Worship Prayers December 8

 “Kindle Advent Candles”

 

Kindle advent candles.

Peace will be restored.

Clashes serve the schemers:

victims’ cries ignored.

Scars appear around us.

Can they ever heal?

We must walk a new path:

Make peace real.

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

God of the Covenant, you send us messengers to cleanse and refine us for your coming. Help us endure and embrace the prophets’ message, that we may see you when you suddenly appear among us; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP – Advent Wreath Liturgy

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Refining God, you send us prophets, but we do not listen. You show us the way of life, but we prefer to go our own way. You give us your light, but we are more comfortable in the darkness. By your tender mercy, forgive us, and renew your covenant within us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Silent Confession)

 

 

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

We are called by God to present a harvest of righteousness – not by virtue of our own works, but by the grace of the one who began a good work in us, and is even now bringing it to completion. Let us bring the offerings of our lives to the Lord...

 

Prayer after Offering

 

God of all righteousness, receive these gifts of gratitude, the offerings of our lives. Purify them with your refining fire so that they may serve your purposes and shine with your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Scripture for Dec. 8

  

Malachi 3:1-4

3 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Read full chapter

Daily Prayer December 6

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Daily Readings for Friday, December 6, 2024

• Morning Psalms 102; 148
• First Reading Isaiah 3:1-4:1
• Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
• Gospel Reading Luke 20:41-21:4
• Evening Psalms 130; 16

God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Alternative Giving

 Honoring Family and Friends Through Alternative Giving

Finding the perfect, meaningful gift for someone who has many wonderful possessions is a difficult task! With this in mind, the newly formed Mission Committee at St. Mark created “Christmas Alternatives” in 2001.

Purchasing a gift through Christmas Alternatives honors the recipient and will help lift a family out of poverty. That family will in turn help another community member. Every gift is another word in an ongoing story of hope that will help create a cycle of change for generations to come.

A copy of the “shopping list” is available in this month’s Messenger and on the welcome desk.

Displays will be in the Narthex on December 8, 15, & 22