Third Sunday in Advent
Worship
More Services for the Advent Wreath
For Lectionary Cycle B
Object:
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)
Date: _________________________
Reader A: ________________________________
Reader B: __________________________________
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
... the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Scripture
Reader B: Listen to the words of John the Baptist. Listen as he identifies himself in the proclamation of Isaiah:
Reader A: There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, not Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Lighting Of The First, Second, And Third Advent Candles
Reader B: On this third Sunday in Advent, along with the candles of hope and peace, we light the candle of joy. The ultimate joy is in the coming of the Lord and the establishing of God's kingdom.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to the front candle, side purple candle, and the pink candle. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B: Let us pray:
Almighty God, as we hear the words of John to make our paths straight, may your Spirit help us to do so out of joy in you. Amen.
Introit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
Date: _________________________
Reader A: ________________________________
Reader B: __________________________________
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
... the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Scripture
Reader B: Listen to the words of John the Baptist. Listen as he identifies himself in the proclamation of Isaiah:
Reader A: There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, not Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Lighting Of The First, Second, And Third Advent Candles
Reader B: On this third Sunday in Advent, along with the candles of hope and peace, we light the candle of joy. The ultimate joy is in the coming of the Lord and the establishing of God's kingdom.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to the front candle, side purple candle, and the pink candle. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B: Let us pray:
Almighty God, as we hear the words of John to make our paths straight, may your Spirit help us to do so out of joy in you. Amen.
Introit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
