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Second Sunday of Advent

Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Cycle B, Series IV
First Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11
Theme: The Word of the Lord stands forever.


Call To Worship
Leader: Praise be to the Lord our God, Creator of Heaven and Earth!
People: The Lord our God is victorious, for no power can stand against God.
Leader: God speaks and the Universe trembles, for the Word of God stands forever.
People: Blessed are God's people, called to serve through the risen Christ.
Leader: Christ, who offers eternal life that all might dwell with God forever.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, we are so frail in time and space, yet You love us and desire to give us eternity. Only You, Lord, created the universe, and only You, Lord, are worthy of praise. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

O God, so often we have allowed the teachings and philosophies of the world to convince us eternity is impossible and life must be lived only for the pleasure we can receive in the moment. Forgive us, Lord, for we have failed to hear the Scriptures as they tell us of Your greatness and boldly proclaim through all time how Your Word shall stand forever. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Rejoice, The Lord Is King"
"Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above"
"Jesus Shall Reign"

* * * * * * *

Second Lesson: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Theme: The patience of the Lord is for salvation.


Call To Worship
Leader: Let all who have known the mercy of the Lord come today for worship.
People: We were each lost and the Lord sought us and redeemed us.
Leader: For the Lord is patient and does not turn away when we are lost.
People: Yet we have often been slow to hear the call of Christ in our lives.
Leader: Praise be to God, whose patience and love has led to our salvation.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

God, in Your wonderful and loving way You have chosen to be the Good Shepherd, never giving up on finding us, Your lost sheep. You alone are worthy of our praise and our love, dear Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

O God, too often we have mistaken Your patience in seeking us out for Your acceptance of our sinful ways. Too often we have pushed the limits in life for our own desires and wandered further and further from the blessings You would work through our lives. Forgive us, Lord, and again lead us to become faithful servants in Your kingdom. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Isaiah 40:1-11

"Come, Sinners, To The Gospel Feast"
"God Of Grace And God Of Glory"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"

* * * * * * *

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
Theme: Christ, our Savior, is coming.


Call To Worship
Leader: Rejoice! The Lord has heard our cries. One is coming who will save us all.
People: Praise be to God! Will this one lead us as a mighty warrior?
Leader: The One to come will redeem us through love and the Holy Spirit.
People: But will this New Kingdom be strong and respected and admired by all?
Leader: The One to come will reign over the hearts of all throughout eternity!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

Almighty God, whose mercy surpasses the bounds the human mind can comprehend, You sent the Christ to call us into Your family even when our vision was too small. We praise You, Lord! In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, so often we have tried to tell You what is best for us and our world instead of seeking Your eternal wisdom and guidance in prayer. Too often we have sought greatness and power by worldly standards and failed to hear Your call to serve even the poor and wounded around us. Forgive us, Lord, and give us the strength and courage to become Your servants anew. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"
"Savior Of The Nations Come"
"How Great Thou Art"

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This scripture is said to be the last words of David. We are called to hear the words and know that they need to live on in us. “One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.” This call for justice remains. It is a call that lives throughout the scriptures. Justice is vitally important to the faithful followers of God. To rule with justice is to answer the call of God.
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Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:



These responses may be used:




Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.

Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.

SermonStudio

Robert G. Beckstrand
The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty ...
your throne is established from of old,
you are from everlasting ...
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the LORD.
-- Psalm 93:1a, 2, 4

Theme: The majesty of Yahweh

Outline
1-2 -- Yahweh's eternal sovereignty is seen in the laws of the physical world.
3-4 -- The hostile powers of earth (like "floods"), however majestic or loud-sounding, threaten his rule in vain.
John R. Brokhoff
The Ancient of Days takes his seat on the throne of judgment.
Today's lesson is apocalyptic literature written at a time of
persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes IV around 165 B.C. Chapter 7
tells of four beasts representing the Persian, Medean, Greek and
Syrian empires. The most terrible beast is the last which led to
the writing of Daniel and the Maccabbean revolt. Our pericope
interrupts the account of the fourth beast. It consists of a
vision of a heavenly court of judgment upon the reign of
Lee Ann Dunlap
The weeklong pastor's training event was about halfway through its course and the pastor coordinating the event was enjoying her break with a leisurely stroll across the grounds. But what began as a beautiful leisurely spring day soon turned somewhat anxious when she returned to her room and found a message taped to her door, "Call the bishop's assistant as soon as possible." She spent part of the afternoon playing phone tag between class sessions. "Whatever could it be?" she pondered.

Cathy A. Ammlung
I'd rather hear Saint Matthew talk about Christ the King. His story of the Last Judgment is vivid. Concrete acts are laid out. "As you have done to the least of these," Jesus says, "you have done to me." We may disagree or cringe, but we can picture this King claiming kinship with the lowly.

Luke's story is good, too. Jesus hangs between two criminals and promises to one that "today you will be with me in Paradise." We see a dying King offering kingly gifts to the dying who trust in him. We may be puzzled, we may object, but again, we can picture it.
H. Alan Stewart
Maybe you have had the experience of being mentioned in the last will and testament of someone who has died. As you listen during this poignant experience to the reading of a deceased person's last wishes, a legacy is being passed on. Both as we live and as we die, we pass on a legacy to the rest of the world.
Charles And Donna Cammarata
Call To Worship
From Psalm 145.
Leader: I lift you high in praise, my God, my King!
People: I will bless your name for all eternity.
Leader: You are magnificent!
People: You can never be praised enough!
Leader: There are no boundaries to your greatness.
People: All generations stand in awe of you.
Leader: Your beauty and splendor have them all talking.
People: We compose songs on your wonders.
Leader: Books could be written filled with the details of your greatness.

Special Occasion

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