Advent Season | 3rd Sunday 15 Dec 2024
+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your messengers the prophets
to preach repentance
and prepare the way for our salvation:
Grant that the ministers and stewards
of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way,
by turning the hearts of the disobedient
toward the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world,
we may be found a people acceptable in your sight;
for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
John: “I baptize you with water, but…
He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
(Luke 3:16)
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Rejoice, The Lord Is King | Southwestern Seminary Oratorio Chorus · Festival Brass
1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
2 His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
3 Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
4 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
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OT Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20 (ESV)
Israel’s Joy and Restoration
3:14 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 cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
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 in,
at the time when I gather you together;
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.
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From Isaiah 12:2-6: “The Lord Is My Strength and My Song” | Perimeter Worship
Give thanks to God for his love endures forever
And his everlasting mercies never fail
He is my rock he’s a shelter for the weary
On this ever winding journey he restores me
I will rejoice when the night is long
I will rejoice when the morning dawns
In every change my hope remains the same
The Lord is my strength and my song
In summer’s gold you are graciously providing
And we see your goodness shining on this world
In the winter’s cold in the stillness of the waiting
You are purposely creating something beautiful
I will rejoice when the night is long
I will rejoice when the morning dawns
In every change, my hope remains the same
The Lord is my strength and my song
From the mountains sing “Alleluia!”
Through the valley sing “It is well”
For our God is King and his reign goes on
The Lord is my strength and my song
I will rejoice when the night is long
I will rejoice when the morning dawns
In every change, my hope remains the same
The Lord is my strength and my song
The Lord is my strength and my song
The Lord is my strength
And my song
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NT Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious 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.
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Gaudete | City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir / Chet Valley Churches
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Gospel Reading: Luke 3:7-18 (ESV)
3:7 He said therefore 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 in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for 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.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 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 barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
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O Come Divine Messiah | Advent | Sunday 7pm Choir
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Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everliving God: mercifully receive our prayers for the Church and the World.
+ Inspire continually your Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all who confess your holy Name may agree in the truth of your holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. Amen.
+ Lead the nations of the world in the way of righteousness; and so guide and direct their leaders that your people may enjoy the blessings of freedom and peace. Grant that our country’s leaders may impartially administer justice, uphold integrity and truth, restrain wickedness and vice, and protect true faith and virtue. Amen.
+ Give grace, heavenly Father, to all Church leaders that by their life and teaching, they may proclaim your true and life-giving Word, and rightly and duly administer your holy Sacraments. And to all your people give your heavenly grace, especially in our local congregations, that with reverent and obedient hearts we may hear and receive your holy Word, and serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. Amen.
+ Prosper, we pray, all those who proclaim the Gospel of your kingdom throughout the world, and strengthen us to fulfill your great commission, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that you have commanded. Amen.
+ Comfort and sustain, O Lord, all your people who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity – especially those embroiled in the Middle East warfare. Amen.
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 