Third Sunday of Advent
December 17, 2023

Sources of Information for Today's Online Service
This page has links to information used or encountered in preparing this online service.

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Topics for Today
Wikipedia is a frequent source
for information in these articles.

Advent and Christmas
What is Advent?
What is the Advent Wreath?
Christmas Season from wikipedia
Nothing to do??...try:
The Most Christmas Information on the Web

Second Coming
What is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
7 Facts About the Second Coming of Jesus
Second Coming from Wikipedia

Winter
Winter Season
Winter Solstice

Lessons and Carols Services
Bethel's "Advent Service of Lessons and Carols"
Bethel's "Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols"

Judas Goat
Have You Been Deceived by the Judas Goat?
An article referenced in today's message
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Bethel Worship Planning Documents
2023 Monthly Worship Calendar
2023 RCL 2 page Summary
Bethel Weekly Worship Planning worksheet
2023 Annual Program Planning worksheet


Guidance from UMC Discipleship Ministries
Weekly Worship Planning Series
Note: This material from UDM is not the basis for today's message
but is provided here for your personal study and reflection.

Click here for suggestions about how to use this material.

Worship Series: "Our Spirit Waits"
from Worship Planning
Advent is here, and we begin the Christian year anew with a season of waiting. As the days grow darker, we draw closer to the arrival of the Light that turns the world upside down—or right-side up! The journey toward and beyond the manger is one of reversing expectations, encountering what we thought we already knew in brand new ways, and receiving good news in unexpected places. So, with one foot in the prophets and another in the Gospels, we journey together as our spirit waits to welcome the Christ child and carry hope, peace, joy, and love as we live as disciples who anticipate the now-and-not-yet kin-dom of God.

This is the Third service of a 5 service Worship Series from the Discipleship Ministries.
The graphics at the top of this page list the topics for the services of the Series.
(Click on another graphic to see that session's resource page)

This Service's Theme: "Our Fierce Joy"
In the midst of all the traditions, let Gaudete Sunday also be a practice session, a rehearsal for living with fierce joy in the midst of the tension of the now and the not yet. Liturgical Resources
Worship Planning Notes
Preaching Notes

Lectionary Scriptures:
Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28;
Suggested Hymns . Music Notes.

Hymns Considered For this week:
202 - . Verses - "People, Look East"
196 - . Verses - "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"
722 - . Verses - "I Want to Be Ready"