FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Happy are the people who have learned to give acclaim to God, and
who walk in the light of the Lord's presence.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God to humanity descending, Man to God ascended, God to all
condescending, you send prophets to lead adulterous royalty to
repentance and angels to innocent, common folk to direct them in
your service. Forgive any unwillingness we have shown to do your
will, any reticence to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ,
any doubt that your promised kingdom will fully come and will not
fail. We have not been prepared to serve you at the risk of
personal reputation or at hazard of private wealth. Have mercy
on us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who served your purpose
without reservation. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The Divine secret kept in silence for long
ages has been disclosed through the proclamation of Jesus Christ
and the prophetic scriptures made known to all nations. Friends,
believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Come in faith and obedience to God through Jesus Christ that the
presence of the Holy Spirit may make your standing sure, to the
glory of God.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all life, grant to us who are called to parenthood your
Holy Spirit to develop our self-control, that in begetting and
conceiving, we may give birth to holy children, dedicated to you
by their baptism and nurtured in your service through our family
life, by Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We will sing the story of your love, O God, forever. We will
proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. You declare your
true love in covenants made with humble nations. You reassure
the lowly person of your gracious favor. You call young and old
alike to serve your purposes and complete
your loving designs. We celebrate the motherhood of young Mary
and old Elizabeth. We mark again with great joy the birth of the
Son of God, the son of David, the son of Mary, Jesus of Nazareth,
known as Joseph's son. We worship you, God the sender. We
worship you, Jesus, the sent One, Son of the most high and son
of the most humble. We worship you, Holy Spirit, God in touch
with our humanity. Glory be to God in heaven and earth. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
The most majestic music is not an adequate gift of adoration to
you and yet you hear the simplest song. The most precious gift
is beneath your notice and yet you receive whatever is given out
of the deepest poverty. Let our gifts and our lives be worthy of
you as they can be only in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and
the enabling Spirit. Amen.
* PSALM 89:1-4, 19-26
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
'I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.' "
Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one,
and said: "I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!' "
(or)
* LUKE 1:46b-55
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Happy are the people who have learned to give acclaim to God, and
who walk in the light of the Lord's presence.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God to humanity descending, Man to God ascended, God to all
condescending, you send prophets to lead adulterous royalty to
repentance and angels to innocent, common folk to direct them in
your service. Forgive any unwillingness we have shown to do your
will, any reticence to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ,
any doubt that your promised kingdom will fully come and will not
fail. We have not been prepared to serve you at the risk of
personal reputation or at hazard of private wealth. Have mercy
on us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who served your purpose
without reservation. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The Divine secret kept in silence for long
ages has been disclosed through the proclamation of Jesus Christ
and the prophetic scriptures made known to all nations. Friends,
believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Come in faith and obedience to God through Jesus Christ that the
presence of the Holy Spirit may make your standing sure, to the
glory of God.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all life, grant to us who are called to parenthood your
Holy Spirit to develop our self-control, that in begetting and
conceiving, we may give birth to holy children, dedicated to you
by their baptism and nurtured in your service through our family
life, by Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We will sing the story of your love, O God, forever. We will
proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. You declare your
true love in covenants made with humble nations. You reassure
the lowly person of your gracious favor. You call young and old
alike to serve your purposes and complete
your loving designs. We celebrate the motherhood of young Mary
and old Elizabeth. We mark again with great joy the birth of the
Son of God, the son of David, the son of Mary, Jesus of Nazareth,
known as Joseph's son. We worship you, God the sender. We
worship you, Jesus, the sent One, Son of the most high and son
of the most humble. We worship you, Holy Spirit, God in touch
with our humanity. Glory be to God in heaven and earth. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
The most majestic music is not an adequate gift of adoration to
you and yet you hear the simplest song. The most precious gift
is beneath your notice and yet you receive whatever is given out
of the deepest poverty. Let our gifts and our lives be worthy of
you as they can be only in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and
the enabling Spirit. Amen.
* PSALM 89:1-4, 19-26
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
'I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.' "
Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one,
and said: "I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!' "
(or)
* LUKE 1:46b-55
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
