the THIRd sunday of advent

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 14, 2025

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn: Hark!  The Glad Sound                                      #72

Hymn       Light Three Candles to Watch for Messiah                v. 3

The Opening Acclamation                                                                          

  Presider:    Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  People:       And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Collect for Purity                                                                                        BCP p. 355

The Summary of the Law                                                                           BCP p.351

The Confession of Sin

Almighty and most merciful Father,

we have wandered and strayed from your ways

   like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires

   of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things

  that we ought to have done;

and we have done those things

   that we ought not to have done;

and we cannot save ourselves.

But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.

Spare those who confess their faults.

Restore those who are penitent,

according to your promises declared to mankind

   in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,

to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

The Collect for Advent III

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.

The First Reading                                                                        Isaiah 35:1-10

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.\

Reader:         The Word of the Lord.         People:         Thanks be to God.

Canticle 15:

1        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.

2        From this day all generations will call me blessed:

          the Almighty has done great things for me,

          and holy is his Name.

3        He has mercy on those who fear him

          in every generation.

4        He has shown the strength of his arm,

          he has scattered the proud in their conceit.       

5        He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

          and has lifted up the lowly.

6        He has filled the hungry with good things,

          and the rich he has sent away empty.

7        He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

          for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

8        The promise he made to our fathers,

          to Abraham and his children for ever.

9        Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

          and to the Holy Spirit

10      As it was in the beginning, is now,

          and will be for ever.  Amen.

Second Reading                                                                       James 5:7-10

Be patient, 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.                                   

Reader:        The Word of the Lord.        People:          Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn                  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel                #56, vs. 5 & 6

The Holy Gospel                                                 Matthew 11:2-11

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.”

Priest:          The Gospel of the Lord. People:     Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Nicene Creed BCP p. 358

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE          

Guided by the light of Christ, let us pray for the coming dawn of joy, healing, and comfort for all God’s people.

Guiding Lord, bless church leaders, volunteers, teachers, musicians,  seminarians, and those discerning a call to ministry. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Creating God, protect Earth’s wilderness, especially where the lands are isolated and unexplored. Watch over all living creatures who remain free from human exploitation. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Prince of Peace, send us your Spirit of unity, so that justice may spring up among the nations. Give us the will to repair the broken systems that perpetuate injustice. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Merciful God, comfort your children who are mourning, bind up the brokenhearted, and heal our wounds. We pray for those who are homeless or imprisoned, refugees, those who struggle with addiction or mental illness, and all in need, especially Becky, Cathy, Colin, Helena, Jeanne, Joanne, Judy, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Nancy, Ray, Sophia, Zach, and others? (pause). Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Lord of justice, strengthen and increase the ministry of food pantries, meal service deliveries, employment training programs, and advocacy for equity for all. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Eternal God, clothe us in your garments of salvation, so that together we may rejoice in your presence with the saints who have died, especially Carl Gustafson, and with those who are unable to be with us today. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We raise our prayers to you, O God, in the name of the One who is, who was, and who is to come, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive The Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

and since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer BCP p. 364

Closing Hymn  Sleepers, Wake!                                    #61

The Blessing

May the peace of God which passes all understanding

keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge of God

and of his Son Jesus Christ;

and may the blessing of God Almighty:

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be with us all, evermore. 

Amen.

The Dismissal

  Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

  People:        Thanks be to God.