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Third Sunday Of Advent

Worship
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Third Sunday of Advent - B
James R. Wilson
Lectionary Worship Aids
Cycle B, Series IV
First Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Theme: The Lord will return to lift up the poor and wounded.

Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let all who love the Lord enter God's house for worship!
People: But many are poor and wounded and do not know of Christ's Love.
Leader: Then we must proclaim for all to hear the news of Jesus the Christ.
People: And what shall we tell the poor and wounded in the world?
Leader: Christ died so ALL might have life and is coming again to lift them up.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

God, in Your wonderful and gracious way You sent Christ to call us to a oneness with You which we could not earn on our own. Reach into our hearts and help us celebrate Your love which knows no boundaries. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

O God, too often we have tried to believe Your love was like ours, marked by conditions and limitations as we judge who is good enough or worthy to hear Your Gospel. Forgive us, Lord, for You have warned us that as we reject even the least of Your children we reject You. Open our hearts, Lord, that we might openly seek out and welcome any and all who are lost. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates"

"Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light"

"Blessed Be The God Of Israel"




Third Sunday In Advent

Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Theme: Christ our Savior will return.

Call To Worship
Leader: On the day the Lord returns we will gather together saying,
People: Hallelujah, this is the Lord our God, in whom is our salvation!
Leader: For the Lord is near to all whose hearts rest in God's loving care.
People: O God, let all the world hear that You are indeed the keeper of our souls.
Leader: And let the whole world hear our joyful praise to Almighty God!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

O God, Almighty Creator and Redeemer, in Your wonderful and merciful way You sent the Christ to redeem and cleanse us even while we were yet mired in the ways of our sins. We thank You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, in so many ways You have tried to reach us with Your message of love and salvation, yet we have been too busy with the world around us to hear. You even sent Your son to show us Your love, and still we would not see. Forgive us, Lord, and as our hearts are opened to Your Good News, help us to spread the word to all the world around us. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Word Of God, Come Down On Earth"

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

"I Want To Walk As A Child Of The Light"




Third Sunday In Advent

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Theme: John the Baptist proclaims the Christ is come.

Call To Worship
Leader: Wait upon the Lord; remain true and let your hearts be bold!
People: We do wait upon the Lord, and we seek God's healing power today.
Leader: Hold fast to your faith; be firm and let your hearts take courage!
People: Our faith remains strong; yet we seek the promised one to come.
Leader: Praise be to the Lord, for God has heard and honored our prayers!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

All-wise and all-powerful God, for reasons only You can fathom You have honored us by calling Your prophets from among Your people to proclaim the Good News to the world. We praise You, Lord! In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, as we continue to move through Advent, we are so aware there is much in the world that would distract and harden our hearts to the message of love You gave us in the birth of Christ. Lord, forgive us for all of those times when we have willingly chosen the distractions and turned away from You. Call us once more to the true joy in Christmas. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Hail To The Lord's Anointed"

"My Soul Gives Glory To My God"

"Word Of God, Come Down On Earth"


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What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. (v. 8)

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Contents
"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
"Heretic or Saint?" by Frank Ramirez


* * * * * * * * *


Truckin'
C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 35:1-10

SermonStudio

Elizabeth Achtemeier
This passage has many affinities with the prophecies of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55), and it has often been attributed to him. But there are differences. In Isaiah 40:3, the "way" is for the Lord, here it is for the redeemed and ransomed (vv. 9-10). In Isaiah 51:11, the reference is to the return from Babylonian exile. Here in verse 10, that context is missing, and those who are returning to Zion are the members of Israel dispersed throughout the ancient Near East. Thus, this text is probably from a time after Second Isaiah and sometime after 538 B.C.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10 (C, E, L); Isaiah 35:1--6, 10 (RC)
Paul E. Robinson
Christmas has a way of bringing back memories. One that came to my mind as I was preparing this message was when my family would be driving home at night in the car and my father would lead us in singing a song. To all of us family members who remember those fun, cozy journeys toward home, there are many layers of meaning to the words. The song goes like this:

There's a long, long trail awinding,
Into the land of my dreams,
Where the nightingales are singing
And the white moon beams.
There's a long, long night of waiting
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Be Patient
Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM

E-mail from KDM to God. Subject: Be patient. Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM.
Susan R. Andrews
It was a painful experience for both of us. Jane was a young mother about my age. She had been on the pastor nominating committee that called us to New Jersey. And we had shared much laughter and friendship through the years. She also was on the session - and that cold November night she seemed edgy and distant. I soon found out why. Following the meeting, she waited for me out in the parking lot. And after I locked the church door, she simply lit into me. "How dare you!" she said. "How dare you push your own political viewpoints down our throats, and abuse your privilege as a pastor!
H. Burnham Kirkland
Theme: Prepare The Way

Call To Worship
Leader: To those wandering in darkness,
People: Christ came as the Light of the World.
Leader: To those who are at odds with others and themselves,
People: Christ is the Prince of Peace.
Leader: To those who seek the presence of the divine,
People: Christ is Emmanuel, God with us.
All: Come, let us anticipate the advent of our Lord.

Invocation
Robert S. Jarboe
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)

Date:

Reader A:

Reader B:

Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)

Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
Let all who take refuge in God be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
O God, spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

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Special Occasion

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