Third Sunday In Advent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
From the Isaiah 61 passage.
Leader:
The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, and he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor,
People:
To proclaim release to the captive,
Leader:
And recovery of sight to the blind,
People:
To mend the brokenhearted,
Leader:
To comfort all who mourn,
People:
To set free those who are oppressed,
Leader:
And to proclaim the year of the Lord's work has begun.
People:
This is the work Christ has done.
Leader:
This is what we experience in him.
People:
So let us sing praises for good news,
Leader:
For release and freedom,
People:
For healing and the work of God in our hearts.
Leader:
Amen! Let us worship God.
From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Leader:
O Lord, our God, on earth as it is in heaven, may your kingdom come and your will be done.
People:
We seek your will for us.
Leader:
Be joyful always,
People:
Joyful hearts affirm your goodness and grace.
Leader:
Pray continually,
People:
Prayer keeps us connected to you.
Leader:
Give thanks in all circumstances,
People:
Intentional gratitude declares our trust in you.
Leader:
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
People:
In joy,
Leader:
And prayer,
People:
And thanksgiving,
Leader:
We come to worship you.
An Advent candlelighting ceremony from Luke 2:8-20.
Leader:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
People:
An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
Leader:
And the glory of the Lord shone around them,
People:
And they were filled with fear.
Leader:
But the angel said to them,
People:
"Be not afraid.
Leader:
I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.
People:
To you is born this day in the city of David
Leader:
A savior who is Christ the Lord.
People:
And this will be a sign for you,
Leader:
You will find a babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
People:
And suddenly a great host of heavenly angels appeared to the shepherds
Leader:
Praising God and saying,
People:
"Glory to God in the highest,
Leader:
And on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
(The lighting of the Prophets' Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, and the Shepherds' Candle)
Again, we offer a monologue as a possible lead-in to candlelighting, or to be used as you see fit.
The Shepherd
"Ordinary" is the word you would use to describe me. All my life I've been nothing but ordinary. I have an ordinary family; a wife and a couple of kids. I have an ordinary job working in the fields outside Bethlehem on a sheep farm. I don't have any extraordinary talents or lots of money or incredible looks. I'm just an ordinary guy like most of you.
Not that ordinary is bad, it's just that there was nothing in my life that qualified me to be privileged to be visited by an army of angels who sang and announced the most important event in all of human history to me and a couple of other completely ordinary guys.
It doesn't make sense. You'd think that when the greatest of all kings is coming, he'd certainly want a bigger and better audience for the birth announcement than a few not-too-important, not-too-well-dressed, not-too-powerful shepherds half asleep on a hillside.
You'd think! But God, the true God, is so very different from what we expect or want him to be. We think he's all power and wrath and judgment. And there is that; immense power, hatred of sin, righteous justice. But these qualities are tempered by and put in the service of his love.
That is his essential character. God is love, given freely, not to the successful or influential or even the especially deserving, but to anyone, great or small, ordinary or special, given to anyone.
I think that's what his birth was all about. It made it clear to all that this king isn't just interested in important people. This king is interested in, in love with, all people.
When the first angel appeared to us and we were terrified, the angel said to us, "Be not afraid, for I bring to you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people."
I guess the joy really is meant for all the people.
(The Shepherd lights the Prophets' Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, and the Shepherds' Candle)
Prayer Of Confession
This prayer is based on 1 Thessalonians.
Leader:
"He only works one day a week!"
People:
Respect those who work hard among you in the Lord's name.
Leader:
"I just can't forgive her. I know it was a long time ago but ..."
People:
Live in peace with each other.
Leader:
"He'll never amount to anything."
People:
Encourage and help one another to be strong and faithful.
Leader:
"She is never going to get it. Never!"
People:
Be patient with everyone.
Leader:
"Somehow I will make him pay for this."
People:
No need for paybacks when you've been wronged.
Leader:
"Put on a few pounds there, Sue?"
People:
Be kind to each other.
Leader:
"It'll never work. And besides, we can't afford it."
People:
Don't put out the Spirit's fire.
Leader:
"I just don't think the Bible is relevant anymore."
People:
Don't treat God's word as if it is meaningless.
Leader:
Forgive us, Father.
People:
Forgive us for our sins against you and one another.
Leader:
We ask for your grace to examine our lives;
People:
To help us to hold on to the good;
Leader:
And to avoid every kind of evil.
People:
Amen.
This Assurance Of Pardon works with the above prayer.
Leader:
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
People:
Praise God for his goodness and faithfulness. Amen.
The prayer below is not necessarily related to the texts for this Sunday, but it does deal with the problem of Christmas busyness.
Leader:
Always you are waiting for us,
People:
But we are so busy.
Leader:
We haven't the time to sit and talk with you.
People:
We have so much to do.
Leader:
Christmas cards,
People:
Christmas presents,
Leader:
Christmas parties,
People:
Christmas meals,
Leader:
And before we know it we have pushed you out of our Christmas celebrations.
People:
Forgive us, Lord Jesus.
Leader:
And remind us that Christmas
People:
Is all about you
Leader:
And your love for us.
People:
Amen.
This Prayer Of Confession and the Assurance Of Pardon to follow are drawn from Psalm 126.
Leader:
What a mess we find ourselves in.
People:
How do we get so tied up and weighed down?
Leader:
In places that are ugly and dark and isolated?
People:
So many times, it's our own doing,
Leader:
The decisions and choices we make,
People:
The attitudes and positions we hold.
Leader:
But sometimes we are held captive by others,
People:
Who exert power or influence over us beyond our control.
Leader:
For whatever reason,
People:
We find ourselves held captive.
Leader:
We look to you, O God, for release.
Assurance Of Pardon
From Psalm 126.
Leader:
Like a dream too good to be true,
People:
A rescue mission in the dark of night,
Leader:
Deep within enemy territory,
People:
Where we were held captive,
Leader:
God found us and saved us,
People:
And brought us back home with him.
Leader:
Laughter and joy
People:
Replace our tears and sorrows.
Leader:
What great things the Lord has done for us!
People:
What great things the Lord has done for me.
Leader:
Praise be to God our Savior.
Prayer For Illumination
In a world of darkness these words bear witness to the only light that truly enlightens us, the light of the world, Jesus Christ. As the darkness tries to invade our souls; strives to blind our eyes; works to hide all that is of the light, protect us from its power and open us to the light as the words of scripture reveal it. Amen.
Benediction
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 28
May God himself, the God of peace, work his holiness in you. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Hymns
Fierce Was The Storm Of Wind
How Cheering Is The Christian's Hope
How Far From Home
Jerusalem, Lift Up Thy Voice
Lo! From The Desert Homes
Veiled In Darkness, Judah Lay
Word Made Flesh, The
Contemporary Choruses
Days Of Elijah, Robin Mark
There Is A Redeemer, Melody Green-Sievright
You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace), Marc Imboden / Tram Rhoton
Other Music
Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song), Amy Grant
Soloist material. A beautiful song sung by Mary about the vulnerabilities of her situation, but also about how the "Breath of Heaven" is always close to us. A marvelous comfort in the midst of brokenness and difficulty.
From the Isaiah 61 passage.
Leader:
The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, and he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor,
People:
To proclaim release to the captive,
Leader:
And recovery of sight to the blind,
People:
To mend the brokenhearted,
Leader:
To comfort all who mourn,
People:
To set free those who are oppressed,
Leader:
And to proclaim the year of the Lord's work has begun.
People:
This is the work Christ has done.
Leader:
This is what we experience in him.
People:
So let us sing praises for good news,
Leader:
For release and freedom,
People:
For healing and the work of God in our hearts.
Leader:
Amen! Let us worship God.
From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Leader:
O Lord, our God, on earth as it is in heaven, may your kingdom come and your will be done.
People:
We seek your will for us.
Leader:
Be joyful always,
People:
Joyful hearts affirm your goodness and grace.
Leader:
Pray continually,
People:
Prayer keeps us connected to you.
Leader:
Give thanks in all circumstances,
People:
Intentional gratitude declares our trust in you.
Leader:
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
People:
In joy,
Leader:
And prayer,
People:
And thanksgiving,
Leader:
We come to worship you.
An Advent candlelighting ceremony from Luke 2:8-20.
Leader:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
People:
An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
Leader:
And the glory of the Lord shone around them,
People:
And they were filled with fear.
Leader:
But the angel said to them,
People:
"Be not afraid.
Leader:
I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.
People:
To you is born this day in the city of David
Leader:
A savior who is Christ the Lord.
People:
And this will be a sign for you,
Leader:
You will find a babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
People:
And suddenly a great host of heavenly angels appeared to the shepherds
Leader:
Praising God and saying,
People:
"Glory to God in the highest,
Leader:
And on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
(The lighting of the Prophets' Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, and the Shepherds' Candle)
Again, we offer a monologue as a possible lead-in to candlelighting, or to be used as you see fit.
The Shepherd
"Ordinary" is the word you would use to describe me. All my life I've been nothing but ordinary. I have an ordinary family; a wife and a couple of kids. I have an ordinary job working in the fields outside Bethlehem on a sheep farm. I don't have any extraordinary talents or lots of money or incredible looks. I'm just an ordinary guy like most of you.
Not that ordinary is bad, it's just that there was nothing in my life that qualified me to be privileged to be visited by an army of angels who sang and announced the most important event in all of human history to me and a couple of other completely ordinary guys.
