For Sunday, December
13, 2015, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C, Readings: Zephaniah
3:14-20, Canticle 19 (Is 12:2-6), Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and
my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior...
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things.
[Canticle 9/Isaiah 12:2, 5]
The Lord is near. Do not worry...in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [Philippians 4:6]
John told the crowds...bear fruits worthy of repentance...I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand...to gather the wheat...but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. [Luke 3:7a, 8a, 16b, 17]
Do not worry about anything, says the writer of Philippians. Oh sure...not so easy in a world gone mad, fearful, and angry. Yet in the midst of this otherwise penitential Advent season, we come to the Sunday of Rejoicing. The rose candle, the symbol of joy, will be lighted as a sign of our call to be joyous in the nearness of God, in the coming of Christ; the excitement that in Christ we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire to spark our faith into action. Oh, there's still room and need for us to consider our sins in the midst of this rosy moment - that winnowing fork John speaks of should give us pause. How am I living into the faith I claim? Will my lip-service of murmuring familiar words on Sunday morning keep me out of the pile of chaff? It may be time for a refreshing of my mind and heart, to turn my focus back to God. All the readings for today exhort us to rejoice, exult, and sing - even John the Baptizer, in the midst of some serious warnings, proclaimed the good news to the people. This may not be your first Advent, but it's the first time in this moment of your life to begin again. And, as the people of Christ, let us repent, worship, praise, and pray together, as an orchard that bears only good fruit. If ever there was a time for rose-colored glasses to see the joy in darkness, this is the time. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! [Philipians 4:4]
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord
our Stronghold, stir up our faith and bring us from indifference to action. Then
will our souls rejoice, as our trust in You frees us from fear and worry.
O
God, our Sure Defense
RESPONSE: Turn our hearts and minds to You
~
O Lord our Stronghold, give us the
voice to inspire those who design and impose the political pathways on this
world, this nation, and this community. Infuse us with such joy that we may turn
the tide of hatred and war into the calm waters of Your peace and goodwill for
all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God, our
Sure Defense
Turn
our hearts and minds to You
~ O Lord
our Stronghold, restore the health and spirit of those who endure the pain and
fear of serious illness, addiction, or despair, and strengthen the hearts of
all who love and care for them. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those
in need…
O God, our
Sure Defense
Turn
our hearts and minds to You
~
O Lord our Stronghold, temper the heartache
of those who are bereaved with the comfort of knowing that You have gathered those
we love into the blissful splendor of eternity. We pray especially for:
O God, our
Sure Defense
Turn
our hearts and minds to You
~
O Lord our Stronghold, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…
O God, our
Sure Defense
Turn
our hearts and minds to You
~
O Lord our Stronghold, enhance the
character of Christ in those ordained in Your name that we may follow by
example and live each day with You. We pray especially for:
O God, our
Sure Defense
Turn
our hearts and minds to You
The Celebrant adds: Most Gracious God,
always in our midst, through Your gentleness, grant us patience in our waiting,
hope in our seeking, and Your peace that passes all understanding throughout all
our lives. We ask through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit,
the Fire of our faith, who with You reign as One God, in glory, now and
forever. Amen.
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