Sunday 24 December, 2023

4^th Sunday of Advent
Out of the Ordinary #4 (“Listening”)** 

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)

2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16

A safe stronghold our God is still (StF 623)
All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
Behold the servant of the Lord! (StF 546)
Have faith in God, my heart (StF 466)

either Canticle: Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55)

My soul rejoices in God my Saviour (StF 60)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (StF 186)
We gladly celebrate and praise (StF 120)

or Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

It was on a starry night (StF 206)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (StF 591)
O God of Bethel, by whose hand thy people still are fed (StF 475)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (StF 221)

Romans 16: 25-27

Into the darkness of this world (StF 173)
God make us ready for our celebration (“Emmanuel Now”) (website only)
Light we now our candle flame (website only)
Speak in the stillness, God we pray (StF 511)

Luke 1: 26-38

Behold the servant of the Lord! (StF 546)
God it was who said to Abraham (StF 464)
Come, Lord Jesus, come (StF 168) especially for prayers of intercession
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come (StF 178)
Remembering Mary(website only)
Sing we the King who is coming to reign (StF 185)
The Angel Gabriel from heaven came (StF 187)
We gladly celebrate and praise (StF 120)