PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
For the brokenness of the world and all its people
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where there is conflict, terrorism and war, be with all those
who work for peace and reconciliation.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where there is exploitation of the weak and the poor, be with
those who work for emancipation.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where there are refugee camps, prison compounds, and
ethnic discrimination, be with those who work for justice and
freedom.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where there is addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling, be
with those who provide programmes for rehabilitation.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where there is hunger, malnutrition, disease, and despair, be
with the agencies that bring compassion and practical help.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where people are lonely, suffering and sorrowing, be with the
merciful who are lovingly there for them.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Where the church is weak and struggling against big odds, be
with all those resolute people who keep the faith and practice
the love.
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
Advent 3C–13th December 2015
We acknowledge the Aboriginal people,
the first inhabitants of this place from time beyond remembering.
We gather as God’s people
WELCOME
SONG TiS 778 “Shalom to you now”
Shalom to you now, Shalom, my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you my friends.
In all your living and through your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
Elise Shoemaker Eslinger © United Methodist Publishing House
Reproduced with permission under license #620226
LicenSing Copyright Cleared Music for Churches
CALL TO WORSHIP (inspired by Isaiah 12: 2-6)
We come to share together
to celebrate the God who is present amongst us.
The Lord our God is our strength and song,
and is even now our salvation.
We come to share together
to celebrate with all the world, that the Lord is God.
With joy we gather around God’s fountain of grace
to be refreshed and renewed.
We come to share together
to celebrate with songs of praise and joy for the
Lord our God’s eternal presence
is forever amongst and with us, and all peoples.
We sing with joy:
Thank the Lord, our Mighty God!
Praise God’s holy name! Amen.
Tell out my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name - the Lord the Mighty One.
CHILD: We light the candle of HOPE proclaim that God’s light
is coming into the world. A purple candle is lit
ADULT: We light the candle of PEACE to proclaim that:
God’s promises will be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus
Christ - Prince of Peace. A purple candle is lit
CHILD: We light the candle of JOY to celebrate that God’s
saving power is coming into the world. A purple candle is lit
ALL: God of JOY, we rejoice in you always, as we look
forward to your breaking into our history to reveal your
justice and your love in person.
Tell out my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
The candle lighting liturgy is from:
//processandfaith.org/print/resources/liturgy/advent-candle-liturgy
“Light a Candle Bright and Tall” :
Copyright © 2012 by David Wood. All rights reserved. Written for the
congregation of First United Church, Bloomington, Indiana. http//firstuc.org
Permission is given for duplication and use within worship settings.
SONG TiS 161 "Tell out my soul"
Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!
Timothy Dudley –Smith 1926-. Words by permission Hope Music Publishing Co. USA.
Music by permission Oxford University Press. LicenSing No.#620226
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING LITANY
ADULT: Today is the third Sunday in Advent –
the time when we prepare again for the coming of Jesus.
CHILD: We light a candle each week to remind us that
Jesus brings light into the dark places of the world.
ADULT:
We rejoice and sing out with gladness
at the message of God’s salvation.
We shout for joy as we anticipate God’s coming
into our lives and our world.
SONG TiS 286 verses 1, 2 & 3 “Light one candle for hope”
Light one candle for HOPE, one bright candle for HOPE.
He brings HOPE to every heart. He comes! He comes!
Light one candle for PEACE, one bright candle for PEACE.
He brings PEACE to every heart. He comes! He comes!
Light one candle for JOY, one bright candle for JOY.
Every nation will find salvation in Bethlem’s baby boy.
Words & music Hinshaw Music USA. Natalie Sleeth 1930-92.
Reprinted with permission LicenSing No.#620226
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we hear from John the Baptist that the practical
meaning of repentance is to live life exercising love and
justice to all. His words to us today are no less challenging
than to those that day in the region around the river Jordan.
Woe betide all who try to escape living lives of true faith by
paying lip service only to the gospel.
What then should we do? We are to bear fruits united to the
vine - Jesus Christ. god forgive us when we fail. (silence)
Woe betide all who believe that attending church for an hour
each Sunday is all that is required to be a disciple of Jesus.
What then should we do? We are to bear fruits united to the
vine - Jesus Christ. god forgive us when we fail. (silence)
Woe betide all who exploit or take advantage of others out of
greed or a desire to increase one’s power and prestige.
