대강절 세 번째 주일 Third Sunday in Advent

PROCESSIONAL AND CANDLE LIGHTING

Light the third pink candle.

WELCOME

We worship in anticipation of the Lord who will come as the joy of the world. We welcome all of you who are here to worship and praise the Lord who brings true joy to our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ.

CALL TO WORSHIP

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

God of Love,

Thank You for always embracing us with Your gentle arms, providing comfort and courage. We praise You, the source of all blessings, and we worship You with all our hearts at this time. Through this worship, restore our hearts that have been withdrawn and let us experience the joy that the world cannot give. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN

“Blessed Be the God of Israel,” (United Methodist Hymnal, 209)

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader: The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.

All: 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.

Leader: They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.

All: Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.

Leader: Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.

All: He will come and save you.

Leader: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

All: Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

Leader: For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

All: The burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water;

Leader: In the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

All: And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. (Isaiah 35:1-8)

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed

*HYMN: GLORIA PATRI

PRAYER

Gracious God,

We thank You for leading us from lives seeking pleasure through vain desires to lives as Christians who find true joy through sharing love and understanding truth. Through the joy we have received from You, which the world cannot give, help us to spread this joyful news and live to establish God’s kingdom here on earth. May our worship, offered in joy to You who are worthy of all praise, be filled with confessions and commitments to work together for good. We pray in the faithful name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who always keeps His covenant. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

ANTHEM OR SPECIAL MUSIC

SERMON

*Hymn of Response

“The Snow Lay on the Ground,” (The Faith We Sing, 2093)

OFFERING

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*HYMN OF SENDING FORTH

“Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates,” (United Methodist Hymnal, 213)

*BENEDICTION AND SENDING FORTH

Rejoice always. Delight in God and share your joy with your neighbors.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. Amen.

The * mark indicates an invitation to all worshipers to rise in body or spirit.

Hyok In Kwon wrote this order of Third Sunday in Advent for a bilingual Korean-English congregation. This service can be used when the Korean-speaking and the English-speaking members worship together, and it can also be used when each worships separately.

Rev. Hyok In Kwon is currently serving as the senior pastor at Korean United Methodist Church of Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, California. He completed his doctoral coursework in sociology, taught sociology and ethics at colleges, and worked as a visiting researcher at the Korean Broadcasting Institute. He has also served as a campus pastor at the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, California.