Sunday 10 December, 2023

2^nd Sunday of Advent              
Out of the Ordinary #2 (“Changing your mind”)**       

Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one hymn               

General Also see hymns for Israel-Palestine (How can we call a land “Holy”?) 

Deep in the darkness a starlight is gleaming (StF 625)
Heaven shall not wait (StF 701)
O Lord we are always in your presence (StF 33)
Strength will rise as wait upon the Lord (StF 89)
The God who sings a new world into being (StF 714)
We will walk with God, my brothers (StF 484)

**Hymn suggestions are also included as part of Out of the Ordinary, the Methodist Church’s Advent and Christmas 2023 resources. Running for all the Sundays of December, and Christmas Day, this year’s campaign focuses on how the wonder of God’s love is revealed in the ordinary:

• a seemingly ordinary birth becomes God’s out of the ordinary world-saving event through Jesus
• every day, ordinary acts of kindness can breakthrough to the extraordinary

Download the Out of the Ordinary worship resource (PDF)

Lighting of Advent candles (using verses as appropriate)

Advent candles tell their story (StF 165)
Candles we light upon the Advent Ring (website only)
'Christmas is coming!' The Church is glad to sing (StF 166)
*Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)

Isaiah 40: 1-11 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise (StF 55)
Lord, I come before your throne of grace (StF 58)
O come, O come, Immanuel (StF 180)
*The days are surely coming (website only)
Praise to the God who clears the way (StF 183)
The King of love my shepherd is (StF 479) 

Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Faithful One, so unchanging (StF 628)
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King (StF 77)
*There is a new heaven; there is a new earth (StF 738)  

2 Peter 3: 8-15a 

Day of judgement! Day of wonder! (StF 732)
It came upon a midnight clear (StF 205)
Love divine, all loves excelling (StF 503)
*The days are surely coming (website only)
*There is a new heaven; there is a new earth (StF 738)   
We pray until the hour (StF 741) 

Mark 1: 1-8

Baptise us with your Spirit (StF 369)
Make way, make way, for Christ the king in splendour arrives (StF 264)
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry (StF 182)
Praise to the God who clears a way (StF 183)
The kingdom of God is justice and joy (StF 255)
Wild and lone the prophet's voice (StF 189)