Background to the Third Advent
Sunday, also known as “Gaudete”:
The celebration of the season
of Advent originated as early as the fifth century as a fast of forty days in
preparation for Christmas.
In the ninth century, the
duration of Advent was reduced to four weeks, but Advent preserved most of the
characteristics of a penitential season, expecting the return of our Lord.
Yet the Third Advent or “Gaudete”,
that means to rejoice, provides a break
about midway through a season which is otherwise filled with penance as a
result of the nearness of the Lord's coming.
The spirit of the Liturgy all
through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the feast of Christmas
as well as for the second coming of Christ, yet the penitential atmosphere is
suspended on Third Advent to remind us of the joy and gladness we will receive in
the complete liberation of Christ’s return, so soon to come.
The deep purple Advent candles
are replaced by a pink candle of joy and celebration on the Third Sunday of
Advent.
Call to Worship:
Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. Do not
be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4–6;
Glory to God, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit – now and for forevermore. Amen.
Prayer of praise and the Confession
of sins.
Merciful God, while we patiently wait for Christ’s
coming again, may each of us rejoice in our salvation; and may that joy
spread throughout all aspects of our lives and be freely shared with others. As
we worship you today, grant us your joy.
O God, who through your Only Begotten Son have made
us a new creation,
look kindly on us, we pray,
look with compassion and grace on us, your very own
people,
and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, for the
sake of his sacrifice and his victory,
cleanse us from every stain of the old way of life,
fill us with your Spirit and grant us the true joy of
being forgiven and restored as children of God!
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession:
God
of mercy and power, whose Son rules over all, grant us so to live in obedience
to your holy will, that at the appearing of Christ we may be raised to eternal
life and perfect joy!
Lord
Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger, John the Baptizer,
to prepare your way before you: now grant that the ministers and all stewards
of your Word and Sacraments may likewise prepare and make ready your way,
by
turning the hostile hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
by
turning the despondency of the unfaithful into the joy of truthful and
authentic disciples of Jesus;
by
turning the mourning, the disappointed, the suffering and the depressed into victorious
servants of the almighty Christ who are filled with the eternal exultation,
with gladness and excitement because our Lord lives and reigns with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
Rescue
today all who are robbed of the true joy of the Lord by bringing to a fall
those who inflict our world with cruelty, violence, criminality, envy, gossip, pride,
falsehood, adultery and every other demonic and deceitful attitude and
behaviour. Rescue us from the evil ways
of the wicked and restore in us the bliss sourced from the wonder of your love,
kindness, grace and mercy in Jesus Christ!
Grant
in your mercy, o God,
comfort
to all who are sad and crying,
healing
to all inflicted with illness and pain,
hope
to the downhearted,
courage
and liberation to your oppressed and persecuted Church,
faith
to those who are in doubt,
love
to the lonely, the insecure and all who are afraid and weak,
and
faith through grace to the repentant who put their trust in Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Prepare
us for the true joy of Christmas and the everlasting love when you return to
your people; prepare us for the measureless joy of the wedding feast of the
Lamb.
Father
God, teach us through your Holy Word, renew our hearts and minds by your Holy
Spirit and secure us in the everlasting arms of our Saviour.
Through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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