14 December 2025
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: VIOLET
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CollectTerror and doom, and wrath to come,
John your herald preached to bring us to repentance; open our eyes, almighty God, show us our sin, and grant us forgiveness. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen. E te Atua kaha rawa, i kauwhautia e Hoani, kei te haere mai te tūwiri te mataku me te riri kia tū rīpenetā mātou; whakatūwheratia ō mātou ngākau, whakaaturia ō mātou hara, ā, murua. Whakarongo ki tēnei īnoi i runga i tōu aroha. Āmine. Alternate Collect for John the Baptist God our strength and our hope, grant us the courage of John the Baptist, constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke vice and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
John the Baptist (Matthew 11:2-11) / Advent 3: Joy (Koa)
“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” In the Gospel reading for today, John asks Jesus to confirm that he is in fact the messiah they have all been waiting for.
Input for LeadersThird Advent Candle/Sunday: Joy – “Gaudete Sunday”
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12) The third candle of Advent symbolizes Joy. As we continue to approach Christmas Day, our joy grows more and more. The third candle takes us back to the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who journeyed to see Jesus in Bethlehem, even before the wise men. On this third Sunday of Advent we light the third candle and rejoice like the shepherds. For this reason, the third candle of Advent is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and its colour is sometimes pink, the liturgical colour for joy. Who was John the Baptist?
You can find more about John in Matthew 3:1-6, but the words that Jesus uses to describe him in today's reading is fascinating: "“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!" Is Jesus the Messiah? Yes! In today's reading, Jesus confirms that all the signs of the messiah have been made fulfilled in him. “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
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Visio Lectio
Thanks to Visio Lectio for sharing this image today. Copyright Rev Sarah West, shared here with permission. PNG Download Terms of Us 
Gospel Conversations 2025: Joy! That's the candle we light on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. And yet the reading is a tough one. John the Baptist, whom we met courageously proclaiming the Kingdom of God last week, is now in prison and unsure. Where is the joy in that?
Gospel Conversations 2022: For the second week we think about John the Baptist, now nearing the end of his ministry and life. What is the significance of the question he sends Jesus? What is the significance of the answer Jesus sends back? How does this fit in our Advent journey?
10 Minutes to More Joy (Crossroads)
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Lighting the Advent CandleEach week we gather together and light another candle. We see the light growing brighter and brighter as we get closer to the birth of the “Light of the World.”
Here is one way to do it (there are lots of different ways!): The focus this third week of Advent is Joy. This week we light the Hope candle and the Peace candle and the Joy candle. Sometimes we use a pink candle for Joy. If your congregation uses a pink candle in its Advent wreath, then you could explain that today is Gaudete Sunday.
Intergenerational Worship
Advent 3: Joy (Intergen Australia)
Advent to Christmas Series: Year A 2026 Written and compiled by Katherine Ruhle. Bible references: Isaiah, Luke, Matthew. 
Advent 3: A joyful transformation (Intergen Australia)
Advent to Christmas Series: Year A 2023 Written and compiled by Alison Knox. Bible references: Isaiah. Kids TalksOn this week's readings:
On the theme of Joy:
Games & ActivitiesFun Sheets / Colouring
Christmas Craft - Joy The third week of Advent is for joy. Here are a few crafts to remind us:
Questions to wonder about...
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Preschool PlayTell the story
Hide and 'Sheep' Using soft toys sheep, or just cotton balls or pom-poms, hide a bunch around a room and have children hunt for them like shepherds. You may want to use the items for a sheep-themed craft afterwards. Try this easy activity with free printable (Kids Kubby). Real sheep, real story If you have any farmers in your community why not see if they can bring a lamb or two to visit? Or for a more simple option - have some sheep products available to explore. Try some wool or a sample of sheep's milk cheese. Talk about - What is it like to be a shepherd? What is it like to get really good news? When did you get really good news? Why was Jesus really good news? Dressups Provide some dressups for kids to explore the nativity characters and story. Talk about - who are each of the characters, how this story really happened, going on journeys, new babies, and Christmas. Why do we still tell this story today? Playdough Station Try this fun shepherds and angels playdough mat (Flame Creative), or put out some playdough, people and animals and let the kids recreate the story. Talk about - have you ever been to a farm or seen a sheep? What was it like? Have you ever seen a new baby? What was it like? Have you ever seen anything unusual like an angel? What was it like? Pray it!Joyful balloon prayers (Godventure)
Try this fun, active and joyful way to thank God for the things you love about Christmas. 
Art in AdventIf you want to mark Advent in a simple rich way, how about creating a space where your kids can spend some time with Advent art. Some of my favourites advent depicting artists are John Swanson, Julie Vivas, and He Qi.
Try these questions or make up your own: What do you see? What is different from the bible story? What is the same? What might this show us about God? About people? About our world? What do you think is important in this picture? Does anything in this picture have more than one meaning? I wonder what God might be saying to you through this picture today? Nativity - He Qi 
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Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:47-55)
In these beautiful words from Mary to Elizabeth, we read of a woman giving a thankful testimony to God's goodness and provision. Mary has just travelled to see her cousin Elizabeth, after a visit from the angel telling her she was going to have a son. Elizabeth was three months pregnant with John (the Baptist), and Mary shares these words of joy.
Luke 1:47-55 (MSG)
And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened-- I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. |
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