Philip leads us as we gather in all the times and places we do. We reflect on our image of God, and how that can help us grow, or not. John the Baptist has a view – the look to Jesus.
Here are some words that you can use if you’d like to.
My sisters and brothers,
in Advent the Church bids us prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ;
a coming that we recall in the Child of Bethlehem;
All a coming that we experience in the gift of his Spirit,
in the bread of Communion,
in the joy of human lives that are shared;
a coming we wait for when God makes all things new in Christ.
All Let us leave behind the darkness of sin, walk in the
light that shines on our path, and renew within
ourselves the hope of glory to which God beckons us.
Silence is kept
Week 3: John the Baptist
God our Father and Mother –
you gave to Zechariah and Elizabeth
in their old age a son called John.
He grew up strong in spirit,
prepared the people for the coming of the Lord,
and baptized them in the Jordan to wash away their sins.
Help us, who have been baptized into Christ,
to be ready to welcome him into our hearts,
and to grow strong in faith by the power of the Spirit.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.
All Amen
Lord Jesus, light of the world,
John told the people to prepare,
for you were very near.
As Christmas grows closer day by day,
help us to be ready to welcome you now. Amen.
Gospel, from Luke 3
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’
And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
from Philippians 2
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Prayers of Penitence
When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins, and the sins of the world.
You bring our fear into the light of love; but so often we prefer to stay asleep in the shadows … Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.
Your coming promises hope and healing for the earth; we turn our backs on our living planet, and its peoples … Christ, have mercy.
All Christ, have mercy.
You come near in the vulnerable, we choose to worship idols of wealth, power and celebrity, and see only our own needs … Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.
God of all healing and forgiveness,
awaken us and give us life, and cleanse us from all our sins
that we may enflesh the glory of his Son,
the Word made human in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
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