Third Sunday in Advent–Joy

This is the third week of Advent.  This Sunday is sometimes also called Gaudete Sunday because the first word of the latin liturgy is gaudete, which is translated: Rejoice.  The theme of this Sunday is joy, and instead of a purple candle, the pink candle is lit.  This Sunday marks a change in mood from the more solemn one of the previous two Sundays, where we saw our need for a Savior and looked to Jesus as our hope (first Sunday) and saw our world’s need of a Savior and looked to the peace Jesus will bring (second Sunday), to one of rejoicing.  Christmas is almost here!  The time of waiting is nearly over!  Rejoice!  Your king has come!  Rejoice!  Our salvation has been accomplished!  Rejoice!  God has not forgotten!  Rejoice!  The prophecies have been fulfilled!  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  God is with us!

JOY

The pink candle is lit.

Isaiah 65:14a

Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart.

Psalm 100:1

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

Zechariah 9:9a

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you.

Isaiah 12:4-6

And in that day you will say:
“Praise the LORD, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing to the LORD,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout,
O inhabitants of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

Is 52:7, 9-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Break forth into joy, sing together,
You waste places of Jerusalem!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God.

PSALM 126

When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.

John 15:11

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

(You can listen to the carol here.)

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.