Collect, Readings and Prayers for the Third Sunday before Advent.
Collect
Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings
Job 19:23-27a
23 ‘O that my words were written down!
O that they were inscribed in a book!
24 O that with an iron pen and with lead
they were engraved on a rock for ever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another’.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
The Man of Lawlessness
2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?
Chosen for Salvation
13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Luke 20:27-38
The Question about the Resurrection
27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man[a] shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’
34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’
Prayers
All our needs are God’s concerns, let us pray to Him now.
- At this time of remembrance, gracious God we recall with tenderness and respect those from our own communities who lost their lives and the many thousands further afield in the wars of this and the last century. We thank You for the bravery and dedication of the men and women who have served selflessly for our freedom. May we honour their memory by living lives that reflect gratitude and service to others.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
We thank You, Lord, for their sacrifice.
Amen.
- We lift up families who have lost loved ones, or whose loved ones have suffered life-changing injuries, in the line of duty. Wrap them in Your love, strengthen them in their grief, and give them comfort in Your promises of eternal peace.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
May Your presence be their refuge. Amen
- We pray for all those still caught up in conflicts across the world, thinking particularly of the devastating effects of conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
Lord of all, give wisdom to all who work for peace,
so that a more secure future may be ensured for all.
Give courage to those who strive for justice,
so that the causes of conflict may be overcome.
Give strength to those who seek to break down barriers,
that divisions over race, colour, creed and culture may be ended.
Grant that wherever war, or the threat of war,
continues to haunt lives,
a way of reconciliation may be found,
and harmony established between people and nations.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. Amen. - Lord make us to be those who work for peace and seek
always to express your love in the world.
Help us to encourage the spirit of reconciliation,
by being those who forgive, rather than those
who try to establish their rights.
- The Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is despair, hope;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and in dying that we are born again
to eternal life. Amen.
- Father God,
We pray for the people of Jamaica and the Caribbean, and all those affected by the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Melissa. We pray for those who have lost lives and those who grieve their passing.
Grant relief to the many left vulnerable, needing shelter, food and water, and give them courage and resilience to face the challenges of recovery and rebuilding in the wake of the hurricane.
Strengthen the hands of all those offering emergency relief, aid and support, that they may work safely and effectively to restore calm, comfort, healing and hope.
In all the devastation, may they know God’s steadfast presence.
We ask this in the name of our loving and compassionate God Amen.
- Gracious God, we pray for King Charles, and the members of the Royal Family at this difficult time. May King Charles know your presence with him, endow him with your wisdom and enable him to make prudent decisions. Give him compassion and understanding and the ability to bring reconciliation where there is conflict but also the courage to uphold high standards of principle and integrity. May he draw on your strength and give him your blessing and your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen
- May our waking, working, eating, relaxing and sleeping become a pattern coloured and lit by your love; may our homes reflect it, our places of work be energised by it, and our relationships glow with it. Amen.