First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2024
Rev. Brian Copeland
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) Liturgist
“Teacher,” the crowd asked, “What should we do?”
If you have two shirts, give one away.
Hold onto hope.
Live like we belong to one another.
Speak the truth.
Look for God.
Do the good that is yours to do.
It’s all that easy, and it’s all that hard.
Let us worship our present and active God.
HYMN #2 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Candle Lighting Liturgy (Responsive)
One: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again?
Where do we start?
All: Let us start small.
Let us begin with what is right in front of us.
Let us do the good that is ours to do and let us do it with joy!
One: Yes, let us begin with joy.
Today we light the candles of hope, peace, and joy.
All: May these lights remind us of what could be.
May these lights inspire action.
May the warmth of these lights fill us with joy.
One: May it be so! Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION Liturgist
Friends, there are times when the weight of the world can feel so heavy on us. Fortunately, when we come before God in confession, God removes that weight. God sees our shame, our guilt, our sin, and offers us grace.
So join me in the prayer of confession. Come and allow yourself to be freed. Come and allow yourself to begin again. Let us pray:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Liturgist
Liberating God,
There are days when the world can feel like it’s crumbling. There are days when I doubt that I can make a difference.
I ask myself,
What could these two hands do?
What could this one voice say?
Shake me free of my own paralysis and self-doubt. Remind me that I am not called to fix everything.
I am simply called to do the good that is mine to do. With hope in my heart and a fire in my bones, I pray. Amen.
SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION MAY BE OFFERED
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS (Responsive) Liturgist
Friends, no matter how many times
we lose momentum,
doubt our own ability,
or tell ourselves that the problems of the world are simply too big,
God sees what we cannot. God calls us by name, surrounds us in grace,
and invites us to begin again.
Trusting in this good news, join me in proclaiming these words of forgiveness:
We are loved. We are forgiven. We are invited to do the good that is ours to do. Thanks be to God for this new beginning. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CHILDREN’S TIME (Children may leave to go to Sunday School after Children’s time.)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Liturgist
Listening God,
We know that you are constantly speaking to us. Through music, scripture, nature, and relationships, you make yourself known again and again.
In gratitude, we long to return the favor.
In gratitude, we long to meet you halfway.
So in this moment,
we are quieting the noise in our heads.
We are closing our eyes.
We are leaning in.
We are listening.
We are doing the good that is ours to do.
Speak to us through the chaos.
Speak to us as only you can.
With hope in our hearts
we listen, we pray,
Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Liturgist
14Sing aloud, O daughter
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15The 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.
16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17The 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
18as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19I 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.
20At 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.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 3:7-18 Rev. Brian Copeland
7John 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? 8Bear 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. 9Even 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."
10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14Soldiers 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."
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John 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. 17His 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."
18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON “Worthy Fruits” Rev. Brian Copeland
HYMN #10 On Jordan’s Banks the Baptist’s Cry
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Unison)
Leader: John the Baptist’s followers once asked him, “What shall we do?” Church, knowing the state of the world, what is your answer?
In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we say:
Do not be discouraged by the weight of the world.
Instead, hold fast to hope.
Roll up your sleeves.
Feed the hungry.
Tend the garden.
If you have two coats, give one away.
Do the good that is yours to do.
In doing so, you will see God.
For this we believe: small acts of love can make a difference. Amen.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING (Offering plates are on the front and back tables. Offering plates are not passed.)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
HYMN #289 O God of Every Nation
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE
Reminders:
Dec. 21 – Longest Night Service, MFPC, 7 pm
Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve service, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 – Session and Committee meetings following worship
Jan. 26 – Congregational meeting and Installation of Officers
