Advent 3.4
Theme – Joy
Gather
The nights are long…
…the darkness deep…
…but the reason for our joy draws near.
Song – We Have Waited
Prayers of the People
God who is with us, in our joy as well as our sorrow, we pray this day for those in our community who are struggling during this time. Help us serve those who bear these burdens, that we all may experience the hope You give, for this life and the one to come.
Lord, in Your mercy…
Hear our prayer.
Lighting of the Advent Candle/Song – In This Season (Week 3)
Reading – Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Song – Wintertide
Peace/Benediction
And now may we celebrate the God of our joy at work in each others’ lives this day, this week and this season. May we see the fulfillment of His foretold words. Go in joy to love and serve the Lord.
Next: Advent 3.5