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.

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 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 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 and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for 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.

Merciful God,
you sent your messengers the prophets
to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy
the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

An asterisk (*) before the hymn number indicates that the hymn has been recorded for use in public worship by the Recorded Church Music Committee.

Isaiah 40: 1-11

*S23 - Christ is surely coming, bringing his reward
120 - Comfort, comfort ye my people
122 - Drop down, ye heavens, from above
*644 - Faithful Shepherd, feed me
*381 - God hath spoken - by his prophets
*324 - God, whose almighty word
*129 - How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
*6 - Immortal, invisible, God only wise
*535 - Judge eternal, throned in splendour
*134 - Make way, make way, for Christ the King
*136 - On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
*S118 - People, look east. The time is near
S119 - People, look east to see at last
141 - These are the days of Elijah

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
*S118 - People, look east. The time is near
S119 - People, look east to see at last
539 - Rejoice, O land, in God thy might
140 - The Lord will come and not be slow
*S157 - We pray thee, heavenly Father

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
49 - Lord, bring the day to pass
*634 - Love divine, all loves excelling
*537 - O God, our help in ages past
*S118 - People, look east. The time is near
S119 - People, look east to see at last

Mark 1: 1-8

*119 - Come, thou long-expected Jesus
120 - Comfort, comfort ye my people
*125 - Hail to the Lord's anointed
*126 - Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding
*419 - I am not worthy, holy Lord
*134 - Make way, make way, for Christ the King
305 - O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
*136 - On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
*S146 - The kingdom of God is justice and joy
140 - The Lord will come and not be slow
*491 - We have a gospel to proclaim
*204 - When Jesus came to Jordan