Author: Fr Yvan

Names of Churches
DATE AND TIME
Presidents:
Bishop 1 (Name)
Bishop 2 (Name)
Combined choirs: (List)
Welcome : (Name)
We gather to celebrate the blessing of the Advent Cross which will accompany us to Christmas. As the Southern Cross gives the cardinal directions, the Advent candles will help us focus on Christ the Light of the World coming into our creation. After the Liturgy of the Word and prayers, we will bless this cross, light the first candle and invite a member of the various communities gathered to come forward to take the light of Christ back to their community.
May our service and prayer help us to commemorate the birth of Christ Our Saviour.
GATHERING HYMN O COME O COME EMMANUEL
O come O come Emmanuel
And free your captive Israel
Who mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God draws near
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel
shall come to save you Israel
O royal branch of Jesse's tree
Redeem us all from tyranny
From pain of hell your people free
And over death win victory
Refrain
O come, O come, bright daybreak come and cheer
Our spirits by your Advent here
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path of misery
Refrain
Bishop 1: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
Bishop 2: Our help is in the name of the Lord
All: Who has made heaven and earth.
Choir Anthem:
LITANY OF ADVENT
Bishop 1 (Name) :
Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. All:Come, Lord Jesus.
You are light in our darkness. “
Son of God, save us from our sins. “
Son of Mary, deepen our love. “
Bring hope into the lives of all people. “
Give your peace to all nations. “
Be the joy of all who love you. “
Bring unity among all who believe in you. “
Bless us as we gather here in your name. “
Lord Jesus, stay with us always. R/ Come, Lord Jesus.
OPENING PRAYER (Bishop 2)
Loving God, you made the stars, the moon and the sun. which give light and rhythm to our lives. Through Your Son, You offer us the season of Advent so that we may prepare our hearts and homes to receive the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Send us your Holy Spirit, like a guiding star to lead us in this Advent season so that we be ready to celebrate with great joy and happiness the birth of Your Son, the same Jesus Christ our Lord
All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah (9: 1-5) read by (Name)
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. O Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken. You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian.
This is the Word of the Lord . Thanks be to God
PSALM 80 (may be changed)
All: O Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim,
Shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
All: O Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O Lord of hosts,
Look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted,
the one whom you yourself made strong.
All: O Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the one at your right hand,
With the one whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you;
Give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
All: O Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.
A reading from the first letter of St John 1:5-7 read by (Name)
This is what we have heard from him, and the message that we are announcing to you: God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. If we say we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. But if we live our lives in the light, as he is in the light, we are in union with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Homily : Bishop 2
Bishop 1: Christ our Saviour came as the Prince of Peace.
Bishop 2 May Christ give us his peace and joy,
and let us share them with others.
All peace and glory are his for ever.
Greet those around you with “Peace be with you”
Respond: And also with you
Hymn: O Come Divine Messiah
O come, divine Messiah,
the world in silence waits the day
when hope shall sing its triumph and sadness flee away.
Dear Saviour, haste! Come, come to earth.
Dispel the night and show your face, and bid us hail the dawn of grace… Chorus
O Christ, whom nations sigh for, whom priest and prophet long foretold,
come break the captives fetters, redeem the long lost fold. Chorus
You come in peace and meekness and lowly will your cradle be;
all clothed in human weakness, shall we your Godhead see. Chorus
BLESSING OF ADVENT CROSS
Bishop One
Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: he is Emmanuel, the hope of all peoples, he is the Saviour of every nation,
he is the Light of world.
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this Advent cross.
Bishop 2
As the Southern Cross is a guide to travellers,
may these lights be a sign of Christ's promise
and bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay.
Both Bishops
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE CandleS
All recite the Advent verse
Twilight, then darkness, night falls and candles glow,
Gently surrounding us a new birth of hope.
Watching, waiting, awakening a new birth of hope
Choir Anthem:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Bishop 1 As Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught his disciples, longing for unity, we dare to pray:
All: Our Father who in heaven, Hallowed be your name,
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory
are Yours now and for ever.
Amen
CALL OF THE COMMUNITIES
The Bishops light the candles to be presented from the cross
A representative of each of the Cathedral communities and other groups who are present come forward to receive a Star candle, light it from the
Advent Cross and stand near the Lights of the Southern Cross.
Bishop 1: Lord we share this light with our brothers and sisters
Bishop 2: People of God, take care of this light.
All: May the light of Christmas grow evermore
in our hearts and communities.
FINAL PRAYER AND SENDING
Bishop 2
Ma te marie a te Atua e kore nei e taea te
whakaaro e tiaki o koutou Ngakau o koutou
hinengaro I roto I a Karaiti Ihu; a kia mau kia u
hoki ki a koutou te manaaki a te Atua Kaha Rawa,
a te Matua, a te Tama, a te Wairua Tapu aianei a
ake tonu atu.
All Amine
Bishop 1
God of all those who yearn for a glimmer of assurance on the long journey home to you, come! Come with a vast storehouse of renewed dreams, hopes, and peacefulness.
May we be alert at all times ready for the coming of the Lord
Bishop 2
You believe that the Son of God once came to us; you look for him to come in glory. May his coming bring you the light of his holiness and his blessing bring you freedom.
May almighty God bless you,
The Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit
All Amen
Those with candles process out ahead of the Clergy.
Let us join in singing the final hymn
and praying that Christ will be Our Light in this Advent Season.
Christ be our light
Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see. Refrain:Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has pow’r to save us. Make us your living voice.
Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others, shared until all are fed.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone.
5. Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come.
Following the ceremony
please join us for light refreshments
in the foyer of the Cathedral

Image of choice

LITURGY OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS