Third Sunday of Advent
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Luke.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Advent 3, Sunday, 15th Dec 2024
Grace and mercy are yours, now and forever, through Jesus the Christ. <Amen>
An angel suddenly appears at a school council meeting and tells the Principal that, in return for her unselfish and exemplary behaviour, she will be given her choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. “Oh my” says the Principal, “What then should I do?”. After pausing for a few moments, the Principal selects infinite wisdom. "Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.
Now, all heads turn toward the Principal, who sits surrounded by a faint glow of light. At length, one of her colleagues whispers, "Say something wise.” The Principal looks at them all and says, "I should have taken the money.” <PAUSE>
All joking aside,“What then should we\I do?” Is a universal question. It’s a significant question for St. Luke. It’s asked three times in today’s reading (Luke 3:7-18), a total of five times throughout his gospel and three more times in the Book of Acts. It’s a question you and I carry with us every day. It’s one I’ve asked a thousand times during my life and I think you have too.
That question is about more than just making a choice or deciding between an array of options. It is a question that is ultimately about who we are and who we are becoming.
What we do tells others who we are and what we value. Subsequently, who we are and what we value sets the pathway for our lives.
What then should we do? <PAUSE>
Most of you know me well enough now so that you won’t be surprised when I tell you I don’t think there is an answer to that question. There ARE answers … lots of them. There are as many answers as there are life situations and the people who ask the question.
In today’s gospel (Luke 3:7-18), for example, the same question is asked three times and John gives three different responses:
He tells the crowds to share their extra coats and food.
He tells the tax collectors to not collect more than the prescribed amount.
He tells the soldiers to not use threats and false accusations to extort money.
This “what-to-do” question is unique to each one of us and the particular circumstances of our lives. There is no one particular answer and the question is never answered once and for all. It’s a question that remains with us throughout our lives. It’s the kind of question that calls us forward into the future.
Anyway, I don’t think the question about “what-to-do” is even primarily about getting information, finding the right answer, or fixing any given situation. I think it’s more about us and reclaiming ourselves than it is addressing the circumstances.
That seems to be John’s approach in today’s gospel. The crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers all ask him, “What then should we do?” You know what strikes me? Just how unoriginal and ordinary John’s answer is. He doesn’t tell them, or us, anything they, or we, have not already heard or did not already know. He tells them to share, be honest and fair, don’t be a bully.
That’s pretty ordinary and everyday stuff! And maybe that’s the VERY POINT!!
It sounds to me as if John is saying that this ordinary and routine life like feeding and clothing others, tax collecting, and soldiering are spiritual practices.
John sends them home to live their lives.
John’s point - - - repentance and faithfulness happen in our everyday lives, not apart from them.
We are not asked to become something we are not, but to reclaim and become more fully who, and what, we are.
Be a caring neighbour. Be a fair tax collector. Be an honourable soldier. John’s answers are simple, concrete, practical. <PAUSE>
The Baptiser doesn’t ask us to change the world but to change ourselves.
The Baptiser doesn’t tell us to quit our jobs but to live a different life.
The people, then and now, who hear The Baptiser may not be able to eliminate poverty, but they can share what they have with the cold and hungry.
The community leaders who hear The Baptiser, then and now, may not be able to overhaul the laws of the land, but they can be honest and fair for all.
The soldiers who hear The Baptiser, then and now, may not be able to end war and violence, but they can act with integrity and not abuse their power. <PAUSE>
Ordinary life is our primary spiritual practice.
Ordinary life is the place we rediscover and reclaim ourselves.
Are you a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend? Are you a farmer, a pilot, a tourist guide, a cook, a teacher, an accountant? Are you a secretary, a carpenter, a salesperson, a lawyer, a medical professional? Are you a student, a politician, a police officer, a retired person, an unemployed person? No matter who you are, what do you imagine The Baptiser is saying to you? <PAUSE>
What then should you do?
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our plea is, “hear our prayer”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Mighty God, as we contemplate the teaching of John the Baptist on our Advent journey, Give us courage to be faithful and to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” until your promises are fulfilled.
Help us to look forward with joy to the coming of our Saviour. May we live as he taught, ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God, we pray for people in parts of the world where life is precarious, whether through terrorism, disaster, poverty, disease, drought, flooding or war. We pray that the time may be hastened when there is peace on earth and goodwill between all people.
Especially as we pray for our precious world; help us all to be good stewards so that we can pass on our world in good order to the generations yet to come.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, as we approach Christmas we so often fail to hear You; we are busy with so much that we go about the things we do as though trapped in household routine, hardly giving a thought to what our lives and the season of Advent are all about.
If our spirits grow tired and You, Father God, can seem far away. Help us to hear Your voice today and every day.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, although we are sometimes separated by language and culture from the people we live amongst, our hope for our community is to see Your will done here on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for our neighbours, not only with words, but day by day, that through our actions we might demonstrate our Christian faith in a very real sense.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God, we thank You for the gift of life and pray for those whose lives are troubled by illness, grief, poverty or injustice. We pray that in the darkness of their suffering and pain Your Advent light will shine to bring them the assurance and hope of the coming of Your son Jesus.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. We now commend the departed to your merciful love.
May all the faithful departed now rest in peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your Mercy: Hear our prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, who sent John the Baptist to proclaim the Good News help us to be true heralds of the coming of Christ and to proclaim the Gospel through all we do and say.
O come, O Come, Emmanuel and fill the hearts of Your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of Your joy.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
