3rd Sunday of Advent
(words for hymns and bible reading follow the call to worship)
Welcome & Intimations
Call to worship
MP 539 Once in Royal
All age talk
Lighting the 3rd Advent Candle
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
MP 589 See him lying
Advent video
Prayer
Introduction to reading
Reading Luke 1 : 39 – 56
Video: Mary did you know
Reflection
MP 71: Child in the manger
Prayer for others
CH4 324: Angels from the realms
Blessing
Call to worship
Days of waiting
Days of hoping
Days of preparing
Looking for hope
Praying for peace
Waiting in faith
That your joy may dawn on us
And on a broken world
In Christ, born for us
MP 539 Once in Royal
1 once in royal David city,
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby,
in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
2 He came down to earth from heaven,
who is God and Lord of all;
and His shelter was a stable,
and His cradle was a stall:
with the poor and mean and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.
3 And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love,
for that child, so dear and gentle,
is our Lord in heaven above;
and He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.
4 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see Him, but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
there His children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.
MP 589 See him lying
1. See Him lying on a bed of straw;
a draughty stable with an open door;
Mary cradling the baba she bore –
the Prince of glory is His name.
Chorus: O now carry me to Bethlehem
to see the Lord appear to men –
just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of glory when He came.
2 Star of silver, sweep across the skies,
show where Jesus un the manager lies;
shepherds, swiftly from your stupor rise
to see the Saviour of the world!
3 Angels, sing the song that you began,
bring God’s glory to the heart of man;
sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can
can be salvation to the soul.
4 Mine are riches, from Your poverty,
from Your innocence eternity;
mine forgiveness by Your death for me,
child of sorrow for my joy.
Reading Luke 1 : 39 – 56 NIV
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
MP 71: Child in the manger
1 Child in the manger, infant of Mary,
outcast and stranger, Lord of all!
Child who inherits all our transgressions,
all our demerits on Him fall.
2 Once the most holy child of salvation
gentle and lowly lived below:
now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
see Him victorious over each foe.
3 Prophets foretold Him, infant of wonder;
angels behold Him on His throne:
worthy our Saviour of all their praises;
happy for ever are His own.
CH4 324: Angels from the realms
1 Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiahs birth:
Chorus: Come and worship
Christ, the new born King.
Chorus: Come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.
2 Though an infant now we view him,
he will share his Father’s throne,
gather all the nations to him;
ever knee shall then bow down:
3 All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to the eternal Three in One: