Malachi 3:1-4
Dramatic Reading- for a reader doing the words of God and two questioners(second questions
are not in passage by the way!). If possible, put the questioners in the audience/ congregation, adding more dramatic impact.
Reader: "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming.”
Questioner One: But who can endure the day of his coming?
Questioner Two: Who can stand when he appears?
Reader: "For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.”
Questioner One: Why will this happen?
Questioner Two: What difference will all this cleansing make?
Reader: “When they are purified, their offerings will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.”
Responsive Reading – Malachi 3:1-4
Leader: Behold the messenger of the Lord has been sent to prepare the way before him. People: The Lord whom we seek shall suddenly come to his temple.
Leader: This is the messenger of the covenant – the one in whom we find delight.
People: Behold, the Lord of hosts has announced that he is coming.
Leader: But who among us can endure the day of his coming?
People: Who will remain standing when he appears?
Leader: He is like a hottest fire.
People: He is like the finest soap.
Leader: He will take his place as the refiner and purifier of silver.
People: He will purify the sons of Levi and make them like gold and silver.
Leader: He will do this until they present righteous offerings to the Lord.
People: Then, and only then, will the offerings of his people be pleasing to the Lord, even as they were in the times of old, in the former years.
Advent/PentecostReading
(based from Malachi 3:1-4)
We realize you have sent your messenger to prepare the way for your Son’s arrival. Come, Lord Jesus! Suddenly appear in your temple.
We would delight to welcome you into our hearts, our homes, our lives.
Who is it who will be able to endure the day of your coming? Who will be able to stand when you make your grand appearance?
Burn in us your fire. Purify us and cleanse our hearts, our homes, our lives.
When we are burned deeply enough, we might truly worship you and make our offerings in ways you consider “right.”
Remind us of the purifying fire – the fire that wants to radically burn throughout our homes, our hearts our lives.
Advent Suggestion – Use with the anthem “Peace Will Come” (Terry York/David Danner) which repeatedly uses the in phrase “our homes, our hearts, our lives”
Consider having this read just before the lighting of the Advent candle, changing the final statement by the congregation to read:
As we place the fire to the wick of this candle, remind us of the purifying fire – the fire that wants to radically burn throughout our homes, our hearts our lives.