Hymn, readings and prayers for Sunday

THE THIRD  SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This Sunday we light the third Advent candle, the candle of Joy. Advent 3 is Gaudete Sunday: "Rejoice!" For that reason the third candle is pink. Gaudete Sunday is named after the first word (Gaudete) of the Latin translation of Philippians 4:4, the introit traditionally set for this Sunday: "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!"

God of all tenderness and joy, we give you thanks for the wonder of your creation, seen and unseen. Sustain us with the Holy Spirit that we may become ever more fully the people you have made us to be, filled with joy and kindness, for Christ’s own sake. Amen

The Old Testament reading comes from Zephaniah who prophesied during the reign of Josiah, the king of Judah from 640 to 609 BC. He foretold the fall of Judah to Babylon and the destruction of  society as they knew it, a bleak and unsettling prospect.  But Zephaniah could look beyond that grim period, during which the people of Judah would feel rejected by God,  to a time of restoration and hope when people would once again respond to the call to “Rejoice”.  

First Reading:  Zephaniah 3:14-20

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." "The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD.

Second Reading:  Philippians Chapter 4:4-7

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Advent is a time of waiting expectantly but it is not something passive but rather a time to celebrate God’s goodness while letting God’s Spirit of deep rooted joy shine through our everyday encounters and actions. Note that Paul was in prison when he wrote these words of encouragement!

St. John the Baptist preaching to the crowds.

Pieter Brueghel the Younger

Gospel Reading: St. Luke Chapter 3:7-18

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise 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 barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.

Many flocked to hear John the Baptist. The word had obviously got around!  But John was not trying to create a new movement, he was urging the crowds to change their ways and to prepare to welcome Jesus.

God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time. Amen                                                                                            Faithandworship.com

We pray for our local church community that we may know that deep joy that comes from serving the Lord.

We pray for the  leaders of the world as political tensions mount and conflict threatens the wellbeing of so many on the planet.

We pray for young people at the end of a long school term that they may have the opportunity to celebrate and find a joy in the festive season that goes beyond the gifts and the glitter.

We pray for those working in our health service and in social care as the pressures grow.

We pray for those who are unwell or in distress that they may feel the loving presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for ............and for all known to ourselves who are living with anxiety, ill health or loneliness.…. We pray that they may  know your compassionate presence and find in it a source of renewed strength.  

We pray for those who have departed this life and are now in the fullness of God's presence……. We ask you to be with the bereaved that they may find  new strength as they seek to  come to terms with the great gap in their lives.