Sunday Service from Hillside Circuit for December 17th 2023:
Lectionary Theme: God’s message comes through His servants.
Occasion: 3rd Sunday in Advent
Lectionary readings:
Psalm 126
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
John 1: 6- 8, 19-28
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Songs:
Here are the songs for Sunday morning service. Click or tap on a song to open it in YouTube.
As with Gladness.
Who is he in yonder stall.
Love came down at Christmas.
Angels from the realms.
Rejoice the Lord is King.
To God be the glory.
You can listen and join in with prayers from the English Methodist Service Book. They can be found at the Prayers for worship webpage.
Children’s Address:
Sermon:
Bible readings:
Psalm 126
1 It seemed like a dream when the LORD brought us back
to the city of Zion.
2 We celebrated with laughter and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
“The LORD has worked miracles for his people.”
3 And so we celebrated
because the LORD had indeed worked miracles for us.
4 Our LORD, we ask you to bless our people again,
and let us be like streams in the Southern Desert.
5 We cried as we went out to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate as we bring in the crops.
6 We cried on the way to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout as we bring in the crops.
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Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the LORD God has taken control of me!
The LORD has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed the good news,
to heal the brokenhearted,
and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives.
2 This is the year when the LORD God
will show kindness to us and punish our enemies.
The LORD has sent me to comfort those who mourn,
3 especially in Jerusalem.
He sent me to give them
flowers in place of their sorrow,
olive oil in place of tears,
and joyous praise in place of broken hearts.
They will be called “Trees of Justice,”
planted by the LORD to honour his name.
4 Then they will rebuild cities that have been in ruins
for many generations.
8 I, the LORD, love justice!
But I hate robbery and injustice.
My people, I solemnly promise to reward you
with an eternal agreement.
9 Your descendants will be known in every nation.
All who see them will realize
that they have been blessed, by me, the LORD.
10 I celebrate and shout because of my LORD God.
His saving power and justice
are the very clothes I wear.
They are more beautiful than the jewelry worn
by a bride or a groom.
11 The LORD will bring about justice and praise
in every nation on earth,
like flowers blooming in a garden.
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1 Thessalonians 5
16 Always be joyful 17 and never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.
19 Don’t turn away God’s Spirit 20 or ignore prophecies. 21 Put everything to the test. Accept what is good 22 and don’t have anything to do with evil.
23 I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.
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John 1
6 God sent a man named John,
7 who came to tell about the light
and to lead all people to have faith.
8 John wasn’t that light.
He came only to tell about the light.
19-20 The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 Then when they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, “No, I am not!” And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said “No!”
22 Finally, they said, “Who are you then? We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!”
23 John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “I am only someone shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord!’ “
24 Some Pharisees had also been sent to John. 25 They asked him, “Why are you baptizing people, if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?”
26 John told them, “I use water to baptize people. But here with you is someone you don’t know. 27 Even though I came first, I am not good enough to untie his sandals.” 28 John said this as he was baptizing east of the Jordan River in Bethany.
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[Did you miss last week’s Sunday Services? They can now be found at Worship Archive – December 10th 2023.]
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Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 
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