Sunday 3 December, 2023
1st Sunday of Advent
Out of the Ordinary #1 (“Letting stuff go”)**
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 64: 1-9
Day of judgement! Day of wonder! (StF 732)
God of forgiveness, your people you freed (StF 425)
*Into the darkness of this world (StF 173)
Lo, he comes with clouds descending (StF 177)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness (StF 706)
Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19
Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme
Darkness like a shroud covers the earth (StF 170)
Love divine, all loves excelling (StF 503)
How long, O Lord, will you forget (StF 630)
1 Corinthians 1: 3-9
All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
Come thou fount of every blessing (StF 494)
O Lord we are always in your presence (StF 33)
Through the love of God our Saviour (StF 639)
We trust the mighty love of God (StF 742)
Mark 13: 24-37
A charge to keep I have (StF 658)
And I will wait now (website only)
As servants working an estate whose owner is away (StF 491)
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow (StF 317)
Darkness like a cloud covers the earth (StF 170)
*Into the darkness of this world (StF 173)
*Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Stay with me, remain here with me (StF 780)
We do not look for angel choirs (website only)
We pray until the hour (StF 741)