The Third Sunday of Advent
Opening Hymn #59: Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding
Collect of the Day
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 honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 35, Verses 1 – 10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus 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.
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
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.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God
Canticle 15
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A reading from the letter of James, Chapter 5, Verses 7 – 10
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. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God
Sequence Hymn #76: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 11, Verses 2 – 11
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
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? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 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.’
“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.”
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Parish Prayer List
The Brokaw Family, Debbie L., Margo, the Ewing Family, Becky V., Sydney F., the Saver Family, Robert M., Amy C., Cindy W., the Gomez Family, Sue M., the Blanchard Family, Alex M., Ethan T., the Tiedemann Family, Amy A., the Merrill Family, Jaime B., Marilyn R., Polly T., Pat M., Aspen G., Wayne F.
Offertory Hymn: O come, o come, Emmanuel
Communion Taize
Eucharistic Visit: Birgitta Clark
Closing Hymn #437: Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord
The Altar Flowers are given by Anita & Dave Wallinger, to the Glory of God.
Serving today:
8:00 A.M.
Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes
Lectors: Dee Ann Goulet & Penny Sites
Eucharistic Minister: Penny Sites
Altar Guild: Dee Ann Goulet
10:00 A.M.
Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes
Lectors: Sue Nims & Kelsey Bullinger
Eucharistic Minister: Kelsey Bullinger
Altar Guild: Linda Stark & Judy Lonsdale
Usher: Ray Stark
Sunday School: Penny Sites
Music Director: Shauna Emara
Music: Amy Hutchins
Camera: Jim Reynolds
Coffee Hour: Pat Webb & Jen LaForge