Third Sunday of Advent
Call to Rejoice from Philippians 4, Zephaniah 3, and Isaiah 12
(incorporating three of today’s lessons)
Rejoice in the Lord always!
Again we say, “Rejoice!”
Sing aloud! Shout! Rejoice! The King of Israel is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.
The Lord your God will rejoice over you with gladness, renewing you in his love.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously! Let this be known in all the earth!
Shout aloud and sing for joy, for great is the Lord in your midst.
Rejoice in the Lord always!
Again we say, “Rejoice!”
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away the judgments against you.
He has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst.
You shall fear evil no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will renew you in his love.
He will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.
The LORD says: "I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors.
I will save the lame and gather the outcast.
I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home.
At the time I will gather you together.
Yes, I will restore your fortunes before your eyes.
I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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Hymn/Song Suggestions:
“He Will Quiet You with His Love” (Cindy Berry) – a word-for-word setting of the bulk of this text
“And the Father Will Dance” (Mark Hayes)
“O Thou That Tellest” (from MESSIAH)
Isaiah 12:2-6
Responsive Reading - Isaiah 12:2-6
Leader: Behold, God is my salvation.
Women: I will trust, and will not be afraid.
Leader: The LORD God is my strength and my song,
Men: He has become my salvation.
Leader: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation,and in that day you will say:Women: Give thanks to the LORD.
Men: Call upon his name.
Women: Make known his deeds among the nations.
Men: Proclaim that his name is exalted.
Women: Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously.
Men: Let this be known in all the earth.
Leader: Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion.
All: Great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Hymn/song Suggestions:
“Proclaim the Glory of the Lord”
“Sing Out, My Soul” (Mark Hayes anthem)
“Great Is the Lord”
“God Is My Strong Salvation”
“First Song of Isaiah” (Surely It Is God Who Saves Me…)
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Responsive Reading (beginning with verse one of chapter 12)
Leader: In that day which is to come, this is what you will say:
All: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, because even though you were angry with us, your anger has subsided; you are now a comfort to us. Surely God is our salvation; we will trust in you and not be afraid, for the Lord is our strength and our might. He has indeed become our salvation!
Leader: With great joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation, and this is what you will say to the Lord:
Men: Give thanks to the Lord!
Women: Call on his name!
Men: Make known his deeds among the nations!
Women: Proclaim to everyone that his name is to be exalted!
Leader: Sing praises to the Lord for he has done glorious things. Let everybody on the earth know about this.
All: Shout aloud and sing for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One.
Hymn/Chorus Suggestions:
“First Song of Isaiah” (Surely it is God who saves us…) (FWS)
“Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
“To God Be the Glory”
“Give Thanks”
“Surely It Is God Who Saves Me” (W&R)
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always!
Again we will say, rejoice!
Let everyone know your gentleness.
The Lord is at hand.
Have no anxiety about anything.
But in everything by prayer and supplication,
…with thanksgiving,
…let your requests be made known to God.
The peace of God goes far beyond all human understanding.
The peace of God will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Hymn/Song Suggestion:
“Rejoice in the Lord Always”
Luke 3:7-18
Dramatic Reading from Luke 3:7-18
(Need 5 people. If possible, have the responders planted in the audience)
Narrator: This is what John had to say to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him.
John: You brood of vipers! You snakes! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Instead, you should bear fruits that befit repentance.
Bystander: You should not speak to us like that. Abraham is our father!
John: Do not say, 'We have Abraham as our father.'I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Bystander: What then shall we do?
John: The one who has two coats, let him share with the one who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.
Tax Collector: Teacher, we are tax collectors. What shall we do? How do we fit into this plan of yours?
John: Collect no more than is appointed you.
Soldier: Some of us serve in the army. What about us? What shall we do?
John: Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.
Bystander: Are you the Christ?
Tax Collector: Is that true, John? Are you the one we are waiting for?
Soldier: Are you the Messiah?
John: I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with 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.