Sunday 27 November – Advent 1  (Hope)

Isaiah 2:1-5 – This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it …

Psalm 122 – I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem …

Romans 13:11-14 – And do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed …

Matthew 24:36-44 – ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man …’

Hymn/Song Suggestions

Light one candle for hope (TIS286) (verse 1 only) – if you are lighting Advent candles, light during the singing
Come thou long expected Jesus (TIS272)
Mine eyes have seen the glory (TIS315)
How Great Thou Art (TIS155)
Rejoice the Lord is King (TIS216)
I cannot tell why he whom angels worship

Days of Elijah
O Praise The Name (Anastasis) (I cast my mind to Calvary)
Cornerstone (My hope is built on nothing less)

Other Suggestions

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Sunday 4 December – Advent 2  (Peace)

Isaiah 11:1-10 – A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him …

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 – Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

Romans 15:4-13 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Matthew 3:1-12 – In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, …

Hymn/Song Suggestions

• Light one candle for hope (TIS 286) (verses 1-2) – if you are lighting Advent candles, light during the singing

If you want Christmas Carols this soon you could take some that won’t get hammered closer to Christmas

• O Little Town of Bethlehem
• Let earth and heaven combine
• What child is this
• Hark the herald angels (if it isn’t going to be hammered closer to Christmas)

Hymns

• Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (for something not so often used)
• Great is your faithfulness

Songs

• Make me a channel of your peace
• Because He Lives (God sent his son, they called him Jesus)

Other Suggestions

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Sunday 11 December – Advent 3  (Joy)

Isaiah 35:1-10 – The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom …

One of

• Psalm 146:5-10 – Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth …

• Luke 1:46b-55 – [And Mary said, ] ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant …

James 5:7-10 – Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

Matthew 11:2-11 – When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

Hymn/Song Suggestions

Light one candle for hope (TIS 286) (verses 1-3) – if you are lighting Advent candles, light during the singing

O come o come Emmanuel (TIS265)
Joy to the World (TIS268)
Good Christians all, rejoice (TIS313)
Angels we have heard on high

Rejoice the Lord is King
O for 1,000 tongues to sing
Joyful joyful we adore you

At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh!)
Because he lives (God sent his son)
Put on the garment of praise

Other Suggestions

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Sunday 18 December – Advent 4  (Love)

Isaiah 7:10-16 – Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 – Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim …

Romans 1:1-7 – Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son

Matthew 1:18-25 – This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit …

Hymn/Song Suggestions

Light one candle for hope (TIS 286) (all verses) – if you are lighting Advent candles, light during the singing

Love came down at Christmas (TIS317)
Calypso Carol
O Holy Night
What child is this (not as clearly on the love theme, but also not one of the most often sung carols)

Love divine all loves excelling
Let earth and heaven combine

• you can download backing tracks for Christmas carols, including version with singers, also version as video with lyrics for projection, from here – https://mymidi.audio/new-music-project/. I (Rev Wayne) produced this material myself, so I can assure you there is no cost or copyright issue.

Other Suggestions

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Christmas Eve/Day

The lectionary provides 3 sets of readings (described “Proper I”, “Proper II”, and “Proper III”) which can be used for these services. Choose as you wish. Song suggestions and other suggestions are below Proper III.

Christmas – Proper I

Isaiah 9:2-7 – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned …

Psalm 96 – Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day …

Titus 2:11-14 –  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age …

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) – In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

Christmas – Proper II

Isaiah 62:6-12 – I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night …

Psalm 97 – The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice …

Titus 3:4-7 – But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy …

Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 – In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world … And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night …

Christmas – Proper III

Isaiah 52:7-10 – How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace …

Psalm 98 – Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him …

Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12) – In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son …

John 1:1-14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made …

Hymn/Song Suggestions

Christmas Carols and other such songs. They are known and local congregations will choose according to their preferences.

• you can download backing tracks for Christmas carols, including version with singers, also version as video with lyrics for projection, from here – https://mymidi.audio/new-music-project/. I (Rev Wayne) produced this material myself, so I can assure you there is no cost or copyright issue.

Other Suggestions

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PAGE

The whole point of this page is to receive ideas from around our presbytery, and share those with others. If you are logged in you can post comments below. If not, you can email suggestions to comms@centralqldpresbytery.org.au.