First Sunday Of Advent
Worship
A Call To Worship
Worship Aids, Lectionary Year B
Advent Wreath
We come with open minds.
We light this first candle as we recall the past and all that God has done for us.
We come with open hearts as we look to the future and God's promises yet to be fulfilled.
In our troubled world we pray that this candle will become the light of hope for ourselves and all whom we serve.
Call To Worship (based on Isaiah 64)
One: O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence
All: as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil -- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
Men: When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down; the mountains quaked at your presence.
Women: From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
Young: You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
Old: We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
One: There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
All: Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Unison Prayer
Lord, again we come to the Advent season. We've been here before. We've never walked upon this ground. We've sung these songs before. We've never sung them like this. The thoughts of our favorite foods and customs fill us with joy. The dread of loneliness and sorrow fills us with dread. We celebrate the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, but look forward as well to the return of Jesus at the end of time. Help us to look forward and backward during this season. We anticipate again the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem, but also look forward to the return of Jesus at the end of time. Give meaning and shape to our gathering. Bless us in this moment, and throughout this season. Amen.
Morning Prayer
This day, Gracious God, we come to you, with our joys and concerns, our celebrations and our sorrows. All the experiences of our lives we lay upon the altar, with the prayer that as you hear them, you will answer our prayers in your wisdom according to your will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Offering Message
Lord, at this time we bring to you the gifts of our hands and hearts, the fruit of our labor, the emblem of what we cherish, both for what it would have bought for us, and also for what it will do for you. Magnify these gifts beyond their physical measure. Perform great miracles through our halting generosity. Amen.
Children's Benediction
Keep awake! Get ready for the celebration!
We come with open minds.
We light this first candle as we recall the past and all that God has done for us.
We come with open hearts as we look to the future and God's promises yet to be fulfilled.
In our troubled world we pray that this candle will become the light of hope for ourselves and all whom we serve.
Call To Worship (based on Isaiah 64)
One: O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence
All: as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil -- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
Men: When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down; the mountains quaked at your presence.
Women: From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
Young: You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
Old: We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
One: There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
All: Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Unison Prayer
Lord, again we come to the Advent season. We've been here before. We've never walked upon this ground. We've sung these songs before. We've never sung them like this. The thoughts of our favorite foods and customs fill us with joy. The dread of loneliness and sorrow fills us with dread. We celebrate the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, but look forward as well to the return of Jesus at the end of time. Help us to look forward and backward during this season. We anticipate again the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem, but also look forward to the return of Jesus at the end of time. Give meaning and shape to our gathering. Bless us in this moment, and throughout this season. Amen.
Morning Prayer
This day, Gracious God, we come to you, with our joys and concerns, our celebrations and our sorrows. All the experiences of our lives we lay upon the altar, with the prayer that as you hear them, you will answer our prayers in your wisdom according to your will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Offering Message
Lord, at this time we bring to you the gifts of our hands and hearts, the fruit of our labor, the emblem of what we cherish, both for what it would have bought for us, and also for what it will do for you. Magnify these gifts beyond their physical measure. Perform great miracles through our halting generosity. Amen.
Children's Benediction
Keep awake! Get ready for the celebration!
