O Lord Jesu Christ,
who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger
to prepare thy way before thee;
Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way,
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at thy second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight,
who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.

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.

Father,
we give you thanks for these heavenly gifts.
Kindle us with the fire of your Spirit
that when Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

1st Reading Isaiah 35:1–10
146*    A great and mighty wonder     
166*    Joy to the world, the Lord is come     
231*    My song is love unknown  (vv. 1. 2. 4. 7)  
104*    O for a thousand tongues to sing     
113*    There is singing in the desert, there is laughter in the skies   
377      You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace


Psalm Psalm 146:4–10 [A3C]
4* God who made the earth 125* Hail to the Lord’s anointed 92* How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 357 I’ll praise my maker while I’ve breath
97* Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
99* Jesus, the name high over all 535* Judge eternal, throned in splendour
363* O Lord of heaven and earth and sea
712* Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
8* The Lord is King! Lift up your voice
376* Ye holy angels bright


Alternative Canticle Magnificat (Luke 1: 47–55) [A3B/A4BC]
704* Mary sang a song, a song of love
712* Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
139 The angel Gabriel from heaven came
373* To God be the glory! Great things he has done!


2nd Reading James 5: 7–10
41* [God, whose farm is all creation]
535* Judge eternal, throned in splendour
281* Rejoice, the Lord is King!
601* Teach me, my God and King


The Gospel Matthew 11: 2–11
417 He gave his life in endless love
104* O for a thousand tongues to sing
136* On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
324* God, whose almighty word