The Celebration of the Gospel
December 13, 2015 —Third Sunday of Advent
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
— Luke 3.9
______ We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE A Lovely Rose Is Blooming – Johannes Brahms
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE Philippians 4.4-7
[Paul encourages his people to be gentle, joyful, thankful and prayerful, rooted in the peace of God.]
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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SONG: The Promises of God Steve G-H
Pay attention my friends, to the promises of God,
like a candle shining in a dark place,
’till the morning star rises brightly in your hearts,
so that even in the darkness you may walk in the light of God.
* RESPONSE
Leader: We pray that this Advent candle may shine in our hearts with joy.
All: Even in the darkness we shine with joy, for the Light is coming.
Even in the cold our hearts are warm with joy, for you are with us.
Even amidst evil and cruelty we bear joy and not despair into the world.
So, God, we open our hearts to your grace. Fill us with the light of your joy.
* SONG Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Blue hymnal # 203
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG
8:15: Rise Up Shepherd and Follow (Vivien Stringfellow, solo)
10:30: The First song of Isaiah Jack Noble White (Isaiah 12.2-6).
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Light the candle of our hearts, O God, that in the darkness of fear and greed we may shine the light of peace and joy. Tell us again your story, and draw us into it, that we may be your light in this world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Zephaniah 3.14-20
[God enjoys God’s people, and will “exult over you with loud singing.” God will deal with oppressors, and bring exiles home. ]
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
and has turned away your enemies.
Yahweh, the God of Israel, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory.
God will rejoice over you with gladness,
and will renew you with love;
God will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors at that time.
And I will save the lame and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.
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CANTICLE Canticle of Zechariah Blue hymnal, page 208
[God has fulfilled the Covenant to save us from all that we fear and establish a new realm of peace, and has chosen us to bring that realm, in the form of forgiveness, to all people.]
Blessed are you, the Most High God of Israel,
for you have visited your people and redeemed them.
You have raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of your servant David,
as you spoke through the mouth of your holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies
and from the power of all our foes.
Thus you have shown us the mercy you promised to our ancestors,
and have remembered your holy covenant,
the oath that you swore to Sarah and Abraham,
to rescue us from the hands of our enemies,
that we might serve you without fear,
in holiness and justice ,
in your presence all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before our God to prepare the ways of the Promised One,
to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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GOSPEL Luke 3.7-20
[John the Baptist continues his preaching about preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. Repentance leads to a new social order of sharing, justice and compassion, and the end of exploitation and separation. All that does not bear fruit in mercy and justice is burned away. But the “fire” is not outside us; it is the flame of the Spirit within us, which the Coming One gives to us.]
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
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SERMON
ADVENT SILENCE
SONG O Little Town of Bethlehem Blue hymnal # 230, vv. 1, 3, 4
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
__________We Share at Christ’s Table __________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS 8:15: Advent Prayer – George Blake
10:30: Headin’ Home John Grenfell
1. Darkness is a-fallin’, an’ I’m a-headin’ home (repeat)
Feel that night a-comin’—who knows if there’s a mornin’?
Refrain: Lead me home, Precious Love, Lead me home.
2. Cold is on the mountain, an’ I’m a-headin’ home (repeat)
Feel that chill a-comin’—an’ will there be a warmin’?
3. Stars, they are a-fallin’, an’ I’m a-headin’ home (repeat)
See them stars a-comin’—an’ will they be returnin’?
4. I’ll hear children singin’ when I get near to home (repeat)
Hear them voices ringin’? What news are they a-bringin’?
5. When I see the baby, I’ll know that I’ve come home (repeat)
Little tiny baby, just lyin’ in the manger.
* COMMUNION SONG Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Blue hymnal #626 vv. 1-2
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Beloved, we thank you for your many blessings,
and so we bring our gifts in thanks and praise.
Holy Lord, God of love and mercy,
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest and peace on earth.
Blessed is Jesus, love made flesh among us,
your joy and delight in us, the Bread of Life.
Christ has died. Christ is risen.
And Christ will come again soon, yes, Christ will come again.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
…The Blessing and Covenant…
Pour out your Spirit on your waiting people, and
make us the Body of your Risen Christ.
Glory and honor be to you forever.
Amen. Alleluia! Amen. Alleluia!
Amen. Alleluia forevermore.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Send us out as the Body of Christ to embody your peace and joy, your gentleness and thankful giving, for the sake of the world, in the power of your Spirit. Amen.
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG It came Upon the Midnight Clear Blue hymnal # 218
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
Now go in peace, my dearest friends, as God prepares the way.
God will embrace our lives with grace and bring a brand new day:
a day of love and healing, and in our darkness, light.
With grace divine you are a sign, a candle in the night.
POSTLUDE Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying J. G. Walther
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
We invite you to share around the Question of the Week:
How will I bear witness to the Prince of Peace in my own life in the face of the hatred and violence being preached in the world?