise of his glory. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith and joyful in hope and constant in love. Amen.
And the blessing….. Amen.
Go in the Peace and Light of Christ: Thanks be to God.