Day of Jubilee: A 21st Century Worship Resource for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B

Service notes: Create an atmosphere of praise and celebration through the use of Scripture, dance, and song. Give each worshiper a garland to place around his or her neck. Decorate with streamers and balloons; give the children flags to wave! Have your liturgical dancers dance in the aisles.

Encourage members and visitors to dance in the aisles with them! This selection requires four readers. When possible, use cordless microphones. The readers should be positioned in two separate areas of the sanctuary. Suggested music:"Jubilee" as recorded by Bishop Carlton Pearson and the Azusa Mass Choir. Accompany the choir with flags waving, streamers, dancers, and celebration. Followed by cheering and clapping, dancers and children process in as "Jubilee"" is being played or sung by the choir.

Reader 1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1, NRSV)

Reader 2: To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; (Isaiah 61:2, NRSV)

Response: The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoice!

Reader 3: To provide for those who mourn in Zion -- to give them garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. (Isaiah 61:3, NRSV)

Reader 4: They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:4, NRSV)

Response: The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoice!

Reader 1: For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isaiah 61:8, NRSV)

Reader 2: Their descendents will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. (Isaiah 61:9, NRSV)

Response: The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoice!

Reader 3: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10, NRSV)

Reader 4: For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:11, NRSV)

Response: The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoice!

About the Author: Beverly Douglas is member of the Kairos Community AME Church of Nashville, Tennessee. She describes herself as a child of God who enjoys serving God whether it be by writing, dancing, working with children, studying or doing missions work. Beverly holds a B.S. in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Education. Her passion in life is to start a Christian-based program that will assist and educate parents who are struggling and teens who need mentors, friends, and role models. "We must reach these young people before the gangs do. We must let them know they are loved and God is real!"

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

21st Century Worship Resources: Day of Jubilee, Copyright © 2008, 2011Beverly Douglas. All Rights Reserved. Posted with permission on the Discipleship Ministries Worship website.