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Third Sunday of Advent: The Candle of Joy

The third of our Advent Candle liturgies based on the lectionary readings from Isaiah, this week chapter  35 verses 1-10.





VOICE 1:              The desert and dried up ground will be delirious with gladness;
VOICE 2:              the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
VOICE 1:              Like the crocus in spring, it will burst into bloom;
VOICE 2:               it will be filled with riotous colour and echo with songs of joy.
VOICE 1:              They will reflect the Lord‘s resplendent glory,
VOICE 2:               the splendour of our God will be clear to see.
VOICE 1:              Strengthen the hands that have lost their grip,
VOICE 2:              steady those with shaky knees;
VOICE 1:              Say to those with fearful hearts,  “Stay strong, take courage!”
VOICE 2:              Your God is coming to put things right;
VOICE 1:              He comes to redress all wrongs and save his people. 
VOICE 2:              Then the blind will see and the deaf will hear.
VOICE 1:              Then lame will dance and the mute will sing.
VOICE 2:              Springs of water will well up in the wilderness;
VOICE 1:              Rivers will stream through the desert.
VOICE 2:              The burning sands will become a cool pool;
VOICE 1:              Fountains will flow from once thirsty ground.
VOICE 2:              In the dusty hollows haunted by jackals,
VOICE 1:              Lush grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
VOICE 2:              And there will be a highway there known as the Way of Holiness;
VOICE 1:              The unclean and rebellious will not be permitted on that road.
VOICE 2:              No lion will prowl along it    nor any predatory beast.
VOICE 1:              The redeemed will walk freely along it,
VOICE 2:              and those the Lord has rescued will return home.
VOICE 1:              They will enter Zion singing songs;
VOICE 2:              Their faces will shine with indestructible joy.
VOICE 1:              Gladness and joy will overwhelm them,
VOICE 2:              and sorrow and sadness will scurry away.

The first three candles (including the rose candle) are lit.
Let us pray:
Lord we thank you for the joy that you give us;
A joy that breaks through the deepest sorrow;
A joy that restores and heals;
A joy that can never be destroyed
Whatever happens in the world around us.
May our lives be filled to overflowing with this joy.
AMEN

Selah
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