Cycle C Advent 3

12/13/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: What if God really does want us to repent?

Previously:

Sunday Title: Really Repentance Sunday

Sermon Title: Now, Fear Repentance or would you rather Love Repentance?

Sunday Title: Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: "Fear or Peace or Fear or Peace"

Scripture Cuttings:

Zephaniah 3:14-20 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.

Isaiah 12:2-6 I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

Philippians 4:4-7 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.

Luke 3:7-18 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

Confession:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Surely God is our salvation; let us trust and be not afraid.

        (repentance is trusting God's mercy in the face of judgment)

P:  Lord...

C: we do not begin to live in right relationship.

We do not offer you prayer and supplication.

  We worry about things of this world,

    and make ourselves the focus.

Sometimes we are at "peace"

  if we have what we want,

    yet our sisters and brothers are in need.

Still we are neither ready nor concerned with judgment

  and so do not ask "what then should we do?"

    rather foolishly we rely on our "Christian" affiliation.

Our sin is before you Lord

save us.

    (Pause for reflection)

P:  Sing and shout, rejoice and exult with all your heart. The Lord takes  away the judgment against us. God gives the Son: Jesus Christ to take away the sin of the world. Our sins are forgiven, we shall no longer fear evil or disaster. Our lives may now carry the worthy fruit of our honest repentance for the glory of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!