What then should we do? We are to bear fruits united to the
vine - Jesus Christ. god forgive us when we fail. (silence)
God help us to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus by
living out our baptism as a loving community in Christ:
nurturing of one another in faith, upholding of one
another in prayer and encouraging one another in
service. Amen
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Hear the word of the prophet Isaiah - God is our salvation - for
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Rejoice hear the word of grace - in Jesus Christ
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. THANKS BE TO GOD!
DOXOLOGY TiS 753 “You are holy you are whole”
You are holy you are whole.
You are always ever more……
than we ever understand.
You are always at hand.
Blessed are you coming near;
blessed are you coming here
to your church in wine and bread,
raised from soil, raised from death.
You are holy…., you are wholeness…,
you are present, let the cosmos praise you Lord!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah our Lord!
Words and music © P. G. Harling 1948- LicenSing No.#620226
We Listen for God’s Word
FIRST READING
Isaiah 12:2-6
EARLY WORD "Getting ready for a special event?"
SONG TIS 283 "Long ago prophets knew"
Long ago, prophets knew
Christ would come, born a Jew,
come to make all things new,
bear his people’s burden,
freely love and pardon.
Ring bells ring, ring, ring!
Sing choirs, sing, sing, sing!~
When he comes, when he comes,
who will make him welcome?
God in time, God in man,
this is God’s timeless plan:
he will come, born a man,
born himself of woman,
God divinely human. Refrain
Mary, hail! Though afraid,
she believed, she obeyed.
In her womb God is laid:
till the time expected,
nurtured and protected. Refrain
Journey ends: where afar
Bethlem shines, like a star,
stable door stands ajar.
Unborn Son of Mary,
Saviour, do not tarry. Refrain
Words by permission Stainer & Bell, London. Permission LicenSing #620226,
CCLi #303543
GOSPEL READING
SERMON
Luke 3:7-18
“Is our preparation a waste of time?”
We respond to God’s Word
SONG
TiS 693 “Come as you are”
Come as you are that’s how I want you.
Come as you are; feel quite at home,
close to my heart, loved and forgiven.
Come as you are: why stand alone?
No need to fear, love sets no limits;
no need to fear, love never ends;
don’t run away, shamed and disheartened,
rest in my love, trust me again.
I came to call sinners, not just the righteous;
I came to bring peace, not to condemn.
Each time you fail to live by my promise,
why do you think I’d love you the less?
Come as you are, that’s how I love you;
come as you are, trust me again.
Nothing can change the love that I bear you;
all will be well, just come as you are.
Words and music by permission Spectrum Publications. LicenSing No.#620226
CCLi #303567
OFFERING AND DEDICATION
Generous God, we rejoice in your care for us and we offer
these gifts and the service of our lives in glad response. We
pray that they will bear fruits worthy to be harvested in Jesus’
name. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Come Advent God: Come Lord Jesus come!
\We are sent out as God's people
SONG TiS 279 “ The King of glory comes”
The King of glory comes the nation rejoices,
open the gates before him lift up your voices!
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
…In the name of Christ! Amen.
Who is the King of glory, how shall we call him?
He is Immanuel the promised of ages. Refrain
BLESSING SONG TiS 755 “You shall go out with joy”
You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace,
and the mountains and the hills shall break forth with singing.
There’ll be shouts of joy and the trees of the field shall –
clap, shall clap their hands!
In all of Galilee, in city or village,
he goes among his people curing their illness. Refrain
Sing now of David’s son, our Saviour and brother,
in all of Galilee was never another. Refrain
He gave his life for us, the pledge of salvation,
he took upon himself the sins of the nation. Refrain
He conquered sin and death, he truly has risen,
and he will share with us his heavenly vision. Refrain
Words © W. F. Jabusch Music Celebration, Nightlight Music LicenSing No.#620226
CCLi #303567
COMMISSION AND BLESSING
Go now and rejoice in the Lord always.
We will rejoice in the Lord always!
Do not be afraid or worried about anything,
In everything we will trust God and pray.
Bear fruits worthy of repentance,
We will share what we have and being gentle with all.
And may God rejoice over you with gladness;
May Christ Jesus renew you in his love;
and may the Holy Spirit give you peace beyond understanding
to guard your hearts and minds in Christ.
And the trees of the field shall clap their hands (XX)
and the trees of the field shall clap their hands (XX)
and the trees of the field shall clap their hands (XX)
and you’ll go out with joy! Steffi Geiser 1950- based on Isaiah 55:12
Words, music by permission Lillenas Publishing Co. Nashville. CCLi #303543