3rd Sunday of Advent (NL315)

Color: Blue
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Advent 3B
Gospel Text: Luke 4:16-21
Sermon Text: Isaiah 61:1-11 (Spirit of the Lord Upon Me)
Other Text Suggestions: Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Prayer of the Day (WP): Spirit of the Lord God, you bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and release the prisoners. You comfort all who mourn, and shower your people with the oil of gladness instead of mourning; a mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. We will greatly rejoice in the Lord, our whole being shall exult in God, for the sake of the one who brought righteousness to life, Jesus Christ our salvation. Amen.

Helpful Resources: re:Worship,  revgalblog, TextWeek,  Word&World, BibleHub

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #634. All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
ELW #883. All People That on Earth Do Dwell
ELW #314. Arise, Your Light Has Come!
ELW #242. Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn*
ELW #552. Blessed Be the God of Israel
ELW #257. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel*
ELW #254. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus*
ELW #607. Come, Ye Disconsolate
ELW #256. Comfort, Comfort Now My People*
ELW #679. For the Fruit of All Creation
ELW #673. God, Whose Almighty Word
ELW #311. Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
ELW #239. Hark, the Glad Sound!*
ELW #699. In Deepest Night
ELW #282. It Came upon the Midnight Clear*
ELW #434. Jesus Shall Reign
ELW #805. Lead On, O King Eternal!
ELW #710. Let Streams of Living Justice
ELW #712. Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
ELW #596/7. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
ELW #886. Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
ELW #842. Oh, Worship the King
ELW #249. On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry*
ELW #843. Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
ELW #873/4. Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!
ELW #665. Rise, Shine, You People!
ELW #423. Shall We Gather at the River
ELW #488/9. Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
ELW #706. The People Walk (Un pueblo que camina)
ELW #551. The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve
ELW #686. We Give Thee but Thine Own
LBW #302. Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness
WOV #638. Holy Child Within the Manger*
WOV #682. Praise the Spirit in Creation
Various Hymnals Beauty for Brokenness (1993) by Graham Kendrick
Various Hymnals God Has Chosen Me (1990) by Bernadette Farrell
Various Hymnals Heaven Is Singing for Joy (1958) by Pablo Sosa
Various Hymnals Make Way (1986) by Graham Kendrick
Various Hymnals When the King Shall Come Again (1975) by Christopher Idle
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)
* Advent/Christmas Hymns

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Build Your Kingdom Here” By Rend Collective Experiment.
“King Of Heaven (Isaiah 61)” By Brian Bergman, Charlie Hall, et al.
“Love Has Come” By Brown Bannister, Mark Schultz, et al.
“Take My Life” By Scott Underwood.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

We seek the mighty God in the most unlikely places as a child in a stable, and in an empty tomb. May God hear these prayers, which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.

A brief silence.

Anoint the church with a spirit of proclamation; make us bold in crying out for justice, peace, and reconciliation. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Anoint your creation with a spirit of healing; turn our hearts away from selfishness and make us better stewards of the bounty you bestow upon the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Anoint our leaders with a spirit of humility and wisdom; reform our systems that liberating news may be proclaimed to the captive and the oppressed. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Anoint the lonely with a spirit of hope; open our eyes to the needs of those around us and keep us steadfast in service and care for others. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Anoint the sick and suffering with a spirit of healing; restore wholeness to whose struggling with disease and illness. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Anoint this congregation with a spirit of witness; open our lips that we may proclaim your praise wherever we may find ourselves this week. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We give you thanks for anointing the saints with a spirit of faithfulness; anoint us too that we may, one day, join the saints in eternal praise of you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us ears to hear, O God, and eyes to watch, that we may know your presence in our midst during this holy season of joy as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.