Login / Signup

Free Access

God Of Love, It's Tough Being A Christian...

Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

God of love, it's tough being a Christian. You don't make life easy for me, you don't even stop awful things happening to me. But you do give me some fabulous and wonderful and thrilling times, even if they're sometimes followed by dark clouds and isolation and pain. God of love, help me to accept the principle that whatever happens, you love me passionately. And dear God, enable me to learn and to grow strong through my wilderness experiences, that I may be ready for whatever work you wish me to undertake.

God of love, it's tough being a Christian. Help me to accept the principle that whatever happens, you love me passionately, and enable me to learn and to grow strong through my wilderness experiences.

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.

God of Creation, your church isn't always very good at recognising patterns. Some of us want to be on a high all the time, and others of us are constantly in the depths of despair. Help your church to realise that church life follows the pattern you set through your son Jesus Christ. With the episcopal church throughout the world we pray for the church of Rwanda, asking that as it continues to dramatically increase in size, it may follow your pattern for its future.

God of Creation, help your church to realise that church life follows the pattern you set through your son Jesus Christ. With the episcopal church throughout the world we pray for the church of Rwanda, asking that as it continues to dramatically increase in size, it may follow your pattern for its future.

Strengthen N our bishop and all your Church in the service of Christ; that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

God of justice, when we look at the terrible conditions in the poorest countries in the world, life doesn't seem very fair. Help us all to identify with your children in their present pattern of suffering, that we may all learn through it and seek to relieve that sort of suffering by working together to follow your will.

God of justice, when we look at the poorest countries in the world, life doesn't seem very fair. Help us all to identify with suffering, that we may all learn through it and seek to relieve it.

Bless and guide Elizabeth our queen; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

God of compassion, we hover on the brink of yet another world war, and the whole world is reeling from shock. Somehow our patterns of family life and society become distorted, and we don't know how it happens. As you value and care for us even in the wilderness, so teach us to value and care for each other that we make all grow to love what is good and detest what is bad.

God of compassion, as you value and care for us even in the wilderness, so teach us to value and care for each other that we make all grow to love what is good and detest what is bad.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours; that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Lay your healing hands upon them that their wilderness times may emerge into strength and health. We name them in our own hearts...

God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Lay your healing hands upon them that their wilderness times may emerge into strength and health. We name them in our own hearts...

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit...; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.

God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. May they feel your arms around them, giving them the strength and support and love they need. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....

God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ....; according to your promises grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of (N and of) all your saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love and we ask these prayers through him who set the pattern, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
32 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
24 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

SermonStudio

Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson
Pastor: Advent God: We praise and thank you for the word of promise spoken long ago by your prophet Isaiah; as he bore the good news of the birth of Immanuel–so may we be bearers of the good news that Immanuel comes to be with us. God of love:

Cong: Hear our prayer.
Richard A. Jensen
Our Matthew text for this week comes from the first chapter of Matthew. Matthew's telling of the Jesus' story is certainly unique. Matthew tells of the early years of our Savior stressing that his name is Jesus and Emmanuel; that wise sages from the East attend his birth; that Joseph and Mary escape to Egypt because of Herod's wrath. No other Gospel includes these realities.
John N. Brittain
I am so old that I can actually remember when there was a difference between the number of "shopping days" until Christmas and the number of calendar days. They always ran a little box with that magical number on the front page of the Cleveland Press, itself now a faded memory. (For those of you under a certain age, this was because in the day most stores were not open for business on Sunday. Can you believe it?) I am, however, not too old to recall worries that the central message of Christmas was being overshadowed by commercialism and consumerism.
Stephen M. Crotts
Some years ago I was in a London theater watching a Harold Pinter play. The drama was not very good really. I was getting bored. Then right in the middle of the play the theater manager walked on stage, excused himself, and made an announcement. The actors stared. The audience looked shocked. Me? I thought it was all part of the play. Such interruptions are rare in a theater. But nonetheless, the stage manager felt that it was necessary this time. His announcement was nothing trivial like, "Some owner has left his car lights on." Nor was it a terrifying message like, "Fire! Fire!
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (UM211, PH9, LBW34, CBH172, NCH116)
The God Of Abraham Praise (UM116, PH488, NCH24)
O Hear Our Cry, O Lord (PH206)
Hail To The Lord's Anointed (UM203)
Blessed Be The God Of Israel (UM209)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel (UM204)
People Look East (PH12, UM202)
Savior Of The Nations, Come (LBW28, CBH178, PH14, UM214)
The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (CBH202)
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (PH1, 2,UM196, NCH122)

Anthem

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Just before the first Christmas, an angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that Jesus would also be called "Emmanuel", meaning "God With Us." Let us listen to the guidance of the angels today as we prepare to receive God With Us once again.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, fill me with the awe of Christmas.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, fill me with the mystery of Christmas.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, fill me with Emmanuel -- God with us.
Lord, have mercy.

StoryShare

Argile Smith
C. David Mckirachan
Scott Dalgarno
Stan Purdum
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Samantha" by Argile Smith
"I'm Pregnant" by C. David McKirachan
"You'd Better Watch out..." by C. David McKirachan
"Terribly Vulnerable to Joy" by Scott Dalgarno
"The Great Christmas-Tree Battle" by Stan Purdum


What's Up This Week
Keith Hewitt
Contents
"The Cell" by Keith Hewitt
"Angels Among Us" by Constance Berg
"The Perfect Imperfect Pageant" by Gregory L. Tolle


* * * * * * * * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

If you are an "Advent purist," one who refuses to preach Advent sermons that lapse into the Christmas season, this day -- December 24 -- presents a challenge! Fortunately, the texts for the day give you the freedom to "stand on the edge" between the two seasons. The lessons from Isaiah and Matthew are so full of the promise of the One who is to come that you cannot help but shout, "It's all about Jesus!" We like to move along linear time lines, from event to event. In the Advent season that has meant a steady mounting of theme upon theme as we prepare for the glorious message of Christmas.
Over the years, I grow more cynical about Christmas and just about everything that goes along with it. I have not become a scrooge, although the advancing years have made me more careful with my pennies. It is not that I cannot be moved by the lights, the music, and the fellowship of the holidays. I have not become an insensitive, unfeeling clod. My problem is that the language and the images and the music seem to have fallen short in expressing what must have been the feelings of the real human beings going through the events recounted in this story.

David Kalas
Schuyler Rhodes
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Romans by identifying himself as one who was "set apart for the gospel of God." The underlying Greek word, which we traditionally translate "gospel," is euaggelion.

The "eu" prefix is familiar to us. We know it from English words like euphemism, eulogy, and euphoria. In biblical Greek, as in our contemporary usage of the prefix, "eu" means "good."

CSSPlus

What an exciting day this is! Today is the day before Christmas and tonight is Christmas Eve! People have different ways of doing things. Some people open their presents on Christmas Eve. How many of you do that? (Let them answer.) Others open their presents on Christmas Day. Which of you will open your presents tomorrow? (Let them answer.) Some open gifts on other days. Would any of you like to share another time when you open presents? (Give them the opportunity to answer.)

Why do you suppose we open gifts at this time of the year? (Let them answer.)
Teachers and Parents: It is good for children to learn to
respect the name of Jesus because of all that he has done and
continues to do for all of us. If they realize what the name
means, who the man was, and what he did for all of us, they will
be much less likely to abuse the name or use it in casual ways
that cause offense.

* Read Philippians 2:10 and explain that we will play a game
based on this text, which tells us that every knee should bend at
the name of Jesus. Count the children who will play, and put
Good morning! In the Gospel reading we heard that an angel
appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that he was to name
the baby who would be born to Mary "Jesus." (Show them the card
with Jesus written on it.) Now why do you think the angel told
him to use that name? Why didn't he want the baby to be named
Fred or Harry or Bob? (Let them answer.)

It has to do with the meaning of the name "Jesus." Does
anybody know what the name means? (Let them answer.) The name

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL