Third Week of Advent

Advent Wreath & Readings

This is the third Sunday in Advent. Today we light three candles. The first Sunday, we lit the candle of hope. On the second Sunday, we lit the candle of love. Today, we light the candle of joy. One thing that sometimes happens as we get ready to celebrate Jesus' birth is we expect to be happy all the time. Joy is not the same as happy. Joy is a deeper feeling created by knowing that God cares for us. Joy is remembering that God sent Jesus so we would always know of God's care. During Advent, we pray that we may remember again God's gift of Jesus to the world and know the joy that gift brings to all people.

When we look at the third candle, we remember God's promise of joy. God promised to send a Savior to the people. Today, we read from the Gospel of John. In the Scripture, we read that John was sent by God not to be the light, but to testify to the light. This reminds us that Jesus brings light to the world. And where there is light, there is joy and peace and assurance. When the world seems dark, scary, and frightening, we are reminded that Jesus brings light, and that brings joy.

Read John 1:6-8

Prayer:

Dear God: Thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you for the joy remembering Jesus' birth brings to us today. Help us live in such a way that our words and our actions help others know of the joy you give.  Amen.

"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" by Chris Tomlin

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.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

"Hope Is Alive" by Ellie Holcomb

After the silence of waiting so long
We hear a baby’s first cry
And into our midnight
A heavenly song
Whispers that hope is alive
Oh joy to the world on this holy night

(Chorus:)
So sing with the angels that fill up the sky
Heaven broke through and now hope is alive
He is right here among us
Our god is with us tonight
And hope is alive

In an old stable beneath the bright stars
A young mother is holding her son
Oh the beauty of feeling the beat of God’s heart
That tells us that we are not alone
Oh, our Emanuel has come

(Chorus)

Into our aching , into our breaking
Into our longing to be made whole
Your arms are reaching, Your love is holding us close
Into our suffering , into our weeping
Into this need we have to be known
Your arms are reaching, Your love is holding us close

(Chorus)

So sing with the Angels that filled up the sky
Those in the shadows have seen a great light
He is right here among us
Our god is with us tonight
And hope is alive

"Joy to the World"

[Verse 1]
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

[Verse 2]
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

[Verse 3]
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as, the curse is found

[Verse 4]
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love

"May You Find a Light" by Josh Garrels

[Verse 1]
Lost and weary traveler
Searching for the way to go
Stranger, heavy-hearted
Longing for someone to known

[Chorus]
May you find a light
May you find a light
May you find a light to guide you home

[Verse 2]
There are weary travelers
Searching everywhere you go
Strangers who are searching
Longing deeply to be known

[Chorus]
May you find a light
May you find a light
May you find a light to guide you home

[Chorus]
May you find a light
May you find a light
May you find a light to guide you home