Call to worship
We come together in hope, love and joy
We join in joyful songs and prepare with joy to welcome Jesus.
A gathering prayer based on Isaiah 12:2-6
Lord, we trust you,
You are our strength and salvation.
We trust in you and come to you for refreshing.
We will shout aloud, sing for you
And tell everyone how great you are. Amen
STF 76 Give me joy in my heart
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray;
give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
keep me praising till the break of day:
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King!
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
give me peace in my heart, I pray;
give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
keep me loving till the break of day:
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray;
give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
keep me serving till the break of day:
Anonymous adapted by A. Servisonand others
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 76Adaptation: © 1951 Singspiration Inc.
Prayers
Empowering God,
the Advent candles shine out the light of your love;
in that light we bring to you our hopes and worries,
our gifts and our burdens.
The Advent candles shine out the light of your strength;
in that light we bring you those we love and those we miss.
The Advent candles shine out the light of your promises;
in that light we bring you our lives and our dreams
for your blessing.
Lord of Advent,
we are sorry when we have let the busyness of Christmas
diminish the joyful news of your birth.
We are sorry when we haven’t shared the news of your coming
and missed opportunities to spread joy.
We are sorry when the way we live doesn’t reflect
the generosity of your coming to us in Jesus.
We are sorry when the joy of your presence has got lost
in the Christmas trimmings.
Forgive us and help us to walk with humility, integrity and wisdom
every step of the way to Bethlehem.
Eternal God,
we thank you for your gifts of grace and forgiveness
and for the words of your prophets,
who assure us of your mercy and set us free from fear
so that we can live fully, faithfully and for your glory.
Amen.
There is a wonderful chant from Taize that I always think of when I consider joy and we sing it here: STF 776 In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid;
lift up your voices, the Lord is near;
lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Original Catalan:
El Senyor és la meva força,
el Senyor, el meu cant.
Ell m’ha estat la salvació.
En ell confio, i no tinc por.
En ell confio, i no tinc por.
Taizé Community
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 776 Words and Music: © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, 71250 Taizé, France
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18
STF 335 Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks, and sing,
and triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice! Again I say: rejoice!
Jesus the Saviour reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above:
His kingdom cannot fail,
he rules both earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given:
He sits at God’s right hand
till all his foes submit,
and bow to his command,
and fall beneath his feet:
Rejoice in glorious hope;
Jesus the Judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home:
We soon shall hear the archangel’s voice;
God’s trumpet-call shall sound: rejoice!
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 335
Reflection
Today we are exploring what it means to be joyful and whether being sorry and making amends can be part of that.
This week, I had a day trying to do too many things all at once. Running around like a cheshire cat spinning plates and ticking off a long to do list. All was well until members of my household did things that caused me utter chaos. In trying to make a late lunch to take with me as I had had a late breakfast due to a midmorning run – someone had left the counters all wet and I couldn’t do what I needed to do as fast as I would have because everywhere was soaking wet or full of stuff. The logical part of my brain had it had time to process would have thought – well that was kind, instead an explosion happened of words flying out of my mouth because I had a wrap out of its packet and nowhere to put it that was dry in order to make a tuna wrap to pop in my bag for later. It was probably like a scene from a soap where I was shouting and others shouting back when actually we were all just trying to do our individual jobs so that the house continues in harmony (or something like that!)
When we think about saying sorry and doing something differently next time (we would call this repentence) – we wouldn’t necessariliy link this with joy. But when we do say sorry for our actions and our words and mean it, and when we try to do better next time – that can bring healing and joy to everyone around us.
When someone wrongs us, it is much easier to forive them when the other person have sought to put it right. And vice versa. Forgiveness can bring healing.
John the Baptist brought the message that appears harsh and joyless, but true change and repentance brings joy. The message is evident even more in the life and ministry of Jesus. The one whom John says, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord”. When we consider the people that Jesus met during his ministry, we can also see those who turned their life around. Like Zacchaeus who returned what was owed and gave back. This brought joy to him and no doubt to the people who received.