It doesn't make sense. You'd think that when the greatest of all kings is coming, he'd certainly want a bigger and better audience for the birth announcement than a few not-too-important, not-too-well-dressed, not-too-powerful shepherds half asleep on a hillside.
You'd think! But God, the true God, is so very different from what we expect or want him to be. We think he's all power and wrath and judgment. And there is that; immense power, hatred of sin, righteous justice. But these qualities are tempered by and put in the service of his love.
That is his essential character. God is love, given freely, not to the successful or influential or even the especially deserving, but to anyone, great or small, ordinary or special, given to anyone.
I think that's what his birth was all about. It made it clear to all that this king isn't just interested in important people. This king is interested in, in love with, all people.
When the first angel appeared to us and we were terrified, the angel said to us, "Be not afraid, for I bring to you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people."
I guess the joy really is meant for all the people.
(The Shepherd lights the Prophets' Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, and the Shepherds' Candle)
Prayer Of Confession
This prayer is based on 1 Thessalonians.
Leader:
"He only works one day a week!"
People:
Respect those who work hard among you in the Lord's name.
Leader:
"I just can't forgive her. I know it was a long time ago but ..."
People:
Live in peace with each other.
Leader:
"He'll never amount to anything."
People:
Encourage and help one another to be strong and faithful.
Leader:
"She is never going to get it. Never!"
People:
Be patient with everyone.
Leader:
"Somehow I will make him pay for this."
People:
No need for paybacks when you've been wronged.
Leader:
"Put on a few pounds there, Sue?"
People:
Be kind to each other.
Leader:
"It'll never work. And besides, we can't afford it."
People:
Don't put out the Spirit's fire.
Leader:
"I just don't think the Bible is relevant anymore."
People:
Don't treat God's word as if it is meaningless.
Leader:
Forgive us, Father.
People:
Forgive us for our sins against you and one another.
Leader:
We ask for your grace to examine our lives;
People:
To help us to hold on to the good;
Leader:
And to avoid every kind of evil.
People:
Amen.
This Assurance Of Pardon works with the above prayer.
Leader:
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
People:
Praise God for his goodness and faithfulness. Amen.
The prayer below is not necessarily related to the texts for this Sunday, but it does deal with the problem of Christmas busyness.
Leader:
Always you are waiting for us,
People:
But we are so busy.
Leader:
We haven't the time to sit and talk with you.
People:
We have so much to do.
Leader:
Christmas cards,
People:
Christmas presents,
Leader:
Christmas parties,
People:
Christmas meals,
Leader:
And before we know it we have pushed you out of our Christmas celebrations.
People:
Forgive us, Lord Jesus.
Leader:
And remind us that Christmas
People:
Is all about you
Leader:
And your love for us.
People:
Amen.
This Prayer Of Confession and the Assurance Of Pardon to follow are drawn from Psalm 126.
Leader:
What a mess we find ourselves in.
People:
How do we get so tied up and weighed down?
Leader:
In places that are ugly and dark and isolated?
People:
So many times, it's our own doing,
Leader:
The decisions and choices we make,
People:
The attitudes and positions we hold.
Leader:
But sometimes we are held captive by others,
People:
Who exert power or influence over us beyond our control.
Leader:
For whatever reason,
People:
We find ourselves held captive.
Leader:
We look to you, O God, for release.
Assurance Of Pardon
From Psalm 126.
Leader:
Like a dream too good to be true,
People:
A rescue mission in the dark of night,
Leader:
Deep within enemy territory,
People:
Where we were held captive,
Leader:
God found us and saved us,
People:
And brought us back home with him.
Leader:
Laughter and joy
People:
Replace our tears and sorrows.
Leader:
What great things the Lord has done for us!
People:
What great things the Lord has done for me.
Leader:
Praise be to God our Savior.
Prayer For Illumination
In a world of darkness these words bear witness to the only light that truly enlightens us, the light of the world, Jesus Christ. As the darkness tries to invade our souls; strives to blind our eyes; works to hide all that is of the light, protect us from its power and open us to the light as the words of scripture reveal it. Amen.
Benediction
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 28
May God himself, the God of peace, work his holiness in you. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Hymns
Fierce Was The Storm Of Wind
How Cheering Is The Christian's Hope
How Far From Home
Jerusalem, Lift Up Thy Voice
Lo! From The Desert Homes
Veiled In Darkness, Judah Lay
Word Made Flesh, The
Contemporary Choruses
Days Of Elijah, Robin Mark
There Is A Redeemer, Melody Green-Sievright
You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace), Marc Imboden / Tram Rhoton
Other Music
Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song), Amy Grant
Soloist material. A beautiful song sung by Mary about the vulnerabilities of her situation, but also about how the "Breath of Heaven" is always close to us. A marvelous comfort in the midst of brokenness and difficulty.
