CALL TO WORSHIP
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
Let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord.
For he is coming, for he is coming to bring justice to the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with truth.
—from Ps. 96
OPENING PRAYER
God of joy, our strength and our song, you gather those who have strayed from you and welcome them back to your side. You bring healing to those who are broken in body and spirit, and accompany those who walk alone. Through your great love and mercy, you transform us all into more than we ever thought we could be. Help us to trust in you and not be afraid, so that we may sing with joy of your glory, and proclaim your saving power to those near and far. We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
God of joy, our strength and our song, you gather those who have strayed from you and welcome them back to your side. You bring healing to those who are broken in body and spirit, and accompany those who walk alone. Through your great love and mercy, you transform us all into more than we ever thought we could be. Help us to trust in you and not be afraid, so that we may sing with joy of your glory, and proclaim your saving power to those near and far. We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
—Presbyterian Church in Canada (alt.)
ADVENT WREATH
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. We light this candle as a sign of joy. Christmas is almost here!
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
[The pink candle is lit.]
Let us pray.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. We light this candle as a sign of joy. Christmas is almost here!
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
[The pink candle is lit.]
Let us pray.
Fill our hearts with light and joy, O God, as we look forward to the birth of your Son.
Amen.
Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, thank you for your devoted love. You give yourself to us completely in Jesus Christ, making our lives rich and precious. Forgive us when we are stingy with our gifts, and refuse to give of ourselves to others. Help us to bring more warmth into our cold world; nourish our hope with the promise of your coming, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
—German Reformed (alt.)
You, our God, come to meet us wherever we are on our paths.
So come, Lord, to meet all those who feel like they’ve reached their limits:
the weeping, the desperate, the tired,
those who can barely find the strength to breathe,
those who are mourning someone:
comfort them, give them people who are close to them,
let them see your light shining over them again.
Come to meet all those who are exhausted by life, who can only believe in what they see, the embittered, the mockers, those whose hearts have become hardened: awaken them once again to love, to mercy and compassion. Give them back the eyes of their childhood. Come to meet all those who are trapped in their own selfish world: the thoughtless, the numb, the hard, those who are not moved by the misery of others and who do not want to know what effect their actions have: be patient with them, but let them come to their senses. And do not let the violent, the greedy, the tyrants of the earth have their desires any longer; stand in their way with power and bring them once again into the fold of humanity—transform them into people who reflect your image.
O just and merciful God, you sought us when we did not yet know you: you call us into your service, you is your will that your light shine through us: make us messengers of your coming. Come to meet us, we pray in Christ’s Name. Amen.
Come to meet all those who are exhausted by life, who can only believe in what they see, the embittered, the mockers, those whose hearts have become hardened: awaken them once again to love, to mercy and compassion. Give them back the eyes of their childhood. Come to meet all those who are trapped in their own selfish world: the thoughtless, the numb, the hard, those who are not moved by the misery of others and who do not want to know what effect their actions have: be patient with them, but let them come to their senses. And do not let the violent, the greedy, the tyrants of the earth have their desires any longer; stand in their way with power and bring them once again into the fold of humanity—transform them into people who reflect your image.
O just and merciful God, you sought us when we did not yet know you: you call us into your service, you is your will that your light shine through us: make us messengers of your coming. Come to meet us, we pray in Christ’s Name. Amen.
—German Reformed (alt.)
