Worship for the Third Sunday of Advent

Opening Rite

If you’re at home you might wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself. 

The Lord is here   His Spirit is with us

Prayers of Penitence

‘The axe is laid at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down.’                                                                                    cf Matthew 3.10

But confident in God’s mercy we confess our sins.

Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of your kingdom: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

You will come in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect

You might like to keep a few moments of silence

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Zephaniah 3:14-end

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!  Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!  The Lord has taken away the judgements against you, he has turned away your enemies.  The king of Israel, the Lord, 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; 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.  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.

Philippians 4:4-7

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.

 The Gospel according to Luke                                           Chapter 3:7-18

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 axe 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.

This is the Gospel of the Lord   Praise to you O Christ

Reflection

Luke spells out the repentance symbolised by John’s baptism. Refusing to rest in the racial privilege of being Abraham’s heirs suggests that God’s chosen people have a responsibility towards ‘all flesh’ (3:6). Sharing resources is designed to ensure that everyone has enough, especially when money is tight and food is scarce. Laying aside greed and extortion means not using status and power to threaten and intimidate. John models the repentance he preaches. He is humble enough to shun his own privileges as he looks beyond himself to ‘one who is more powerful than I’ (v.16), the exalted messianic figure for whom his ministry is preparing God’s people. There is joy in refusing to allow status and privilege to feed delusions of self-importance, in release from the habits of prejudice and extortion, and in rejecting a life of greed. Look out for the people in Luke’s writings who display this joyful repentance.

© Reproduced with permission ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2021  

 Prayers

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, for the world, for peace and for the relief of refugees everywhere. 

On The Third Sunday of Advent

God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen                                                  

Praying for the Earth                                                               Light pollution

We thank you for all the lights of the natural world and for the lights of human ingenuity. Help us to appreciate the variety of light and the value of darkness. Grant us wisdom in the use of light, so as not to pollute the awesome beauty of the night sky. May we continue to see the stars, and wonder at our place in the vastness of the universe. Amen

From the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer for the Church

Porvoo Communion: Diocese of Borg (Church of Norway) Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham

Anglican Communion: The Anglican Church of Tanzania Primate: Archbishop Maimbo Mndolwa

Diocese of Newcastle: For the developing work and witness of our Resource Church at St Thomas in Newcastle City Centre.

Morpeth Deanery: Benefice of Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle and Kirkheaton and Cambo Priest-in-Charge: Janet Parker

From our Prayer Cycle this week

Pray for those who have no faith; pray for religious and racial tolerance in this community

For the sick and those being cared for in hospital or at home      

For those in residential care    

For those who have recently died

Rachel Taylor

For those whose year’s minds are this week 

Margaret Strange, Isabel Muriel Mears, Betty Bolton, Ed Falcus, Betty Wilson, Russell Lowes, Ethel Riley, Bob Coatsworth and Mary Tollen

You might like to end your prayers with The Lord's Prayer  

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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.

Let us bless the Lord!  Thanks be to God!