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1. You're the Lion of Judah the Lamb that was slain,
you ascended to heaven and evermore will reign;
at the end of the age when the earth you reclaim,
you will gather the nations before you.
And the eyes of the world will be fixed on the Lamb
who was crucified,
for with wisdom and mercy and justice he reigns
at the Father's side.

"And the angels will cry:
Hail the Lamb
who was slain for the world
rule in power."
And the earth will reply:
You shall reign
...as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords."

There's a shield in our hand and a sword at our side,
there's a fire in our spirit that cannot be denied;
as the Father has told us, for these you have died,
for the nations that gather before you.
And the ears of the world need to hear of the Lamb
who was crucified.
who descended to hell yet was raised up to reign
at the Father's side.

2. Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver;
born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us for ever;
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thy own eternal Spirit,
rule in all our hearts alone:
by thy all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Heavenly Father,
you sent your Son Jesus Christ
to make us ready to meet with you.
Send your Holy Spirit on us now, we pray,
that we may hear your word,
Share in your communion,
receive your grace,
and be renewed in your love. AMEN.

CONFESSION
Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
we say sorry,
for the wrong things we have done
and for the right things we have not done;
forgive us, we pray,
and help us to start again,
Let your justice roll on like a river,
Your righteousness like a never-failing stream!
and lead us to be true to Jesus your Son. AMEN

3. Jesus is here, let all the earth be glad,
He sits enthroned He is exalted on high,
Behold your God, behold your God,
He is surrounded in glory,
He is surrounded in glory.

Jesus is here, let all the earth rejoice,
He lives in power, He reigns in majesty,
Behold your God, behold your God,
He is surrounded in glory,
He is surrounded in glory.

As we draw near, we see his glory shine,
We see the pain, yet triumph in his eyes
Behold your God, behold your God,
We are surrounded in glory,
We are surrounded in glory.

4. These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord;
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still we are a voice in the desert,
Crying "prepare ye the way of the Lord"

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
Out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding the temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in the world,
And we are the labourers in the vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord.

5. I want to be close, close to Your side
So Heaven is real and death is a lie
I want to hear voices of angels above
Singing as one
Hallelujah, holy, holy
God Almighty, the great I am
Who is worthy, none beside Thee
God Almighty, the great I am

I want to be near, near to Your heart
Loving the world and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones living again
Singing as one
Hallelujah, holy, holy……..

The mountains shake before You the demons run in fear
At the mention of the name King of Majesty
There is no power in hell
Or any who can stand
Before the power and the
Presence of the great I am
Hallelujah, holy, holy

6. God sent his Son to earth for me,
Walk, walk in the light.
He came from heaven to set me free,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.

His Spirit lives in you and me,
Walk, walk in the light
His light will shine for all to see,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light....


READING: Isaiah 54:1-8

The future glory of Zion
¹‘Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labour;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,’
says the Lord.
²‘Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
³For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.
⁴‘Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
⁵For your Maker is your husband –
the Lord Almighty is his name –
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.
⁶The Lord will call you back
as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit –
a wife who married young,
only to be rejected,’ says your God.
⁷‘For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
⁸In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,’
says the Lord your Redeemer.

GOSPEL: Luke 1:46-56

Mary’s song
⁴⁶And Mary said:
‘My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
holy is his name.
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants for ever,
just as he promised our ancestors.’
⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Continues at top of next column

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