Worship Prayers December 20

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

Mighty God, your faithfulness is magnified in the coming of your Son, in the long-awaited birth of the promised Messiah. May we, like Mary, proclaim your greatness as we rejoice in our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY

 

We light these candles of HOPE, JOY, LOVE, and PEACE as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let all creation sing for joy at the coming of the Lord.

The Lord of hosts is coming to restore us; God’s face will shine, and we will be saved.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

When the Lord restores our lives, we will be like those who dream; those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

We will sing of God’s steadfast love forever; we will proclaim the faithfulness of the lord to all generations.

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy to the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord! Give thanks to God’s holy name.

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Faithful God, we know you are always there to guide us, yet we often make plans without listening to you and lose our way. We repent of these self-centered faults and turn to you in love. Shine your guiding light again into our lives, forgive our offenses, and pardon our sins. We ask this in your holy name. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Nicene Creed

 

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Gather; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We believe in the holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

OFFERING

 

Lord, you bind up our wounds, comfort our spirits, and put a song on our lips. We bring these offerings to you with full and thankful hearts. Let us pray...

 

Holy God, your love is magnified in the gift of your Son, whom you so freely share with us. Bless these gifts we return to you. May they lift up the lowly. fill the hungry and spread your light. Amen.