Do

Lighting the Advent Wreath

Written by Amy Sigmon
Advent 3: Do
Joy Candle
Zephaniah 3:14-20 // Luke 3:7-18

Hymn: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” stanza 1, The United Methodist Hymnal, 196

All [sung]: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”

Reader 1: God, you have change judgement to hope, destruction to restoration, oppression to liberation and dread to praise.

Reader 2: God, you send before us prophets bringing the joyful news of the coming of the Messiah.

All: We, God’s people, proclaim with Isaiah, “God is indeed my salvation; I will trust and won’t be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my shield; he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2, CEB)

Reader 1 and/or 2: On this third Sunday of Advent, we light this candle of joy in recognition of all God’s mighty acts, from the beginning to the end of time.

Light a candle.

All [sung]: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”

Articles and Resources

• Advent Wreath Meditations: Year C, (Garland)
• Advent Wreath Meditations: Year C (McIntyre)
• 21st Century Africana Resources for the Third Sunday of Advent

Seasonal/Secular

• Planning for Advent, Year C
• Planning for Advent and Christmas, Year C
• Advent/Christmas Liturgies, Year C
• Advent (introductory article from the Book of Worship)
• Advent Wreath Meditations Year C
• Three Ways to Celebrate Advent and Christmas Season Fully in 2015/2016
• When Should You Hang the Greens?
• Extended Advent Webinar (to learn more about how to implement Extended Advent)
• Planning for Advent and Christmas, Year C
• Webinar Slides: Planning for Advent and Christmas 2015
• Full Webinar: Planning for Advent and Christmas Season 2015-2016
• Christmas Season (introductory article from the Book of Worship)
• The Three “M’s” of Christmas Season: Mystery, Martyrs, and Magnificat
• The Season after Epiphany (introductory article from the Book of Worship)
• Advent 3, Year C, 2015 resource

Offertory Prayer

God of Might and Mercy: Our days and nights are filled with jolly songs, festive parties, and extravagant gifts, beautifully wrapped. We confess we just don’t want to hear a call to repentance in the midst of our revelry. Yet you remind us that without hearing a call to repent, we risk missing the whole point of Christ’s coming. We bring our gifts this morning to your altar, knowing they are not what they ought to be, and we are not who we hoped to be. And in this acknowledgement we become ready to hear the call of repentance and more ready to welcome a Savior. This we pray in that holy name above all others, Jesus the Christ. Amen. (Zephaniah 3:14-20) (Luke 3:7-18)

View all Prepare the Way offertory prayers

Youth

This following study guide has been prepared for use with youth and young people by Young People's Ministries. View Study Guide.

​Graphics Downloads — Third Sunday of Advent

8.5 x 11 Bulletin Cover (.jpg) — [Color] [Black & White]

11x17 Bulletin Cover (.jpg) — [Color] [Black & White]

Facebook Cover Image - Do [.jpg]

Twitter Banner - Do [.jpg]

16:9 PowerPoint/Projection Images (.jpg) — [Background]

4:3 PowerPoint/Projection Images (.jpg) — [Background]

Graphics Downloads — Prepare The Way Series

8.5 x 11 Bulletin Cover (.jpg) — [Color] [Black & White]

11x17 Bulletin Cover (.jpg) — [Color] [Black & White]

Facebook Cover Image — Prepare the Way Series [.jpg]

Twitter Banner - Prepare the Way Series [.jpg]

16:9 PowerPoint/Projection Images (.jpg) — [Background] [Title]

4:3 PowerPoint/Projection Images (.jpg) — [Background] [Title]