December 27, 2015
Prayer of Preparation: O Holy God, you have touched the earth with your unconditional love. Touch us, we pray – touch our hearts and minds and souls. Let us not just suppose you to be in our company, but let us seek you out until we find you and rejoice in your presence. Renew in us the faith of Mary, the love of Jesus, and the joy of all the saints; that all the earth may sing your praise evermore. Amen.
Call to Worship
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone.
When the kings and princes are home, when shepherds are back with their flock.
The work of Christmas begins.
We begin the work to find the lost, to heal the broken, to share with the hungry.
We begin the work to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations.
We begin the work to share God’s peace with all people.
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, your gifts to us are extraordinary and abundant. And yet we remember this Christmas season that your wonder does not arrive wrapped in shiny paper, heaped under Christmas trees, but was delivered to us bundled in swaddling clothes, found lying in a manger. Your greatest gift to us, O God, is Emmanuel, God-With-Us. Yet in the excitement of this season, it is all too easy to forget that you are here. Forgive us, O God. Help us to know you are with us and in us. Help us to know your holy presence. Help us to serve you wholly and completely. Amen.
January 3, 2016
PRAYER OF PREPARATION: God, you placed a star in the sky to draw wise folk to the place of Christ’s nativity. There you revealed the mystery of your eternal purpose for all humanity: God made flesh, born of Mary, opening to all the world the promise you made to Abraham and Sarah. Empower your church to be as the light of the star, that we may draw the world to the glory of Christ, our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen
CALL TO WORSHIP
Arise, shine; for your light has come.
The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Come, worship the Lord of glory.
Proclaim God’s praise among the nations.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, you have given light to the world in Jesus Christ, but we have preferred to live in darkness. Your justice protects the weak and the distressed, yet we seek the shelter of privilege and power. Your righteousness redeems the poor and the needy, yet we seek the status of wealth and possessions. Your peace upholds the oppressed and the defenseless, yet we seek the security of weapons and retribution. Forgive us our sins, and lead us to true repentance, that we may trust you in all things; through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
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