Author: Revd. Karen Mitchell

Sunday

7th December 2025 The Second Sunday of Advent

Collect
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and
with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.
First Reading
Isaiah 11.1 –10
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 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. 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; 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. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 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. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adders den. 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. 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.
Psalm Psalm 72.1-7, 18-19
Give the king your judgements, O
God, and your righteousness to the
son of a king. Then shall he judge
your people righteously and your
poor with justice. May the mountains
bring forth peace, and the little hills
righteousness for the people.
May he defend the poor among the
people, deliver the children of the
needy and crush the oppressor. May
he live as long as the sun and moon
endure, from one generation to
another.
May he come down like rain upon the
mown grass, like the showers that
water the earth. In his time shall
righteousness flourish, and
abundance of peace till the moon
shall be no more.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of
Israel, who alone does wonderful
things. And blessed be his glorious
name for ever. May all the earth be
filled with his glory.
Second Reading
Romans 5.4-13
A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore
I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name; and again he says, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people; and again,
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him;
and again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel Matthew 3.1–12
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
In those days John the Baptist
appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. 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. Now John wore clothing of camels hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 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? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 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 Abraham. 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. 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. 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.
Post Communion
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.

Services this week:
Sunday 7th December The Second Sunday of Advent
Refreshments are available after this service, please do stay and join us.
11.30am - 4pm Christmas Tree Festival
6.00pm Carol Service followed by Mulled Wine/Hot Chocolate & Mince Pies
Monday 8th December
10am—12pm Christmas Tree Festival Clear Up
Tuesday 9th December
10am Said Mass
10.30am - 12pm Tea & Toast
Saturday 13th December
4pm Christingle Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs
Sunday 14th December The Third Sunday of Advent
10am Sung Mass
Refreshments are available after this service, please do stay and join us.
Your prayers are asked at this time for:
All those who are sick or in any kind of need
Those who have recently Departed:
Those whose anniversary of death occurs at about this time:
Notices
Fundraising: We currently have the 50/50 Raffle on a monthly basis, £1 per ticket (you can have as many tickets as you want), the prize money being split between the roof fund and the winning ticket number, the next draw will take place on Sunday 28th December.
Porch Pantry: We are currently in desperate need of Crisps, Noodles, Hot Chocolate Sachets, Coffee Sachets, Pot Noodles. Also as we prepare for Christmas and getting bags ready for those in need, if you could bring in Christmas Treats, that would help us immensely, and as always your help is greatly appreciated.
Christmas Flowers: If you would like to make a contribution towards flowers for Christmas, please put your donation in the tin on the table at the back.
As our 3 Day Christmas Tree Festival draws to a close a close, a BIG Thank You to all those who have come and helped so far, from getting the church ready to putting in a tree, selling Grand Draw Tickets to family and friends, serving refreshments to working on a stall, being Santa and all the other things that were needed in order to make this a wonderful time for all who come through our doors. If you haven’t volunteered yet to help you still have time to do so, as we still have one more day to go, as well as clearing up on Monday from 10am - 12pm, please remember each one of us has a role to play in the life of our church.
Tea & Toast: We will be serving Tea (or coffee) and Toast (with jam or marmalade) from 10.30am on a Tuesday Morning, please do come and join us, and why not bring a friend as well.
Churches Together Carols: Gather with Christians from across Stevenage to sing carols outside Marks and Spencer 17th Dec, 5.30 – 630 pm. All are welcome.
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols: Sunday 21st December 4.30 pm at Holy Trinity. Our choirs have been working together and are supporting each others Carol Service, please do go along and support them. Members of Holy Trinity choir will come and join our choir this Sunday evening at our Carol Service.
Dates For Your Diary 2025:
Sunday 7th December The Second Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
11.30am - 4pm Christmas Tree Festival
6.00pm Carol Service
Monday 10th December 10am—12pm Christmas Tree Festival Clear Up.
Tuesday 9th December 10am Said Mass
10.30am Tea & Toast
Saturday 13th December 4pm Christingle Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs
Sunday 14th December The Third Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
Tuesday 16th December 10am Said Mass
10.30am Tea & Toast
Sunday 21st December The Fourth Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
4.30pm Nine Lessons and Carols at Holy Trinity
Contact Us
Rector: Reverend Karen Mitchell Email: revd.karenmitchell@btinternet.com Tel: 07596 374372
Churchwardens: Mr Mike Wilson Email: mikw505050@gmail.com Mr Eric Walton Email: enricowalton@gmail.com
Treasurer: Ms Jennifer Higgins Email: jah039@gmail.com