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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 25)

L: To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
P: O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame;
L: Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
P: Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.
L: All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. Come, let us worship the Lord.

 

Call to Worship

Leader: Christ, God’s gift to the world, shall come:
People: For those who feel despair will know hope.
Leader: For those who are oppressed will know freedom
People: For those who are lonely will know love.
Leader: For those who are suffering will know inner peace.
People: O Christ, Lord of the world, your time is now!
All: Fill our hearts with joy!

Call to Worship:

Lift up your heads, O gates!
   and be lifted up, O ancient doors
   that the King of Glory may come in.

 

Prayer For Providence (adapted from a Letter by St. Francis de Sales)

Almighty God and Father,
     In our shared humanity, our hearts fear more than ever before in this world filled with anxiety, strife, and uncertainty.
     For those who doubt and fear that evil is greater than good we pray for the grace to take the side of your divine Providence. May we always believe that it does all well, and disposes all things for the best.
     And for all of us we pray for wisdom and justice, for courage and hope. May we know that, even if everything is taken from us, your divine Providence means that You will never take Yourself from us, so long as we do not will it.
     Enlighten our minds, encourage our hearts, and enliven our souls that we might know your presence, grow in love, and bring new hope to our world.    Amen.

 

Prayer for Holiness-- by St. Ephraim the Syrian

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of idleness, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and vain talk. Instead, give to me, Your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, for You are Blessed from all ages to all ages.” Amen.

 

Prayer based on all lessons
by Rev. F. Schaefer

   God of grace mercy, as we enter the season of Advent we are reminded by the prophet Jeremiah that you have vowed to fulfill your promise of giving us a just and peaceable Lord and King.

Empower us to  live a life of holiness before you in preparation of your promised Redeemer of the Earth, Jesus Christ, Your son. We wait with confidence. We trust in your mercy.

   Help us to watch and to wait with patience for the signs of the time. By your Holy Spirit help us to live in the certain hope of Christ's immanent return.

   Let us live as those who eagerly await your promise of redemption, as those who anticipate your kingdom on earth with joy and just labor.   We pray through Jesus our Christ and Redeemer.  Amen.

 

Lighting The First Candle Of The Advent Wreath

General Introduction (repeated each week or not as desired) Our Advent Wreath reminds us of the approaching celebration of Jesus' birth
* the evergreen leaves remind us that God's love is everlasting
* the round wreath symbolizes God's eternal love
* the light of the candles stands for the light which Jesus brought into a dark world.

Each Sunday in Advent another of the candles in the circle is lit. The Christ candle is lit at midnight on Christmas Eve (or on Christmas Day if no Christmas Eve service).

Responsive Reading:

Today we enter Advent, a season of possibilities, a time of "not yet." But daily lives reflect human struggles. Sometimes we are surrounded by brokenness--in our lives, among our friends and families, in our worldwide family. Hope seems a far-off vision; yet we yearn for it to fill us. We cry together.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
When hope is lost,
Restore us, o God.
When people are hurting,
Restore us, O God.
When nations are fighting,
Restore us, O God.
When children are hungry,
Restore us, O God.

Restore us, God of Life. Bring us closer to hope, the hope that lights the way on the journey to Bethlehem. During this season of waiting may we be open to signs of your restoring love. As we light this first Advent Candle, let us pray for God's restoration in the midst of brokenness and despair.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer:
(Presbyterian Worship Book, USA 20th Cent.)

New every morning is your love, great God of light,
and all day long you are working for good in the world.
Stir up in us the desire to serve you,
to live peacefully with our neighbors,
and to devote each day to your Son,
our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.