Year C    Book of Alternative Services, page 269

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"                                                                          Luke 3:1-6  (N.R.S.V.)

PART ONE

A     Who are the characters in this reading?

B     What are they doing?

C     What is this reading about?

 

PART TWO

A     What does this message reveal about GOD?

B     What does this message reveal about US?

C     What message does God want us to hear?

PART THREE

A     What is the Good News you hear in this reading?

B     How are we to be stewards of this Gospel?

C     Write a personal prayer about this reading.

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

We continue our journey toward Christmas by lighting a second candle, the sign of light and peace. As a sign of desire to welcome the news of God's coming in the Saviour's birth we ask God to help us repent by waiting for the healing and peace that God's relationship brings so we can live in the peace of the kingdom present and coming.

            Most holy and merciful Father,

            we confess to you, to one another,

            and to the whole communion of saints

            in heaven and on earth,

            that we have sinned by our own fault

            in thought, word, and deed;

            by what we have done,

            and by what we have left undone.

 

My soul waits for the Lord. In his word is my Peace.

 

On the few occasions we have heard your word, we have been off target, thinking your word is concerned with do's and don'ts, judgment and punishment.

We desire to repent, to remain still and wait for your Spirit to be with us speaking through the scriptures the words of peace we long for and need for our healing and restoration.

 

We have looked for peace everwhere except from you.

We come to your table to be fed with the bread and wine of your love revealed in the body and blood of your humanity in Christ.

 

Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,

            That we may show forth your glory in the world.

 

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins

through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness,

and by the power of the Holy Spirit  keep us in eternal life. Amen.

 

            We pray with …

            We give thanks for…

            We remember the departed…

 

With thankful hearts we say, Amen.