Sources
https://www.faithandworship.com/Advent/Advent_Celtic_Christian_Celebration.htm#gsc.tab=0
Copyright © John Birch, 2016
Bread for the Journey (Ruth Duck)
Symbols: A candle and in front of it a stone (A rock is often used as a symbol for Christ. In the wilderness, Moses struck a rock and it poured forth water to refresh the people. A rock can also symbolize obedience to Christ. St. Peter, whose name means "rock," is sometimes thus represented)
The candle is lit
'You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. '
Prelude
Welcome
Gathering Sentences
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice before the God of all peoples,
For God comes in power to judge the earth
Let us open our hearts in worship and trust, and offer our lives in willing service
For God shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with truth
A Canticle Reflection
There were safer places more comfortable places
palaces and wealthy places
Yet you chose a daughter of the soil
Who would have otherwise lived a good and honest life
grown and harvested crops, cooked and washed and cared for others
and been forgotten
to be your temporary home
to be exalted for all time
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed
When does an ordinary life
Become extraordinary
A mundane day
Become revolutionary
A moment in time
Change history?
When God enters in
Forgives sin
Allows us to
Begin again
When we repeat
Those words of Mary
‘May it be to me
As you say’
'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.'
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.
"May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:35-38
(A moment of silence - During the silence, you may like to read and reflect on the words that have been read, gaze at the lantern - or simply enjoy the peace and calm)
I was there to hear Borning Cry will play quietly in the background
Advent Wreath Candle Lighting ADVENT 3 - JOY (Based on Psalm 126)
We light our first Advent candle, a symbol of Hope.
Light first candle
We light our second Advent candle, a symbol of Peace.
Light second candle
We light our third Advent candle, a symbol of Joy.
Light third candle
Like a third candle lit in the darkness, joy shines brighter and brighter, and dances in the wind.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
In a world that sometimes feels devoid of joy, in a year when we have missed out on expected, routine joys, God, help us to find the joy in the unexpected, in the disruption, in the silver linings.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
God, we trust that you are with us, and that those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Let our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy, let us proclaim the truth to the ends of the earth, we have joy because God is with us!
The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
An Advent Reflection
Into the daily cycle of our lives
When all seems well
With us and with the world
When our yoke is easy
And the burden light
You break in
And scatter our complacency
Into the daily cycle of our lives
When we are comfortable
And at our ease
When the fire is lit
But eyes are closed
You break in
And challenge our dependency
You break into
Our daily prayers
Humble hearts
Lay souls bare
You break in
You break in
You break in
When defences are down
With an Angel's shout
Or the quietest sound
You break in
You break in
And we change
And all things change
When you break in
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come again and with us ever dwell
Music Magnificat (Taize)
Scripture reading John 1:6-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Time of Reflection/Homily
Reflection Song Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
Intercessions - A circle prayer
Imagine throwing a pebble into the centre of a pond, and the circles of ripples that move out from the centre.
We pray firstly for those closest to us, our immediate family and closest friends - for their health, needs, joys and fears.
Time of Silent prayer
God of creation, God of Salvation
Hear the prayers of our hearts
We pray for our extended family and friends who we might not see each week - for their love and concern, for their wellbeing.
Time of Silent prayer
God of creation, God of Salvation
Hear the prayers of our hearts
As the ripples reach out toward the land we pray for those who we only have contact with annually or less - for a blessing this Advent-time
Time of Silent prayer
God of creation, God of Salvation
Hear the prayers of our hearts
And as the ripples reach their furthest point we pray for this world and its people - for the needs of this week and the future.
Time of Silent prayer
God of creation, God of Salvation
Who speaks to us through thunder and whisper
Who loves us as if there were but one of us to love
Hear the prayers of our hearts
Collect of the Day
God of power and mercy, you call us once again to celebrate the coming of your Son. Remove those things which hinder love of you, that when he comes, he may find us waiting in awe and wonder for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
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
May God the Father bless us;
may Christ take care of us;
the Holy Ghost enlighten us all the days of our life.
The Lord be our defender and keeper of body and soul,
both now and for ever, to the ages of ages.
Postlude Joyful, Joyful
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