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* CALL TO WORSHIP
Hear the words of the Lord. Are they not words of peace, peace
to his people and to his loyal servants and to all who turn and
trust in him?

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the first day, God of today, God of the last day, we admit
that we are more frightened by the threat of a nuclear accident
or a nuclear war than we are hopeful for a new heaven and earth.
It is like our apprehension of major surgery, an unpleasant
experience, but one that can bring about the condition in which
healing can take place. We may be fatalistic and feel powerless
to change unjust institutions that provoke and promote war.
Forgive our reluctance to look for the new day and to work for
justice and peace with patience, repentance, and perseverance,
whatever the disappointments and delays. Baptize us with the
Holy Spirit according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, your Son.
Amen.

* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has forgiven your guilt and put away all
your sins. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we
are forgiven.

* EXHORTATION
Prepare a road for the Lord through the barren places of our
common life. Clear a highway for God across the fruitless areas
of our history.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Jesus Christ, Son of God, since you have walked in our shoes,
enable us by the same Holy Spirit of our baptism to proclaim the
good news and prepare the way for your coming again so that you
may be surrounded by people from all earth's cities and
countrysides. Amen.

* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Saving God, loving Christ, baptizing Spirit, hear our
thanksgiving for all who have paved the way for your good news to
reach us. We admire the bold preaching of the prophets and
apostles. We appreciate the work of scholars and translators in
preparing a written text for us to read. We are grateful for the
printers and binders that make Bibles for us and for all who help
us to read and understand the Word of God written. Most of all
we

thank you that your saving and forgiving love was embodied in
Jesus of Nazareth, the great good Shepherd who has gathered his
flock into the Church. For past deliverance, for present
comfort, for future promise we give you thanks, faithful God.
Amen.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We worship you, loving and faithful Lord, by the presentation of
these tokens of our prosperity and the yield of our work. Use us
and our offerings to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.

* PSALM 85:1-2, 8-13
LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.