Livesimply Advent Service

livesimply Advent service:

the livesimply community challenges

Make the church as dark as possible - as long as everyone can still read their service sheet. A candle is lit at the beginning of each verse of the opening hymn in a place everyone can see.

Opening hymn:  Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)

Leader: (over accompanying music - with pauses for thought)

We long for light, yet we wait in darkness.

What is stopping us?

What have we done?

What have we failed to do?

What direction have we taken?

Which way are we going?

Are we turned towards God, source of light, and life?

Leader: We long for light.

All: We long for light, yet we wait in darkness. Christ, be our light.

All the lights are now switched on.

Leader: welcomes people to the service.

Opening prayer

Leader: God of hope,

As we wait for the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ,

make us mindful of others and their needs,

waken our hearts to your message,

and show us how to bring good news to all your people.

All: Amen

Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11

After the reading, while music plays, everyone is asked to write down on a piece of card the first names of all the people in their family, their friends or others they know who are struggling with illness, bereavement, debt, unemployment or other difficulties. These cards are collected in a basket and brought to the front.

Reading: Isaiah 40:1, 2-5

The leader holds up the basket during the reading, then puts it down at the end.

Hymn:  Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Reading

These words were spoken by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos in Nigeria on a CAFOD trip to the UK:

"People who are poor know what it means to depend on God and trust in one another - this is what the rich need to learn.

"There is terrible poverty in Nigeria, but there is also great wealth. There is the wealth that is concentrated in the few who have benefited from Nigeria's oil - the élite.

"But there is also the wealth of those who live in poverty - the wealth that comes from living in solidarity with each other and acknowledging our dependence on God.

"People who are poor know what it means to depend on God and trust in one another - this is what the rich need to learn."

Leader: We will spend some time in silent reflection: What would it mean to trust in God and to understand how much we depend on God? How might our lives change? If we trusted one another more, how might our society change?

Music plays during the time of reflection.

Gospel reading: Luke 1:39-55

This reading could be dramatised by a group, if possible. Alternatively, choose three readers, one for the narrative, one for the voice of Elizabeth and one for the voice of Mary.

Hymn: The angel Gabriel from heaven came

Prayers

We pray for people living in poverty, and all those who are hungry or homeless. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all the people whose names we wrote down, and for all those whose names we do not know: that they may not be overwhelmed by their situation, but be given the courage, hope and support to face and overcome their difficulties. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our local community, here in X: that we may be true neighbours to one another. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all those affected by violence, war and conflict, and especially for refugees and asylum seekers: that we may all work towards peace and reconciliation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the rich nations: that all who experience the benefits of wealth, and those in power, may urgently seek ways of living simply so that the earth's resources may be shared more fairly. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves: that we may learn respect for creation, so that the earth and its natural resources are no longer exploited to the point of destruction. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves: that we may be ready to accept the challenge to become a new global community, where each person is valued for who they are, rather than for what they have. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We ask Mary, who waits with us in joy and hope this Advent, for her help and protection. Hail Mary…

Hymn: O come, O come Emmanuel

The livesimply challenges

Reader: What are less-than-human conditions? The material poverty of those who lack the bare necessities of life, and the moral poverty of those who are crushed under the weight of their own self-love.

What are truly human conditions? The rise from poverty to the acquisition of life's necessities… a growing awareness of other people's dignity, a taste for the spirit of poverty, an active interest in the common good, and a desire for peace.

(Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 21 (adapted))

Leader: Working together as a community…

All: We are ready to accept the livesimply challenge.

A candle is lit.

Reader: Christ, make us your light; make us witnesses of your love.

All: Amen.

Reader: Christ, make us your voice, bringing peace to the world.

All: Amen.

Reader: Christ, make us your people, mindful of others.

All: Amen.

Reader: Christ, make us your servants, proclaiming the good news.

All: Amen.

Reader: For as the earth sends up its shoots and a garden makes seeds sprout, so God makes saving justice and praise spring up in the sight of all nations.

Each person takes a seed from the basket, as a reminder of the challenge.

Leader: May justice, peace and praise spring up around the world for all God's people. May God bless us and the Spirit accompany us as we go out with the love, hope and joy brought to us by Christ Jesus.

All: Amen.

Final hymn: Tell out my soul