An Ordo for Advent 3 (RCL Advent 3A, 11 December 2016)

The Third Sunday of Advent

11 December 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

Opening Hymn

‘People Look East!  The Time Is Near!’  Common Praise #91

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,

you have come to your people to set us free,

free to worship you without fear,

holy and righteous before you,

all the days of our life.

The Lighting of the Advent Wreath

The Community sings ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ Common Praise #89 (verse 4 and refrain).  As the hymn is sung the appointed person lights the Advent Wreath.  After the lighting of the Advent Wreath the Collect of the Day is said.

Let us pray.

God of glory and compassion,

at your touch the wilderness blossoms.

Grant perseverance and patience

to all who long for your Son’s return,

so that we may announce in word and deed

the good news of the kingdom.

We ask this through Christ whose day draws near.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from the prophet Isaiah (35.1-10).

            ^35.1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus ² it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.

            ³ Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  ⁴ Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God.  He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.  He will come and save you.”

            ⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

⁶ then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.  For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; ⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

            ⁸ A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.  ⁹ No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.  ¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 146.5-10 (NRSV) with refrain from Songs for the Holy One.

Refrain (sung twice):  Our God keeps faith forever!  Hallelujah!

⁵ Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *

            For their hope is in the Lord their God,

⁶ who made heaven and earth, the seas,

and all that is in them; *

            who keeps promises for ever;

⁷ who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

            food to those who hunger

            and sets the prisoners free.

⁸ The Lord opens the eyes of the blind! *

            The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down

            and loves the righteous.

⁹ The Lord cares for the stranger *

            and sustains the orphan and widow,

            but frustrates the way of the wicked.

¹⁰ The Lord shall reign for ever, *

            your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. 

            Hallelujah!

Refrain:  Our God keeps faith forever!  Hallelujah!

The Second Reading

A reading from the letter of James (5.7-10).

^5.7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.  The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  ⁸ You also must be patient.  Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  ⁹ Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!  ¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Wait for the Lord, Whose Day Is Near’  Common Praise #94 (sung twice)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (11.2-11).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^11.2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”  ⁴ Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.  ⁶ And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

            ⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:  “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?  A reed shaken by the wind?  ⁸ What then did you go out to see?  Someone dressed in soft robes?  Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.  ⁹ What then did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  ¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Wait for the Lord, Whose Day Is Near’  Common Praise #94 (sung twice)

The Homily

The Affirmation of Faith

Sung to Common Praise #284

We believe in God the Father,

God almighty, by whose plan

earth and heaven sprang to being,

all created things began.

We believe in Christ the Saviour,

Son of God in human frame,

virgin-born, the child of Mary

upon whom the Spirit came.

Christ, who on the cross forsaken,

like a lamb to slaughter led,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

he descended to the dead.

We believe in Jesus risen,

heaven’s king to rule and reign,

to the Father’s side ascended

till as judge he comes again.

We believe in God the Spirit;

in one Church, below, above:

saints of God in one communion,

one in holiness and love.

So by faith, our sins forgiven,

Christ our Saviour, Lord and friend,

we shall rise with him in glory

to the life that knows no end. [ii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘Lamb of God to Thee We Raise’  Common Praise #270

Prayer over the Gifts

God of abundance,

we bring before you

the precious fruits of your creation

and with them our very lives.

Teach us patience and hope

as we care for all those in need

until the coming of your Son,

our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [iii]

Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you,

almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

You comforted your people with the promise of the Redeemer,

through whom you will also make all things new

in the day when he comes to judge the world in righteousness. 

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. [iv]

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:

Blessed are you for the birth of creation.

Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.

Blessed are you for your promise to your people.

Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.

Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember

your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.

Come among us.  Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.

Bring the gift of peace on earth.

Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,

Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [v]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Breaking of the Bread

God of promise,

you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.

Happy are those who are called

to the supper of the Lamb.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘Creator of the Stars of Night’  Common Praise #96

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

God for whom we wait,

in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day

when the hungry will be fed with good things.

Send us forth to make known your deeds

and to proclaim the greatness of your name,

through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [vii]

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Let Streams of Living Justice’  Common Praise #575

Dismissal

Let us go forth in the name of Christ who is coming.

Thanks be to God.

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[i] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ (2016), 5.

[ii] Common Worship (2000), 146.

[iii]  Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ (2016), 158.

[iv] Common Praise #689.

[v] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 110.

[vi] Common Praise #744.

[vii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ (2016), 161.