Advent 2
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
Call To Worship
One: We gather, in this place, in this time of worship
All: to hear God's word that it might shape our voices.
One: We gather, with these people, in this season of preparation
All: to see them as Jesus does,
so we can live with one another.
One: We gather, around this table in these Advent moments
All: to drink of God's joy and peace,
to be filled with the bread of hope.
Prayer Of The Day
Glorious God,
you alone can stun us with your miracles;
children of grace born to those
with stone-cold souls;
antagonists serving one another
at the table of abundant joy;
discordant and angry voices becoming
a choir of harmony and peace.
Jesus Christ, Root of Jesse,
you plead the case of the poor
to a society
that has judged them;
you call us to play fair
with those whose gifts
we do not recognize;
you invite us to offer a square deal
to those who have been broken
by the bullies of the world.
Holy Spirit of hope,
may your wisdom rest upon us
so we might rely on God's word
and not our own;
may your guidance wrap around our shoulders,
so we might find the way to the kingdom;
may your awareness settle deep within us,
so that we may see those around us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Powerful enough to judge us, the one coming toward us humbles himself in order to redeem us. He comes to baptize us with the living waters of hope, and to dry us off with the servant's towel wrapped around his waist. Let us confess our sins, repent, and welcome into our hearts the grace God offers to us in Jesus Christ.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Steadfast God, how easy it is to lose our way in this season. Coddled in luxury's lap, we forget those who have no warmth, no food, and no home. At Christmas parties, we join in the ridicule of the needy, rather than setting free our friends (and ourselves) of prejudices. We drive around looking at the decorated houses, not noticing the people passing by who are searching for your kingdom.
We come to the living waters, Merciful God, to repent and be made whole. Baptize us anew with passion for the poor, with desire to serve your people, with willingness to follow the one who leads us into the future of your hope and peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: The good news is that God listens to our hearts, and sees deep into our souls; God knows our desire to be faithful people, and fills us with the gifts to be God's children.
All: Like a soft rain on a summer's day, like a downpour in the midst of a drought, God's grace and mercy restore us, refresh us, make us anew. Thanks be to God! Amen.
One: We gather, in this place, in this time of worship
All: to hear God's word that it might shape our voices.
One: We gather, with these people, in this season of preparation
All: to see them as Jesus does,
so we can live with one another.
One: We gather, around this table in these Advent moments
All: to drink of God's joy and peace,
to be filled with the bread of hope.
Prayer Of The Day
Glorious God,
you alone can stun us with your miracles;
children of grace born to those
with stone-cold souls;
antagonists serving one another
at the table of abundant joy;
discordant and angry voices becoming
a choir of harmony and peace.
Jesus Christ, Root of Jesse,
you plead the case of the poor
to a society
that has judged them;
you call us to play fair
with those whose gifts
we do not recognize;
you invite us to offer a square deal
to those who have been broken
by the bullies of the world.
Holy Spirit of hope,
may your wisdom rest upon us
so we might rely on God's word
and not our own;
may your guidance wrap around our shoulders,
so we might find the way to the kingdom;
may your awareness settle deep within us,
so that we may see those around us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Powerful enough to judge us, the one coming toward us humbles himself in order to redeem us. He comes to baptize us with the living waters of hope, and to dry us off with the servant's towel wrapped around his waist. Let us confess our sins, repent, and welcome into our hearts the grace God offers to us in Jesus Christ.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Steadfast God, how easy it is to lose our way in this season. Coddled in luxury's lap, we forget those who have no warmth, no food, and no home. At Christmas parties, we join in the ridicule of the needy, rather than setting free our friends (and ourselves) of prejudices. We drive around looking at the decorated houses, not noticing the people passing by who are searching for your kingdom.
We come to the living waters, Merciful God, to repent and be made whole. Baptize us anew with passion for the poor, with desire to serve your people, with willingness to follow the one who leads us into the future of your hope and peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: The good news is that God listens to our hearts, and sees deep into our souls; God knows our desire to be faithful people, and fills us with the gifts to be God's children.
All: Like a soft rain on a summer's day, like a downpour in the midst of a drought, God's grace and mercy restore us, refresh us, make us anew. Thanks be to God! Amen.
