4th Sunday of Advent

Additional Advent resources here

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • Responsorial Psalm
  • The gospel for the day
    (a useful commentary on the reading          here)
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

Psalm 80 "Save us O Lord!

Save us, O Lord; carry us back.
 Rouse your power and come.
 Rescue your people; show us your face.
 Bring us back.

O Shepherd of Israel, hear us.
Return and we shall be saved.
Arise, O Lord;
hear our cries, O Lord:
bring us back! (Refrain)

How long will you hide from your people?
We long to see your face.
Give ear to us.
Draw near to us.
Lord God of hosts! (Refrain)

Turn again; care for your vine;
protect what your right hand has planted.
Your vineyards are trampled,
uprooted, and burned.
Come to us, Father of might! (Refrain)

Luke 1:39-45   Why should I be honoured

with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could

to a town in the hill country of Judah.

She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the child leapt in her womb

and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She gave a loud cry and said,

‘Of all women you are the most blessed,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Why should I be honoured with a visit

from the mother of my Lord?

For the moment your greeting reached my ears,

the child in my womb leapt for joy.

Yes, blessed is she who believed

that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.

This the gospel of the Lord
Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.

Having watched our online liturgy, you might want simply to reflect yourself on what you have seen and heard and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.

If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the

resources you have watched please email us.         cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

All through Advent we have been encouraged to support a local charity

Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland who support women and girls with material help and moral support - bringing the kind of joy experienced by Mary, Elizabeth and John (he leapt with joy!)

  1. Have you ever had to help someone (in any way) with a planned or unplanned pregnancy? (Share)
  2. When was it hardest for you to trust in God's plan for you, as Mary did?
    What can help you at such times?

Prayers of Intercession

As Mary responded to the news of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy with love and care,

let us pray that we can respond in the same way with concern and care for each other

and all our brothers and sisters.

 

We give thanks for Pope Francis and the care and concern he shows for the Church.

We ask that the Lord continues to give him the strength and courage he needs to lead the flock of Christ.


Lord hear us…….  bled world that is yet again confronted with a fast-spreading Covid variant.

May we respond to the recommendations given by behaving responsibly for the welfare of each one.


R:/ Lord hear us       Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for those who have already become ill with the Omicron Variant

and for all those on the front line who work heroically and tirelessly at great personal cost to care for them.

We also remember those who have volunteered to help with the vaccination programme.

May the Lord be with them and support them in these difficult times.


R:/ Lord hear us    Lord graciously hear us.

 

For all our young people, that they may be strong and hopeful

despite the uncertainty of these present times.

May Mary be their model of trust and perseverance,

and may they experience her loving care.


R:/ Lord hear us    Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for those who are ill, those awaiting tests, those who are fearful of their illness and those in hospital –

may they feel the support of our care and prayer.

May Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother comfort and strengthen them in their distress.


R:/ Lord hear us    Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for those who have died especially

Sr. Patsy McMahon, Baby Harry Ross, Grettel Calvo Mendez and Gilmour Forrest.

May they now know the peace of their heavenly home.

For those who mourn them, may they experience the love and comfort of Christ.


R:/ Lord hear us    Lord graciously hear us.


Prayer to be Missionary Disciples

Picture of Jesus at door

Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Preparing for next week

Luke 2:41-52     Jesus is found by his parents sitting among the doctors.


Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem

for the feast of the Passover.

When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual.

When they were on their way home after the feast,

the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it.

They assumed he was with the caravan,

and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him

among their relations and acquaintances.

When they failed to find him

they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.


Three days later, they found him in the Temple,

sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions;

and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.

They were overcome when they saw him,

and his mother said to him,

‘My child, why have, you done this to us?

See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’

‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied.

‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’

But they did not understand what he meant.
He then went down with them and came to Nazareth

and lived under their authority.
His mother stored up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

This the gospel of the Lord


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

At some point in our lives, if we have children, we will "lose" them in some shape or form

 whether through disagreement, distance, divergence or death...

...often they return but - all the while - let's remember that God has been with them all along.

  1. Recall a time of tension with your children (or relatives) when you were frantic with worry for their future. Perhaps you can use that experience to help someone you know going through a similar situation.
  2. When was it hardest for you to trust in God's plan for you, as Mary did?
    What can help you at such times?