O Lord,
Raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness,
we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us,
thy bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord,
to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, world without end.

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.

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.

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.

Lord,
here you have nourished us with the food of life.
Through our sharing in this holy sacrament
teach us to judge wisely earthly things
and to yearn for things heavenly.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Year B

1st Reading Isaiah 40: 1–11 [6–24]
120 Comfort, comfort ye my people
122 Drop down, ye heavens, from above
644* Faithful shepherd, feed me
6* Immortal, invisible, God only wise
535* Judge eternal, throned in splendour
134* Make way, make way for Christ the King
141 These are the days of Elijah

Psalm Psalm 85: 1–2, 8–13
695* God of mercy, God of grace
536* Lord, while for all the world we pray
49 Lord, bring the day to pass
539 Rejoice, O land, in God thy might
140 The Lord will come and not be slow

2nd Reading 2 Peter 3: 8–15a
567* Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
162* In the bleak mid–winter
164* It came upon the midnight clear
634* Love divine, all loves excelling
537* O God, our help in ages past

The Gospel Mark 1: 1–8
126* Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding
419* I am not worthy, holy Lord
134* Make way, make way for Christ the King
136* On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
491* We have a gospel to proclaim
204* When Jesus came to Jordan