Today Is: Third Sunday of Advent
Sun, 12 Dec 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: C

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Collect for: Third Sunday of Advent 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. Old Testament Zephaniah 3:14-20 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 'Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.' 18 I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach is a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,' Says the LORD. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 85 1 Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway. *At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said 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. New Testament Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel Luke 3:7-18 Introduction to the Gospel: Deacon:The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from Luke's Gospel chapter 3, beginning at verse 7. 7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' 10 So the people asked him, saying, 'What shall we do then?' 11 He answered and said to them, 'He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.' 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' 13 And he said to them, 'Collect no more than what is appointed for you.' 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, 'And what shall we do?' So he said to them, 'Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.' 15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, 'I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.' 18 And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says: Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, Lord Christ. Prayers of the People Prayers of the People for: Third Sunday of Advent Brothers and sisters, since the Lord wants us to make our requests known to Him, let us bring our needs before the God of all. That the Church, following the example of John the Baptist, will continue to preach the Gospel boldly regardless of the consequences. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That the Church will be a household of prayer for all nations. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That nations will strive for peace with one another and administer justice to all their citizens, especially the poor and the defenseless. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That doctors and nurses and all health care professionals will have the compassion of Christ and use their talents to always foster life and never to destroy it. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who are enslaved to any debilitating addiction will find their freedom in the Resurrected Christ. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we will learn to rejoice always and in everything give thanks for this attitude is the Will of God for His people. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who live in constant fear and anxiety will experience the love of God and His peace which surpasses our understanding. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For our own special intentions. (Pause) Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Heavenly Father, You sent John the Baptist to announce the coming of Your Son. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to boldly declare to a lost and dying world His imminent return. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN