St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

Fourth Week of Advent 20 December 2009

Our parish is a community that seeks God and the fullness of creation by finding ourselves in relation to others. Our giving to the common, to the other, our sharing of ourselves is our commitment to this endeavour.

Collect
Eternal God… Emmanuel
We seek like Mary to receive Divine favour….
For we know your steadfast love is established forever.
In Christ your Love is birthed in every moment
and we too seek to conceive this Divine truth;
In community we find our spirit is awakened
as we see your presence in the faces of others.
Emmanuel… we rejoice and we celebrate
for in our image we magnify your Divine name…
Amen

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ADVENT Liturgy

A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
A candle of Hope in December’s dark night.
While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky,
Our hearts we prepare now, for Jesus is nigh.

A candle is burning, a candle of Peace,
A candle to signal that conflict must cease.
For Jesus is coming to show us the way,
A message of peace humbly laid in the hay.

A candle is burning, a candle of Joy,
A candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow
Like sun in the garden that makes the plants grow.

A candle is burning, a candle of Love,
A candle to point us to heaven above.
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
For Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth.
We acknowledge our oneness as we sing of the coming of the Divine

O come, o come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O Wisdom from on high, who orders all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go.

O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem, from every foe deliver them
that trust your mighty power to save, and give them victory o’er the grave

O come, O key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

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Pray for the opportunity we have in making ready for Christmas and give thanks for every opportunity we have to share out gifts with others. Pray that we may all Touch the Earth Lightly and be creative of a New Tomorrow. Give thanks for all who bring goodwill to others and give thanks for all that has been given to us, in trust for future generations. Give thanks for the building that we undertake as a community, and rejoice in the foundations that we share together. Give thanks for all who share their blessings and their burdens with others. Pray that we may know the voice of a new creation in our lives. Give thanks for all who gather in Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues and places of Prayer. Give thanks for this community and our part in shaping a divine future.

Pray that we may know within ourselves the diversity and oneness that is the abundance of creation, and so may know our place of peace with all. Pray for each other, and for all who know pain, anxiety, loneliness and conflict. Pray for those whose hands we hold and for those in whose hands we are held. Give thanks for the opportunities we have to share in the unfolding of God’s creative purpose and promise. Pray for those who dwell in shadows, make us wise and faithful friends who carry a lamp to them. Give thanks that we have freedom to live and pray that we may bring freedom to others. Give thanks for those who create peace and who are not afraid. For refugees and asylum seekers and all who offer them hospitality.

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May the blessing of light be upon you,
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great fire
and strangers may warm themselves,
as well as friends.
And may the light shine out of the eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer to come in
out of the storm
(Celtic Blessing)

A Sesquicentenary Prayer

Lord of all generations
Bless our celebration of 150 years of ministry with the Diocese of Perth.
We give thanks for those whose dedication and vision enabled the foundation and development of this diocese.
Guide those of us now entrusted with this responsibility.
Encourage us and give us the commitment, enthusiasm and inspiration we need.
May we have breadth of vision and generosity that will enable us to provide a solid foundation of faith for future generations.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Prayer from Perth Anglican Diocese See left hand column

Prayer in the tradition of St Paul

Creator of Life, of light and all Love, we pray thee
to fill this house with thy Spirit.
Here may the strong renew their strength and seek
for their working lives a noble consecration.
Here may the poor find succour and the friendless
friendship.
Here may the tempted find power, the sorrowing
comfort and the bereaved find the truth that death
hath no dominion over their beloved.
Here let the fearing find a new courage and the
doubting have their faith and hope confirmed.
Here may the careless be awakened and all that are
oppressed be freed.
Hither may many be drawn by thy love and go
hence, their doubts resolved and faith renewed,
their sins forgiven and their hearts aflame with thy
love.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Chapel porch, Pleshey Retreat House, with amended
divine address.

The Creed

We believe that in the Child of Bethlehem
all love and grace
is gathered for the world.
Here God entered our life
in a way which honoured forever
our struggle to survive
our possibilities for newness
and our ordinary human journey
Here we see our God
in a surprising way
a God who travels with us
a God who loves us to the death
and a God who comes among us
as a small and vulnerable child
This God we Praise
This God we welcome into our life
This God we celebrate today.

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Gâyatrî Mantra

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May the Divine enlighten our Intellect.

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May creatures all abound in wealth and peace;
May all be blessed with peace always;
All creatures weak or strong,
All creatures great and small;
Creatures seen or unseen,
Dwelling afar or near.
born or awaiting birth,
May all be blessed with peace!

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We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May The Divine enlighten our Intellect.