Readings for Sunday – 12/15/24

The Third Sunday of Advent

THE COLLECT
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and,
because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and
mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your
heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you
he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not
fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The LORD, your God, is in your
midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will
renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of
festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. I
will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather
the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make
you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your
fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

Canticle 9   Page 86, BCP
The First Song of Isaiah    Ecce Deus
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore, you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

THE NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be
known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood
of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from
these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the
root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we
do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone
who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors
came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He
said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers
also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort
money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your
wages.” As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in
their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered
all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful
than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to
clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff
he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he
proclaimed the good news to the people.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