The qualities and consequences of the One who comes
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This description of the ideal Davidic king (i.e., the hoped-for Messiah) contains three pairs of desired qualities: wisdom and understanding (intellectual), counsel and might (political), and knowledge and fear of God (spiritual). All of these derive, not from the ruler's innate abilities, but from the Spirit of God that will be upon him; and the righteousness that will "gird" him will bias him toward the poor and the meek, and will lead to a paradisal, peaceful state that will affect, not only Israel ("my holy mountain"), but indeed the world.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 72)
Leader:
May God's chosen One come in justice!
People:
MAY GOD'S APPOINTED ONE COME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Leader:
May God's Messiah defend the poor and deliver the needy!
People: MAY GOD'S MESSIAH BRING PROSPERITY TO US ALL!
Collect
God of consummate justice, you promised a ruler of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, of knowledge and fear of you, one full of your Spirit and clothed in your righteousness. Help us to see this hope fulfilled in the coming Christ: that, inspired by these godly characteristics, we too may see their consequences - a world of peace. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate judge, it grieves us to recognize how seldom we exhibit the passion for justice and righteousness or the concern for the poor and downtrodden that your prophets consistently attribute to the coming Messiah and Messianic Reign. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to trade our self-serving and selfish hopes for ones worthy of the coming Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Advent
Second Lesson: Romans 15:4-13
Theme:
The Christ's coming and Christian confidence
Exegetical note: Paul's exhortation here to Christian unity and harmony, especially between Gentile and Jew, is framed by the idea of hope. (vv. 4 and 13) The phrase "whatever was written in former days" means the Jewish canon (the Christian Old Testament), which he takes as a source of hope because of its reflection of the "steadfastness and encouragement of God" as confirmed in Jesus' mission of servanthood, in which all Christians may take confidence.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 72)
Leader:
May the one who comes endure like the sun!
People:
MAY THE ONE WHO COMES BE AS LASTING AS THE MOON!
Leader:
May the Christ of God be like showers that water the earth!
People:
MAY THE CHRIST OF GOD BRING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE!
Collect
God of abundant promises, you fulfilled the hopes of Israel and the yearnings of the prophets for a Messiah in a surprising way that none of us could have anticipated. Give us at least the wisdom of hindsight: that, recognizing in Jesus the Christ, we may learn once again to place our trust in your promises and our confidence in your word. In the name of the Coming Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
All-compassionate God, we confess with sorrow how quickly and completely we lose confidence in you and your promises for righteousness and peace, and fall into despair over our decadent world and its dismal prospects. Forgive us, we pray, and set before us the image of Jesus, the coming Christ, so that we may learn through him and his mission of servanthood to trust at last in you and to hope in your everlasting Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Advent
Gospel:
Matthew 3:1-12
Theme:
Beyond nativity
Exegetical note: The enigmatic and eccentric figure of John the Baptizer is rich and colorful in this passage and elsewhere in the New Testament, but for this Sunday the real focus of attention should be the coming One whom he proclaims. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the "coming" to which John refers is not Jesus' birth but his ministry, a helpful reminder in this season that the advent we celebrate is more than just a nativity; it is a life, a ministry, and even a death.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Repent, Christians, for the Reign of God is at hand!
People:
HEAR THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS PROCLAIMING ITS NEARNESS!
Leader:
John the Baptizer was great, but Jesus the baptized was greater!
People:
FOR, BAPTIZED WITH WATER, HE BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT AND FIRE!
Collect
Most exalted God, you sent us prophets, a baptizer, and a Christ for our redemption. Expand our vision this Advent season beyond the sentimentalities of stable and manger: that, seeing Jesus' mission, message, and ministry in its fullness, we may appreciate all there is to await and anticipate in the coming One, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of empathy and care, we admit that we fall easily into the yearly trap of sentimentalizing the birth of Jesus for our own emotional satisfaction, and lose sight of the wonderfully tragic and redemptive life that lay beyond it. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to see that the Coming Christ for whom we prepare is more than just a baby, but indeed a baptizer with fire and the bearer of a holy Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 72)
Leader:
May God's chosen One come in justice!
People:
MAY GOD'S APPOINTED ONE COME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Leader:
May God's Messiah defend the poor and deliver the needy!
People: MAY GOD'S MESSIAH BRING PROSPERITY TO US ALL!
Collect
God of consummate justice, you promised a ruler of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, of knowledge and fear of you, one full of your Spirit and clothed in your righteousness. Help us to see this hope fulfilled in the coming Christ: that, inspired by these godly characteristics, we too may see their consequences - a world of peace. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate judge, it grieves us to recognize how seldom we exhibit the passion for justice and righteousness or the concern for the poor and downtrodden that your prophets consistently attribute to the coming Messiah and Messianic Reign. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to trade our self-serving and selfish hopes for ones worthy of the coming Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Advent
Second Lesson: Romans 15:4-13
Theme:
The Christ's coming and Christian confidence
Exegetical note: Paul's exhortation here to Christian unity and harmony, especially between Gentile and Jew, is framed by the idea of hope. (vv. 4 and 13) The phrase "whatever was written in former days" means the Jewish canon (the Christian Old Testament), which he takes as a source of hope because of its reflection of the "steadfastness and encouragement of God" as confirmed in Jesus' mission of servanthood, in which all Christians may take confidence.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 72)
Leader:
May the one who comes endure like the sun!
People:
MAY THE ONE WHO COMES BE AS LASTING AS THE MOON!
Leader:
May the Christ of God be like showers that water the earth!
People:
MAY THE CHRIST OF GOD BRING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE!
Collect
God of abundant promises, you fulfilled the hopes of Israel and the yearnings of the prophets for a Messiah in a surprising way that none of us could have anticipated. Give us at least the wisdom of hindsight: that, recognizing in Jesus the Christ, we may learn once again to place our trust in your promises and our confidence in your word. In the name of the Coming Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
All-compassionate God, we confess with sorrow how quickly and completely we lose confidence in you and your promises for righteousness and peace, and fall into despair over our decadent world and its dismal prospects. Forgive us, we pray, and set before us the image of Jesus, the coming Christ, so that we may learn through him and his mission of servanthood to trust at last in you and to hope in your everlasting Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday in Advent
Gospel:
Matthew 3:1-12
Theme:
Beyond nativity
Exegetical note: The enigmatic and eccentric figure of John the Baptizer is rich and colorful in this passage and elsewhere in the New Testament, but for this Sunday the real focus of attention should be the coming One whom he proclaims. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the "coming" to which John refers is not Jesus' birth but his ministry, a helpful reminder in this season that the advent we celebrate is more than just a nativity; it is a life, a ministry, and even a death.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Repent, Christians, for the Reign of God is at hand!
People:
HEAR THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS PROCLAIMING ITS NEARNESS!
Leader:
John the Baptizer was great, but Jesus the baptized was greater!
People:
FOR, BAPTIZED WITH WATER, HE BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT AND FIRE!
Collect
Most exalted God, you sent us prophets, a baptizer, and a Christ for our redemption. Expand our vision this Advent season beyond the sentimentalities of stable and manger: that, seeing Jesus' mission, message, and ministry in its fullness, we may appreciate all there is to await and anticipate in the coming One, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of empathy and care, we admit that we fall easily into the yearly trap of sentimentalizing the birth of Jesus for our own emotional satisfaction, and lose sight of the wonderfully tragic and redemptive life that lay beyond it. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to see that the Coming Christ for whom we prepare is more than just a baby, but indeed a baptizer with fire and the bearer of a holy Reign. In his name we pray. Amen
