“How Much is Enough? (Joy)”
Third Sunday of Advent
PRELUDE
Andrea Shakespeare (8:30am)
What Child is This Arr. Stanley Roper Mary Monroe (11:00am)
GREETINGS FROM THE PULPIT
INTROIT Come, O Come Emmanuel Chancel Choir
OPENING PRAYER
Liturgist: As John baptized new converts, he invited them to live with “changed hearts and lives.” When asked how to do that, his answers all point to making sure no one is cheated or left without the basic necessities of life, including the right to not be harassed. A full life of joy, which the prophet Isaiah describes as an everflowing spring, is the birthright of all children of God. May we act to make it so.
[choir] Joy waits for us at Advent Joy waits for us to sing. Joy waits for our amazement at the grace in everything. In this time of preparation for the work of co-creation, for the birthing of a world where wonder is restored. Joy is born in us once more!
Langham family: Today we offer the Light of Joy to illumine the Door of Welcome. (Advent Candle lit) May this light shine in our hearts, in our lives, and in our church. May Joy awaken us to possibilities and lead us to greater hospitality. There IS room in this Inn, a House for the Holy.
[All Sing] Joy waits for us at Advent Joy waits for us to sing. Joy waits for our amazement at the grace in everything. In this time of preparation for the work of co-creation, for the birthing of a world where wonder is restored. Joy is born in us once more!
SHARING THE PEACE
(We ask you share the peace with a friendly wave to those seated around you and the people worshipping from home)
Pastor Mark: The Peace of Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
FIRST READING Isaiah 12: 2-6 (CEB)
God is indeed my salvation;
I will trust and won’t be afraid.
Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my shield;
he has become my salvation.”
You will draw water with joy from the springs of salvation.
And you will say on that day:
“Thank the Lord; call on God’s name;
proclaim God’s deeds among the peoples;
declare that God’s name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, who has done glorious things;
proclaim this throughout all the earth.”
Shout and sing for joy, city of Zion,
because the holy one of Israel is great among you.
OPENING HYMN/SONG Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates UMH #213
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates; behold, the King of glory waits; the King of kings is drawing near; the Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart; make it a temple, set apart from earthly use for heaven’s employ, adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come, with us abide; our hearts to thee we open wide; let us thy inner presence feel; thy grace and love in us reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit lead us on until our glorious goal is won; eternal praise, eternal fame be offered, Savior, to thy name!
CHILDREN’S TIME (11:00am)
SECOND READING Zephaniah 3:14-15
Rejoice, Daughter Zion! Shout, Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem.
The Lord has removed your judgment;
he has turned away your enemy.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you will no longer fear evil.
HYMN/SONG The King of Glory Comes TFWS #2091
Refrain: The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.
Who is the King of glory; how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. (Refrain)
In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. (Refrain)
Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother; in all of Galilee was never another. (Refrain)
GOSPEL READING Luke 3: 7-18 (CEB)
Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.”
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.”
The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ. John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I’m not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.” With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
ANTHEM Come Thou Long Expected Jesus [Joseph M. Martin]
Chancel Choir, Mary Monroe, Piano
SERMON Pastor Mark Cordes
PRAYERS
[Sung] Make of my heart a stable, a house for the holy, a warm and sturdy place for [joy] to live and grow.
In this moment we open the doors of our hearts to honesty before God about what we’ve done and left undone that created less joy in a hurting world. Let us breathe out this regret… [pause to breathe out] and breathe in the life-giving, for-giving Spirit of God… [pause to breathe in] and out again with the Peace of Christ… [another breath out].
[Sung] Make of my life a stable, a house for the holy, a warm and sturdy place for [joy] to live and grow.
In this moment we open the doors of our lives to the call of the Spirit, inviting us to become more than we can ask or imagine. Let us breathe out our fear… [pause to breathe out] and breathe in the courage of the Spirit of God… [pause to breathe in] and out again, with the Peace of Christ… [another breath out].
[Sung] Make of our church a stable, a house for the holy, a warm and sturdy place for [joy] to live and grow.
In this moment we open the doors of this church, filling it with the compassion of Christ for all those who are struggling. We remember and pray for… those who are suffering economic hardship and insecurity in basic needs; may abundance be shared… those who are suffering mentally, finding it difficult to cope; may paths open and hope return… those who are suffering illness or injury; may healing abound…. those who are suffering loneliness and isolation; may companionship and solace arrive… those who are suffering discrimination, fear, and violence; may they know respect, respite, and safety.
May the Advent of Compassion be born in us, reside within us, move outward from us, to meet the needs of the world, making a house for the Holy that is each and every child of God.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray:
Our God in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trepasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever…Amen.
A STORY OF INNKEEPING: OFFERING
Leader: Many imaginative tales have been spun about “The Inn” and the people who may have been involved in the story. As we’ve already said, we know very little about the circumstances from the Bible. Another theory is that it wasn’t an inn at all but the downstairs of a house where the family animals were kept, under the top floor where the family lived. This scenario suggests that each and every home can be a birthing place for more goodness in this world. It suggests that this House of God, this church, might contain a surprising nook or cranny that could house a holy endeavor for bringing more joy to someone’s life.
OFFERTORY
Andrea Shakespeare (8:30am)
Stille Nacht Arr. Gordon Young Mary Monroe (11:00am)
DOXOLOGY Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING CAROL
Leader: Today’s closing carol is “What Child is This” that invites “peasants and kings” to claim Christ as their own (the Glory to God hymnal changes this to “one and all”).
What Child is This? UMH #219
What child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain: This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. (Refrain)
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own him; the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. (Refrain)
BENEDICTION
May God’s Door of Welcome swing open in your heart and in your life. May Christ’s humble first dwelling remind you of the plenty you already know. And may the Spirit lead you into more possibility and hospitality than you can imagine, making room in The Inn for all. May it be so for you. May it be so for us. May it be so for this church. Amen.
POSTLUDE Andrea Shakespeare (8:30am)
Shepherd’s Noel J. Wayne Kerr Mary Monroe (11:00am)