Third Week of Advent
December 16, 2020
Call to Worship
L: We come from a world of darkness
P: Into Christ’s world of light.
L: We come from a world of weariness
P: Into God’s strength and hope.
L: We come from a slumbering world.
P: Strengthened by the Spirit, we come to awaken our souls and watch for the coming of Christ.
First Reading – Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
Prayer
L: Anticipation grows within us.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no war nor division in the world that is beyond Your capacity to heal.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no hatred in the cosmos that cannot be transformed by Your forgiving love.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no social ill, relational breach, nor systemic evil that will not dissolve at Your touch.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: In this second week of Advent, we sing with the prophets.
P: That One will come who will bring the shalom peace of God to all human conditions.
L: In this second week of Advent, we shout with the children.
P: Prince of Peace, quiet a world screaming in pain, and hungry for your Presence.
L: In this second week of Advent, we pray with believers around the world.
P: Master of hearts, bring harmony to the discord between us and those unlike us.
ALL: Prince of Peace, we recognize that You are the God who alone can bring restoration to a fallen planet. Your capacity to restore broken relationships, communities, nations and ancient rivalries is boundless. Come, restore peace to our hearts today, and intervene among our restless human family. Lord, make us instruments of this same transforming peace wherever we go.
Silence
Second Reading – Psalm 72:1-7 (NLT)
Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
and righteousness to the king’s son.
Help him judge your people in the right way;
let the poor always be treated fairly.
May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
and may the hills be fruitful.
Help him to defend the poor,
Call to Worship
L: We come from a world of darkness
P: Into Christ’s world of light.
L: We come from a world of weariness
P: Into God’s strength and hope.
L: We come from a slumbering world.
P: Strengthened by the Spirit, we come to awaken our souls and watch for the coming of Christ.
First Reading – Isaiah 35:1-10 (NLT)
Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
the splendor of our God.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”
And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
The parched ground will become a pool,
and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.
And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
fools will never walk there.
Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
Prayer
L: Anticipation grows within us.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no heart in the world that is too far away for You to reach.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no situation nor challenge that is outside the realm of Your concern and care.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: There is no power of this age, nor of the age to come, that can hold us in bondage.
P: The day of Your incarnation is near.
L: In this third week of Advent, we sing with the prophets.
P: That One will come who will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
L: In this third week of Advent, we shout with the children.
P: Jesus, Lord, save and rescue us from the sting of death and the grip of sin.
L: In this second week of Advent, we pray with believers around the world.
P: Saving Lord, intervene in this good world and restore all things to Your original purpose.
ALL: Lord, we recognize that You are the God who draws near to Your creation. You are not far, not distant, not oblivious to our needs. Come, save us from our enemies within and without, rescue us from the idolatries of our age, and renew our voice to sing once again of Your saving power in our world.
Silence
Second Reading – Psalm 146:5-10 (NLT)
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord!
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
As the candle is lit, we proclaim together:
Our joy is in Jesus, the light of the world. In his life we find our delight.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, our redeemer,
you lead us from languishing in sorrow’s shadows into laughter’s joy over your abundant restoration. Thank you that you are coming for us
to lead us home along your Way, Jesus Christ.
Strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.