Worship Prayers Dec. 3

CENTERING PRAYER - “Almighty God, our heavenly Father, You faithfully fulfill Your promises.  We thank you that you sent your only begotten Son in the fullness of time.  With all your church we celebrate his joyful coming.  We glorify you, our gracious Father, and your Son, our King from Zion, and the Holy Spirit.  You, our King, came in the name of your Father, we beg you, enable us to celebrate your holy advent in our hearts, with our words, and through our devoted lives.  Pour out your bountiful blessing upon us.  Enable us to listen to your Word with eagerness, to trust it and accept it in faith, so that we may join in your Spirit and offer you our adoration.  Let us serve you, the Incarnate God, our Redeemer, in all this time here in your Church now, and then in your Kingdom for ever. Amen.” – UNITAS FRATRUM (Moravian Brethren) (sixteenth century)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess we become distracted, even weary, in our discipleship.  We keep busy schedules; we rush about.  Captivated by technology, seduced by the lure of consumer goods, we do not remain alert to your divine presence in our lives, in the church, in the world.  Make us better doorkeepers of our lives, watching for you attentively.  Awaken us to your surprising power and glory and peace, so we do not miss how near you are to our very own gates.  Be gracious toward us, we pray, until we are gathered, from the ends of earth to the ends of heaven, into your embrace.  We continue to pray in the name of Christ, who was, and is, and is to come. (Silent Confession)

  

   PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER                           

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.  [Prayer requests may be given to one of the pastors before the service.]

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Westminster Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism

Question One:      What is our chief end?

Answer:              Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.

  

  

SCRIPTURE                                                                           Mark 13:24-37