During this period of advent, are there people we need to make peace with and say sorry to? Can we restore joy by helping to ease broken relationships?
A prayer for all ages together:
Give us joy in our hearts, keep us praising
because of your love for us.
Give us your joy and peace, even when things go wrong.
May we bring joy to other people who are sad.
Give us joy in our hearts, keep us praising,
keep us praising till the break of day.
Amen.
Questions to ponder:
- What brings you joy?
- Where in the world / your community would you like to see more of God’s joy?
- What opportunities do you have to share the joy of Advent this week?
- ‘Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope, and where there’s sadness, ever joy.’ (St Francis) If you could do something this week to bring joy to others, what would it be?
STF 707 Make me a channel of your peace
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord;
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you:
O Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved, as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, only light;
and where there’s sadness, ever joy: Refrain
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving unto all that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Sebastian Temple (1928–1997) from the Prayer of St Francis Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 707 Words and Music: Dedicated to Mrs Frances Tracy. © 1967, OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213, USA. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Prayers of Intercession
Heavenly Father, we pray today for your Church here and everywhere as we seek to do outreach. We pray for a hospitable spirit to welcome people coming through our doors during this sparkling season of Advent, and to encourage them to stay when the trappings of Christmas have been tidied away. We pray for those involved in outreach in local communities, going where the need is, living the Gospel message in generous and practical ways; remembering always that Christ gave of himself every day, and that with the joy given by God comes the responsibility to share it.
In the midst of our rejoicing, we remember that your Good News comes with responsibility.
Lord, we have witnessed the restoration of that great cathedral in Paris, Notre Dame, and it reminds us of our need to be renewed and restored. As you restored your people in the days of Zephaniah and brought them home, so remind us of our spiritual home in you; and as John the Baptist foretold the coming of Christ, the Messiah for all peoples, so may we be renewed and restored in order to share in the unfolding of his Good News to the world.
In the midst of our rejoicing, we remember that your Good News comes with responsibility.
Father, we pray today for those whose hearts are heavy as we prepare to celebrate the joyful news of Jesus’ birth. We think of those who are sick in hospital or at home, and for all who have been bereaved; we ask a blessing of peace upon them, and guidance from your Holy Spirit as to how best we might reach out in empathy and love. We remember also those who continue to experience the effects of recent storms long after the news coverage has ceased, and we ask how your Church might offer help and support.
In the midst of our rejoicing, we remember that your Good News comes with responsibility.
Lord, as we gaze at romantic depictions of Bethlehem on our Christmas cards, we remember the truth : that the Holy Family were homeless that night, and soon became refugees; that Jesus was born in an occupied country which was a tinder box. So, Father, as we have seen the overturn of the ruling regime in Syria this week, we pray for the Middle East and its complex conflicts – let there be stability, Lord, and peace among Christians, Jews and Muslims. We pray for peaceful solutions to be found in other conflicts around the world, too, and for all leaders who profess faith to remember their responsibilities to the teachings of their religions.
In the midst of our rejoicing, we remember that your Good News comes with responsibility. May we all, using the various gifts given us, discharge our responsibility to share the gospel tidings; in Jesus’ name, and for his sake, Amen.
STF 714 The God who sings a new world into being shows the way
The God who sings
a new world into being shows the way
for many voices, varied gifts to sound
in symphony.
The God who shouts
in fury when the powerful shame the poor
will break the chains, and those who hide in fear he will restore.
The God who weeps
when fields lie barren and the missiles fall throws wide his arms and offers in his love
refuge for all.
The God who laughs
as unexpected overturns routine
releases us to risk in faith, and find
what joy can mean.
The God who calls
in hearts of those who hear his Chosen One
forgives, transforms, empowers, renews us while we journey on.
Douglas Galbraith (b. 1940)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 714 Words:
© Church of Scotland Mission and Discipleship Council, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN
Closing Prayer
Lord, may we go forward in hope, love and joy.
May our lives bring joy to you and to those around us.
Help us to change when we need to
and give us joy in repenting.
Amen.
