03. Year B - Third Sunday in Advent

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

In 2002: 15 Dec

In 2005: 11 Dec

In 2008: 14 Dec

In 2011: 11 Dec

In 2014: 14 Dec

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Advent season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. (Isa 61:1a,b, 2a NRSV)

OR, use the standard Advent Sentence in the document 'Advent season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Lord, hear our prayers,

and graciously come into our hearts

to lighten our darkness;

for you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Lord, listen to our prayers.

Come to us in your kindness,

and lighten the darkness of our hearts.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray that we may receive Christ with joy. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

each year you make us glad

as we look forward to the birthday of your Son.

May we who joyfully receive him

as our redeemer

confidently face him

when he comes to be our judge.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray that we receive Christ with joy. [silence])

Jesus, our promised Messiah,

John the Baptist went ahead of you

and proclaimed the good news

of your coming.

Encourage us to receive you with joy

as our redeemer,

and faithfully follow you.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The good news of God's deliverance

PSALM

Psalm 126

Antiphon:

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

(Ps 126:3 NIV)

OR

Luke 1:(46b) 47-55

(This is the Song of Mary (Magnificat). It is also offered as first alternative next week. Omit the opening words 'Mary said'.)

Antiphon:

Jesus Christ our Saviour, eternal God, and Mary's son, we adore you forevermore. (Vespers, LHS)

OR

My soul is praising the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:47)

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Ready for the coming of the Lord

ALLELUIA VERSE (John 1:9 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

The true light, which enlightens everyone,

was coming into the world.

Alleluia.

(As an alternative to the alleluia verse, the congregation may sing ATE 253 'He turned my mourning into dancing', which is based on Isaiah 61:2,3. This may be repeated after the gospel.)

GOSPEL

John 1:6-8,19-28 He who comes after me stands among you

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, the Light,

for coming into the world and shining on us.

Help us to believe in you and follow you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord,

lead us gladly to listen to the message

you have sent about your Son,

and to receive him with faith and joy.

Help us live our lives in union with Christ,

praying, giving thanks, doing good, and shunning evil.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

John the Baptist did not testify to himself, but pointed to Jesus Christ, the light for the world. Let us take our needs and the needs of the world to our Father, through Christ.

The regular response, OR:

God of light and truth,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord, you alone know our true needs and desires. Shed your light on our lives and hearts, keep us walking in your path, and hear the prayers that we have offered in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You fulfilled your promise to comfort your people

by sending Jesus the Redeemer,

and to make all things new through him

when he comes to judge the world

and set it right.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

Blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For an Advent post-communion prayer, see the document 'Advent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,

each year you make us glad

as we look forward to the birthday of your Son.

May we who have joyfully received him

as our redeemer in this sacrament

confidently face him

when he comes to be our judge.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine on you and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory . . .

OR, this verse from the second reading for the day (1 Thess 5:23) may be used before the blessing:

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ...

DISMISSAL

Go in peace and joy, and live in the light.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

LHS

      Most songs of praise plus the following:

AT

TIS

Anon song: Rejoice in the Lord always

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 126

For musical settings of Psalm 126, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 8. See also TIS 80 Lord delivered Zion.

Below is a metrical version by David Sch¸tz, which may be sung to the tune Ode to joy (LHS 895, TIS 152). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

When the Lord restored Jerus'lem,

then we were like those who dream,

then our mouths were filled with laughter,

and our tongues with shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations,

'See, the Lord has worked for them.'

Yes, the lord has done this for us,

we rejoice and sing his praise!

Like a river in the desert,

Lord, restore us once again.

May all those who sow with weeping

harvest with great shouts of joy.

Those who bore their seed in sorrow,

going out to sow in tears,

will return with shouts of gladness,

bringing in their sheaves of grain.

SONG OF MARY

For various versions of the Song of Mary (Magnificat), the alternative 'psalm' for today, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Musical settings are in the Music Packages 2, 4, and 7.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ISAIAH 61:1-4, 8-11: The original setting of this reading is that of the suffering servant of God, namely the people of Judah as captive slaves in Babylon. Just like the general proclamation of release for debtors in the Jubilee year of ancient Israel (every seven years), so God's people could now look forward to freedom and release soon to come from their Babylonian masters. Our Lord quoted this section at the outset of his career as both the suffering servant and the Messiah who would bring full release for all by his own redemptive work. The freedom he has brought for the 'down-trodden', and the 'captive', and 'those that mourn' lies in the full forgiveness which establishes a righteousness and praise in spiritual terms. This can indeed be seen through faith and its fruitful action in 'all the nations'.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24: In this closing advice of the letter, Paul points the Thessalonian Christians to ways in which their preparedness for the second coming of the Lord can be strengthened. Rejoicing, praying and giving thanks all come under God' s will in order for us to remain faithful. Repressing the truthful hearing of his word extinguishes the Spirit's fire! Criticism of the 'word' - or its 'preacher' - are meant only for establishing the saving truth. God will remain true to his promise to effect full and final holiness in us if we remain simply within the framework of his own directions for faith and life.

JOHN 1: 6-8,19-28: John with his radical dress, diet and message was drawing tremendous interest from all of Judea. His all-consuming mission was that all might come to know and believe in the coming one. He announced the coming light, which of course presumes the presence of sin's darkness that would be overcome. In answer to the Pharisees' questions, John asserted that he himself was not one of the popularly expected forerunners (Elijah, Moses) or even the Messiah himself. John was merely the forerunner or herald, a voice in the wilderness. His baptism with water was important and authoritative only insofar as it led to the 'one standing among you whom you do not know', whose worthiness is inestimable.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, a symbol of the light, such as a candle or a sun symbol, may be used to illustrate the gospel.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by three readers: a reader to introduce and close the reading, Isaiah, the Lord (vv 8,9); and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), priest/levite, John.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could make/display pictures - see above under 'Visuals for the readings'.

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

The children could be told about John the Baptist (if not last week). Or, if the Song of Mary is used, the annunciation to Mary by Gabriel could be discussed (or next week).

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The angel Gabriel visits Mary (Luke 1:26-38)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, 3 Advent, year B (in 3rd Series A book)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, same