The Third Sunday of Advent
December 17th, 2023

The Sentence of the Day
Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God. (Isaiah 61:1-2)


The Gathering of the People
In the name of God: Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life.
Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, the love at our beginning and without end, in our midst and with us.
God is with us, here we find new life.

Let us give thanks for the coming of God’s reign of justice and love.
Jesus Christ is good news for the poor,
release for the captives,
recovery of sight for the blind
and liberty for those who are oppressed.


The Confession
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. I will confess my sins to the Lord, I will not conceal my wrongdoings.

Silence is kept.

God forgives and heals us.
We need your healing, merciful God: give us true repentance. Some sins are plain to us; some escape us, some we cannot face. Forgive us; set us free to hear your word to us; set us free to serve you.

The Absolution
God forgives you. Forgive others; Forgive yourself.

Silence is kept.

Through Christ, God has put away your sin:
approach your God in peace. 

Silent Processional


Song of Praise
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times did'st give the Law
In cloud, and majesty and awe

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel


The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Almighty God, you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son; grant that those who proclaim your word may so guide our feet into the way of peace, that we may stand with confidence before him when he comes in his glorious kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer.
Amen.


The First Lesson              Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

The Lord God’s spirit is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and a day of vindication for our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for Zion’s mourners, to give them a crown in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, a mantle of praise in place of discouragement.

They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by the Lord to glorify himself. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore formerly deserted places; they will renew ruined cities, places deserted in generations past.

I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and dishonesty. I will faithfully give them their wage, and make with them an enduring covenant. Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them will recognize
that they are a people blessed by the Lord.

I surely rejoice in the Lord; my heart is joyful because of my God, because he has clothed me with clothes of victory, wrapped me in a robe of righteousness like a bridegroom in a priestly crown, and like a bride adorned in jewelry. As the earth puts out its growth, and as a garden grows its seeds, so the Lord God will grow righteousness and praise before all the nations.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


The Psalm Psalm 126 (arr. BiFrost Arts)

Our mouths they were filled
Filled with laughter
Our tongues they were loosed
Loosed with joy

Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord

Although we are weeping
Lord, help us keep sowing
The seeds of your Kingdom
For the day you will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry
Lord, please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping
Will go out with songs of joy

The nations will say,
"He has done great things!"
The nations will sing
Songs of joy

Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord

Although we are weeping
Lord, help us keep sowing
The seeds of your Kingdom
For the day you will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry
Lord, please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping
Will go out with songs of joy

All those who sow weeping
Will go out with songs of joy


The Second Lesson                     1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t suppress the Spirit. Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil. Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming. The one who is calling you is faithful and will do this.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


Gospel Acclamation
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel


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

+ This is the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.


A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.

This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), “I’m not the Christ.”

They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” John said, “I’m not.”

“Are you the prophet?” John answered, “No.” They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

John replied,

“I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,
    Make the Lord’s path straight,
    just as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Those sent by the Pharisees asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.


Gospel Acclamation
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel


Homily


The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.   
Amen.


The Prayers of the People
Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear when we pray in the name of your Son. Therefore in confidence and trust we pray for the Church: Father, enliven the Church for its mission
that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.

Breathe fresh life into your people.
Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.

We pray for the world. Creator of all, lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.
That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.

Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.
Teach us to care creatively for its resources.

We pray for the community. God of truth, inspire with your wisdom those whose decisions affect the lives of others
that all may act with integrity and courage.

Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.
May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

We pray for those in need. God of hope, comfort and restore all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
May they know the power of your healing love.

Make us willing agents of your compassion.
Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.

We remember those who have died and those who mourn. We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faith of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.
Father, into your hands we commend them.

Give comfort to those who mourn.
Bring them peace in their time of loss.

We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory.
May their example inspire and encourage us.

We pray for ourselves and our community:
            You may add your own prayers, silently or aloud.

Your word is a lamp for our feet.
In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love, to serve your purpose, and to praise your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.   
Amen.


The Peace
The peace of God be with you all.
In God’s justice is our peace.


Announcements


Song of Preparation
The Reign of Mercy (The Porter’s Gate)

O may our world at last be just,
And hilltops echo with your peace.
A harvest come from barren dust,
The reign of mercy never cease.

He comes as rain upon the grass,
High heaven's sun to earth descends,
Not as the seasons that will pass,
But with a light that never ends.

O come to him and find your rest,
Who saw the poor and came as one,
Who hears the cries of the oppressed,
And rules till all oppression's done.

Someday he'll come to reign as King,
And we will see his justice done.
Our souls will magnify and sing
The Christ whose kingdom now is come.

And all the mighty and the strong
Will bow before him on that day,
The silenced fill the world with song;
The poor and lowly he will raise.

And all our bitterness and tears,
Our violence and our endless wars
will end at last when he draws near.
Come soon, come soon, O Christ our Lord!


Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.


The Great Thanksgiving
The Spirit of God be with you.
And also with you.

Lift your hearts to heaven
where Christ in glory reigns.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.

It is right indeed to give you thanks most loving God, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the first born from the dead, the pioneer of our salvation, who is with us always, one of us, yet from the heart of God. For with your whole created universe, we praise you for your unfailing gift of life. We thank you that you make us human and stay with us even when we turn from you to sin.
God’s love is shown to us: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In that love, dear God, righteous and strong to save, you came among us in Jesus Christ, our crucified and living Lord. You make all things new. In Christ’s suffering and cross you reveal your glory and reconcile all peoples to yourself, their true and living God.

We give you thanks because Christ the Sun of Righteousness has dawned as our deliverance, and as your power to renew the world in love and justice.

In your mercy you are now our God. Through Christ you gather us, new-born in your Spirit, a people after your own heart. We entrust ourselves to you, for you alone do justice to all people, living and departed.
Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.

Therefore with saints and martyrs, apostles and prophets, with all the redeemed, joyfully we praise you and say:

Holy, holy, holy: God of mercy, giver of life;
earth and sea and sky and all that lives,
declare your presence and your glory.

All glory to you, Giver of life sufficient and full for all creation. Accept our praises, living God, for Jesus Christ, the one perfect offering for the world, who in the night that he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this to remember me.

After supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said: Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you, and for many, to forgive sin. Do this as often as you drink it to remember me.

Therefore, God of all creation, in the suffering and death of Jesus our redeemer, we meet you in your glory. We lift up the cup of salvation and call upon your name. Here and now, with this bread and wine, we celebrate your great acts of liberation, ever present and living in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, who was and is and is to come.

Amen! Come Lord Jesus.

May Christ ascended in majesty be our new and living way, our access to you, Father, and source of all new life. In Christ we offer ourselves to do your will.

Empower our celebration with your Holy Spirit, feed us with your life, fire us with your love, confront us with your justice, and make us one in the body of Christ with all who share your gifts of love.

Through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Creator God. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
As Christ teaches us, we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 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.

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre, venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre. Amén.

The Breaking of the Bread
The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.

The cup of blessing for which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.


The Invitation
Bread and wine; the gifts of God for the people of God.
May we who share these gifts be found in Christ and Christ in us.


Communion Music
Great Rejoicing (Thad Cockrell)

There’s gonna be a great rejoicing
There’s gonna be a great rejoicing

The troubles of this world, will wither up and die
That river of tears made by the lonely someday will be dry
There’s gonna be a great rejoicing

There’s gonna be a great joy river
There’s gonna be a great joy river

The questions of this world, someday will be known
Who’s robbing you of peace and who’s the giver?
There’s gonna be a great joy river

Someday you will find me guarded in his fortress
Open heart and wings that never touch the ground
Someday we will gather in a grand reunion
The debts of this old world are
Nowhere to be found, nowhere to be found
nowhere to be found, nowhere to be found

There’s gonna be a great rejoicing
There’s gonna be a great rejoicing
There’s gonna be a great joy river

There’s gonna be a great rejoicing
There’s gonna be a great rejoicing


Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Charles Wesley)

Come, thou long expected Jesus
Born to set thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in thee

Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring

By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne

We are waiting
We are waiting
We are waiting for you

By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne

We are waiting
We are waiting
We are waiting for you


Prayer after Communion
We praise and thank you, Creator God, for you have not left us alone. Each year you come to us, Emmanuel, God with us in a manger. Each time you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share. In time or out of time you will be revealed and we shall see you face to face.

Give us courage, God our strength, to see your Christ in all who suffer, to be hands to the helpless, food for the hungry, and rescue for the oppressed. Amen.


The Blessing
May Christ, as he comes, deliver you from your guilt, anxiety and resentment, and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you forever. Amen.


Recessional
Justice Will Roll Down (Sandra McCracken)

Oh my love, you have grown so cold
To the world outside, to the house next door
She who has been loved much, has so much to give
Mercy is the fragrance of the broken

Justice will roll down,
Justice will roll down
From high upon those mountains
With a mighty river sound
It will roll down
It will roll down

Oh my child, I will be your light
In your secret pain, in the dark of night
No enemy, no conqueror, will steal your life from me
I am your salvation, and your victory.

Justice will roll down,
Justice will roll down
From high upon those mountains
With a mighty river sound
It will roll down
It will roll down

Soon oh soon, when the trumpet sounds
Every knee will bend, every heart will pound
I have made a new world, where the servant is the King
Oppression will be over, and the slave set free

Justice will roll down,
Justice will roll down
From high upon those mountains
With a mighty river sound
It will roll down
It will roll down

It will roll down
It will roll down


The Dismissal
Grace be with you.
Thanks be to God.

Go in peace.
Amen. We go in the name of Christ.