Worship Prayers from Dec. 17

PRAYER IN PREPARATION -. Eternal Source of birth and new life, help us to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ.  Smooth out our roughness when it hurts ourselves or others.  Lift up the hidden parts of ourselves; the talents, the visions, the tenderness; so that your love may be seen and your glory revealed among us.  As this season unfolds, help us, like Mary, your servant, to rejoice in your surprising love.  Amen

       

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                  

AND LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH                 

Reader 1    O God, we light the third candle of Advent.  We hear your angel Gabriel and witness the faith of Mary.  Fill us with your grace and light.

Reader 2    Mary was a young, strong, spiritual woman.  Even though her life was not easy, she heard God's voice and said yes.  Her song was a prayer that would uplift those who were downtrodden.  Her lyrics shattered the proud and called the world to change.  She would bear within her the promised child, Jesus, the Light of the World.  This Advent,                 we respond to God's beckoning to us as well.  Let us pray together.

All   Revealing God, visit us and fill us with your Spirit.  Bring your good news to life                   within us.  Give us courage to carry your light into the injustices and shadows of             this world.  Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of light, who shines in deepest darkness, we hear you calling us out of hopelessness into hope.  But we are frightened by your call.  We are afraid of taking chances; we are afraid of following your light, because it leads us into places where you need us.  We don’t want to see how your people hurt.  We don’t want to see your light shining in the eyes of our neighbor.  Yet we know that in those places your grace shines; help us to seek your light.  Guide us in your way that we might be your children.  Through the Light of the World, we pray.  Amen

  

   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.]

  

SCRIPTURE (5 PM & 8:30 AM)                                                 Luke 1:46-55
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