Author: Bridget Kemp

First Reading
Read by
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah
11 A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the
adder’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his
dwelling shall be glorious.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Hymns for today—see separate sheet .
We’ll Kindle a Flame
Away in a Manger
Shine Jesus Shine

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
according to Matthew
Glory to You O Lord
3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘ The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” 4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the
people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.7 But when he saw many
Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to
Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.11 ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ

The Prayers
Those for who prayers have been asked:
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For those on active service in places of danger
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Dick and Caroline Seed our CMS Missionaries
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The Migrant and Refuge Crisis
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Visitors to the Top Up Shop and Family First
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3. Linda Best, Rosie and John Gray, Eileen,
Becki Cook, Tanya, Jeanette Budinger,
Roy Stephenson, Joan Moon, Sue Doe.
2. Sam, Debbie Shaves, Jayne Versey,
1. Sheila Page, Russell, Jats Gosal. Lucy Fisk.
Those who have died recently
Margaret Barfield
Sonia Steggall
We remember the anniversary of death of
June Devine December 8 2023
Revd Paul Hocking December 11 2023
Tony Hawkins December 13 2017
Post Communion Prayer:
Father in heaven,
who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our judge:
give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming
that, when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him
with joyful love and firm faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Please remember to pray for the following friends of our Parish who are not able to worship with us at this time.
Vera Emeny, Rita Appleton. Veronica Clarke.