Speak Lord: hear us and lead us

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Responsorial Psalm for the first Sunday of Advent
Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19

As Advent begins we do well to ask what do we need saving from, healing of. What do we turn from and what do we look for help to turn to?

The goodness and love of God calls us to wholeness and love. And we will see that in the paradox of the new-born in the poverty of a stable in Bethlehem.

In our often more comfortable and well-worn-in environment, what keeps us from wholeness? What keeps us from love?

The psalmist urges us to join in a prayer to God to help us, guide us, lead us, save us.

Set by Isla Shaw for Act One of Importance of Being Earnest. Birmingham Rep. September 2016. (c) 2016, Allen Morris.