Third Sunday of Advent
11th December 2022
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in reguar typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we begin our celebration for the Third Sunday of Advent.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
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The Pewsheet:
Call to Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
We meet in the name of Jesus,
Word made flesh,
saviour of fallen humanity, lover of all. Amen.
We meet in the name of the Holy Spirit,
Lord and giver of life,
midwife of new humanity,
inspirer of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness
(click the "play" button, below:)
The Sentence for the Day
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The Collect
Let us pray together.
Loving God, John foresaw repentance and justice to signal your coming. Shape our lives, sift our thoughts, weigh our actions, and make us ready for that great day. For you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A reading from The Old Testament
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A reading from The New Testament
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Pause for a moment of silent reflection.
The Gradual Hymn
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to join in with another great hymn of joy, "Joy To The World".
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Gospel Reading, Matthew 11:2-11
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Listen to the sermon:
(click the "play" button below when you are ready to begin)
or, if you prefer, you can read to the sermon, below:
SERMON : ADVENT 3 (MATT 11:2-11) 11th DECEMBER 2022
Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>
Today we light a rose candle in our Advent wreath because this Sunday is known as “Rejoice Sunday,” or in the traditional Latin, “Gaudete Sunday.”
This is the Sunday when we are invited to take time out of our Advent Preparations, and REJOICE.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10
Many years ago, Advent was known in the church as a “little Lent.” Just as Lent is a time to prepare spiritually for the festival of Easter, Advent was a time to prepare spiritually for the festival of Christmas.
It was a Penitential season and penitence tends NOT to focus on joy.
The penitence of Advent points to our need to repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
Yet, whether the season is Lent or Advent, there is much to rejoice about. Even in penitential seasons, we can and should rejoice.
So, the church set this Sunday aside in our Advent season to be a joyful one – to light the rose candle, and to REJOICE.
Yes, Advent is a season of spiritual preparation. Yes, Advent is leading up to a truly joyous festival, and so …. GAUDETE, Rejoice with the beautiful voice of Maddy Prior and “Steeleye Span”….
<Play ‘Gaudete’ by Steeleye Span>
Gaudete - the unstoppable joy that leads us to the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
So, on this Third Sunday of Advent, I invite each and every one of you to rejoice – Rejoice in the Lord today.
Let your whole being exult in your God. Rejoice and give thanks. For this IS the season of unstoppable joy.
Gaudete : prepare to allow Christ into your heart.
Gaudete : brings consolation to the aching heart.
Gaudete : let’s our Lord speak to us with words to sustain us.
Gaudete : allows us to know how Christ comes to us with His forgiveness, hope, peace, and love.
Gaudete : allows us to be gracious as we welcome the Jesus who never changes. For twenty centuries, as God-infant and God-man, He has never varied in the genuineness, hopefulness and joy that we find in His offer of love.
Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by listening as "The Apostles Creed" is read to us.
(click the "play" button below when you are ready to listen)
... and now ... let us pray for the Church and for the World, giving thanks for God's goodness.
(click the "play" button below when you are ready to begin)
The Lord's Prayer
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ has taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn
Let us continue with our closing hymn and please do feel free to sing along with the 'The Big Sing Choir' and "Jesus, Hope of every nation".
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Dismissal
Go now to love and serve The Lord,
Go in peace.
Amen, we go in the name of Christ.
