Rejoice!

Some worship resources designed as options for December 23, the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. Scroll down to find:

• Focus Moment: Mosiah 1:93-97
• “Second Witness” Scripture Readings: 3 Nephi 1:12-14 or Alma 12:150-154, 169-171
• Disciples’ Generous Response: Hebrews 10:5-10

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FOCUS MOMENT

Excerpted from Mosiah 1:93-97

This passage from the Book of Mormon is thematically appropriate for the Candle of Joy.

Contemporary language:

A messenger from God said to me: “Wake up!”

I woke up and saw the messenger standing in front of me.

The messenger said:

“I have come to share with you glad tidings of great joy,

so that you may rejoice

and may share them in turn with your people,

so that they too may be filled with joy.

“These are the glad tidings:

The time is coming—it is not far off!—

when the All-powerful Ruler,

the Immortal One,*

will come down from heaven,

and will live among human beings

in a body made from the dust.”**

* Or: who always has been and always will be

** Or: in a body of clay

Traditional language (lightly updated):

An angel from God said to me: “Awake.”

I awoke, and he stood before me.

He said to me:

“I am come to declare to you glad tidings of great joy,

that you may rejoice,

and that you may declare to your people

that they may also be filled with joy.

“For the time comes, and is not far distant,

that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigns,

who was and is from all eternity to all eternity,

will come down from heaven

among the human family*

and will dwell in a tabernacle of clay.”

* Original language: among the children of men. The substituted phrase, “human family” is taken from Mormon 2:86.

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“SECOND WITNESS” SCRIPTURE READINGS

With sermon helps

Either of these passages might be read alongside the recommended preaching text from the lectionary, Luke 1:39-45, in the “second witness” style. For an example of that style, see this post.

Option A. Excerpted from 3 Nephi 1:12-14

Sermon help: In the lectionary reading from Luke, Mary and Elizabeth rejoice in knowing that the long-awaited promise of God’s salvation is being fulfilled. Likewise, in the following reading from the Book of Mormon, Nephi is encouraged to rejoice in Christ’s birth as a sign that God’s promises will be fulfilled.

Contemporary language:

Nephi heard the Lord’s voice say to him:

“Look up! Cheer up!*

The time has come—

this very night, the sign will be given.

“Tomorrow** I will come into the world

to show the world

that I will keep every promise

I have made through the prophets.

“I am coming to my people***

to carry out the plan that I have been revealing

since the beginning of the world.”

* Or: Do not hang your head! Take heart!

** Or: In the morning

*** Or: I am coming into the world I created

Traditional language (lightly updated):

The voice of the Lord came to Nephi, saying:

“Lift up your head and be of good cheer,

for the time is at hand,

and on this night will the sign be given.

“On the morrow I come into the world

to show the world

that I will fulfill all that I have caused to be spoken

by the mouth of my holy prophets.

“I come to my own

to fulfill all things that I have made known

from the foundation of the world.”

Option B. Excerpted from Alma 12:150-154, 169-171

Sermon help: The online sermon help for the lectionary reading explains that “Luke provides an interesting insight into the leveling, or equalizing power of the mission of Jesus Christ by using women as prophetic witnesses.” The following story from the Book of Alma likewise places two women in a prominent role as witnesses of God’s saving work in Christ. Like Mary and Elizabeth, Abish is a person considered to be of less importance in her society—a servant, an ordinary person who nevertheless recognizes that she has a mission to fulfill for God.

Contemporary language:

One of the Lamanite women, named Abish,

had converted to the Lord many years before,

in secret.

When she saw that Lamoni’s servants,

and the queen—her mistress—

and the king, and Ammon,

had all fallen to the ground while praying, as if they had fainted,

she realized that this was God’s power at work.

So she ran from house to house,

telling the people what had happened;

and they began to gather in the king’s house.

Then Abish went and took the queen’s hand,

as if to try to lift her from the ground.

As soon as Abish touched her hand,

the queen regained consciousness and stood up.

She exclaimed:

“O blessed Jesus, who has delivered* me!

O blessed God, show your compassion to this people!”

Then she clapped her hands together for joy

and spoke many words in a language that no one could understand.

* Or: rescued

Traditional language (lightly updated):

One of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish,

[had] been converted to the Lord for many years

[but] never had made it known.

When she saw that all of Lamoni’s servants,

and also her mistress, the queen,

and the king, and Ammon,

lay prostrate on the earth,

she knew that it was the power of God.

Therefore she ran forth from house to house

making it known to the people,

and they began to assemble to the house of the king.

[Then Abish] went and took the queen by the hand,

that perhaps she might raise her from the ground;

and as soon as [Abish] touched her hand,

[the queen] arose and stood on her feet

and cried:

“O blessed Jesus, who has saved me!

O blessed God, have mercy on this people!”

When she had said this,

she clapped her hands, being filled with joy,

speaking many words which were not understood.

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DISCIPLES’ GENEROUS RESPONSE

Based on Hebrews 10:5–10

Readers 1 and 2 take up positions in front of the congregation.

Reader 1:

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

Reader 2:

When Christ came into the world,

this brought to pass the scripture that says:

Reader 1:

“You do not want sacrifices of animals or offerings of grain.

Daily sacrifices and sacrifices for purification mean nothing to you.

You have given me, rather, a body with which to serve you.

Therefore I say: See, God—I have come to do your will!”     [Psalm 40:7-8]

All:  God—we have come to do your will!

Reader 2:

When the scripture says

that God does not want animal sacrifices,

or grain offerings,

or daily sacrifices,

or sacrifices for purification—

this is referring to the sacrifices

that are commanded in the Law revealed to Moses.

All: God—if you do not want these sacrifices,

        what do you want from us?

Reader 1:

The scripture then adds,

“See, God—I have come to do your will!”

These words are telling us

that Christ came to end the Law and its sacrifices

in order to do the will of God.

All: And what is your will, God?

Reader 2:   [slowly and emphatically]

The will of God is this:

that we be made holy,

once and for all,

through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s body.

Reader 1:   [after a short pause]

Here ends the reading.

Readers 1 and 2 return to their places in the congregation. There is a short pause. Then Reader 3 speaks up from within the congregation.

Reader 3:

Jesus Christ,

through the gift of your body,

you have made us a holy people—

a people consecrated* to God’s service.          * or: dedicated

Therefore, we offer you

our whole selves as a gift.

Allow a few minutes of silence for prayerful reflection. The silence is followed by the Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes.