Sunday, December 24, 2023

Worship Prayers: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT 12/24/2023

 

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.

 CALL TO WORSHIP:  Advent Candle Readings

 

LOVE

 


Last Sunday we lit the third candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of joy. We light it again along with the candles of hope and peace. As we remember of the love that God has for us.

 

(A person lights the candle of hope, peace, and joy)

 

The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love. Its light is meant to remind us of the love that God has for us. Jesus shows us God's perfect love.  He is God's love in human form.  The Bible says that "God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." 

 

Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish. Love is not quick to take offense, it keeps no records of wrongs, it does not gloat over other people's troubles, but rejoices in the right, the good, and the true.  There is nothing that love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, to its hope, to its endurance. Love never ends. We light this candle today to remind us of how God's perfect love is found in Jesus

 

(Light the Fourth Candle)

 


 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Faithful God, we know you are always there to guide us, yet we often make plans without listening to you and discover our human agendas can drown out our ability to hear your will for us. We repent of these faults and turn to you in love. Forgive our offenses and pardon our sins, that our lives may magnify your holy name forever. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

 

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