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.

1st Reading Baruch 5: 1–9
418* Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face
671 Jesus, thy blood and righteousness


Alternative Malachi 3: 1–4 [PresABC]
1st Reading 52* Christ, whose glory fills the skies
331 God reveals his presence
634* Love divine, all loves excelling
134* Make way, make way for Christ the King
640 Purify my heart

Canticle for Psalm Benedictus (Luke 1: 68–79) [Pr29C]
685* Blessed be the God of Israel
52* Christ, whose glory fills the skies
119* Come, thou long–expected Jesus
381* God has spoken – by his prophets
706* O bless the God of Israel

2nd Reading Philippians 1: 3–11
518* Bind us together, Lord
413 Father, we thank thee who hast planted
567* Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
588* Light of the minds that know him
81* Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided
601* Teach me, my God and King

The Gospel Luke 3: 1–6
126* Hark! a thrilling voice in sounding
134* Make way, make way for Christ the King
306* O Spirit of the living God
136* On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
204* When Jesus came to Jordan