FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Be vigilant, praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all imminent troubles and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF ALL HISTORY, THE PASSING OF TIME SOMETIMES ESCAPES US. WE LIVE FROM PAYDAY TO PAYDAY, FROM PARTY TO PARTY, FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS. WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR SPIRITUAL STATE OF HEALTH UNTIL ILLNESS OR TRAGEDY BRINGS US UP SHORT TO TAKE STOCK OF OURSELVES AGAIN. WE ESCAPE AS WE CAN FROM THE SOCIAL ILLS OF OUR TIME, WITHOUT SEEING THAT THEY ARE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. FORGIVE OUR FREQUENT INDIFFERENCE TO THE STATE OF THE NATIONS AND THE IMMATURITY OF OUR SOULS, FOR THE
SAKE OF YOUR PERFECT SON, JESUS OF NAZARETH. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is confirming your heartfelt belief so that you will stand faultless with all those who appear with Jesus before our Maker. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Keep awake and sober. The Son of Man is coming with great power and glory. Hold your heads high, for your liberation is near.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
ETERNAL ONE, WHO WAS, WHO IS, AND WHO IS TO COME, KEEP US AWARE OF THE MEANING OF EVENTS IN OUR OWN LIVES AND IN OUR TIMES. SAVE US FROM PANIC THAT HINDERS OUR DOING ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE IN SOCIETY AND THWARTS PERSONAL GROWTH. BE OUR RULER DAY BY DAY. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
GOD OF THE PROPHETS, RIGHTEOUS SOVEREIGN, CHILD OF DAVID'S LINE, WE REJOICE IN THE BRANCH OF DAVID THAT SPRINGS UP AND THAT BUDS AND BLOSSOMS AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH JUSTICE IN ISRAEL AND IN AMERICA. WE ARE EXCITED BY EVERY VICTORY OF TRUTH OVER FALSEHOOD, EVERY TRIUMPH OF COMPASSION OVER INDIFFERENCE TO YOUR WAY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY. WE LIVE IN HOPE OF THE FINAL PERFECTION OF YOUR WORLD IN YOUR TIME. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
GOD OUR SAVIOR, WE STAND BEFORE YOU AS THOSE WHO ARE READY TO BE LED BY YOU IN YOUR WAY, TO USE WHAT WE HAVE TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF YOUR GOODNESS IN FULL MEASURE, THROUGH MARY'S SON, JESUS, AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 25:110
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
MY GOD, I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU:
Let me not be humiliated,
NOR LET MY ENEMIES TRIUMPH OVER ME.
Let none who look to you be put to shame;
LET THE TREACHEROUS BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR SCHEMES.
Show me your ways, O Lord,
AND TEACH ME YOUR PATHS.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation,
IN YOU HAVE I TRUSTED ALL THE DAY LONG.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
REMEMBER NOT THE SINS OF MY YOUTH AND MY TRANSGRESSIONS;
remember me according to your love
AND FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD.
Gracious and upright is the Lord;
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
HE GUIDES THE HUMBLE IN DOING RIGHT
AND TEACHES HIS WAY TO THE LOWLY.
All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE, O LORD,
FORGIVE MY SIN, FOR IT IS GREAT.
Be vigilant, praying at all times for strength to pass safely through all imminent troubles and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF ALL HISTORY, THE PASSING OF TIME SOMETIMES ESCAPES US. WE LIVE FROM PAYDAY TO PAYDAY, FROM PARTY TO PARTY, FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS. WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR SPIRITUAL STATE OF HEALTH UNTIL ILLNESS OR TRAGEDY BRINGS US UP SHORT TO TAKE STOCK OF OURSELVES AGAIN. WE ESCAPE AS WE CAN FROM THE SOCIAL ILLS OF OUR TIME, WITHOUT SEEING THAT THEY ARE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. FORGIVE OUR FREQUENT INDIFFERENCE TO THE STATE OF THE NATIONS AND THE IMMATURITY OF OUR SOULS, FOR THE
SAKE OF YOUR PERFECT SON, JESUS OF NAZARETH. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is confirming your heartfelt belief so that you will stand faultless with all those who appear with Jesus before our Maker. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Keep awake and sober. The Son of Man is coming with great power and glory. Hold your heads high, for your liberation is near.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
ETERNAL ONE, WHO WAS, WHO IS, AND WHO IS TO COME, KEEP US AWARE OF THE MEANING OF EVENTS IN OUR OWN LIVES AND IN OUR TIMES. SAVE US FROM PANIC THAT HINDERS OUR DOING ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE IN SOCIETY AND THWARTS PERSONAL GROWTH. BE OUR RULER DAY BY DAY. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
GOD OF THE PROPHETS, RIGHTEOUS SOVEREIGN, CHILD OF DAVID'S LINE, WE REJOICE IN THE BRANCH OF DAVID THAT SPRINGS UP AND THAT BUDS AND BLOSSOMS AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH JUSTICE IN ISRAEL AND IN AMERICA. WE ARE EXCITED BY EVERY VICTORY OF TRUTH OVER FALSEHOOD, EVERY TRIUMPH OF COMPASSION OVER INDIFFERENCE TO YOUR WAY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY. WE LIVE IN HOPE OF THE FINAL PERFECTION OF YOUR WORLD IN YOUR TIME. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
GOD OUR SAVIOR, WE STAND BEFORE YOU AS THOSE WHO ARE READY TO BE LED BY YOU IN YOUR WAY, TO USE WHAT WE HAVE TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF YOUR GOODNESS IN FULL MEASURE, THROUGH MARY'S SON, JESUS, AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 25:110
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
MY GOD, I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU:
Let me not be humiliated,
NOR LET MY ENEMIES TRIUMPH OVER ME.
Let none who look to you be put to shame;
LET THE TREACHEROUS BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR SCHEMES.
Show me your ways, O Lord,
AND TEACH ME YOUR PATHS.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation,
IN YOU HAVE I TRUSTED ALL THE DAY LONG.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
REMEMBER NOT THE SINS OF MY YOUTH AND MY TRANSGRESSIONS;
remember me according to your love
AND FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD.
Gracious and upright is the Lord;
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
HE GUIDES THE HUMBLE IN DOING RIGHT
AND TEACHES HIS WAY TO THE LOWLY.
All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE, O LORD,
FORGIVE MY SIN, FOR IT IS GREAT.
