THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Express gratitude to God, invoking God by name. Make God's deeds known in the world around, declaring the supremacy of the divine name.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF PEACE, PRINCE OF PEACE, SPIRIT OF PEACE, YOUR NAMES ARE TO BE HALLOWED AS SUPREME. FORGIVE US IF WE FAIL TO GIVE DUE HONOR TO YOUR NAME IN OUR FAMILIES AND IN OUR SOCIAL LIFE. IN OUR SOCIETY THE NAME OF SANTA CLAUS SOMETIMES OBSCURES THE NAME OF THE CHRIST CHILD, THE HAMMERING OF ELVES DROWNS OUT THE SONG OF ANGELS. THE MISSION OF REINDEER COMPETES WITH THE ADORATION OF SHEPHERDS AND THE TRAVEL OF THOSE WHO SEEK THE ONE BORN TO BE KING. PARDON US IF WE HAVE LET SUCH THINGS GET OUT OF HAND IN OUR SOCIAL CIRCLES. HELP US TO RESTORE YOUR NAME TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION: Now my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable - fill all your thoughts with these things.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
GOD OF WISDOM, GOD-IN-ACTION, SPIRIT OF INQUIRY, PROMPT US TO ASK NOT ONLY WHAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE
BUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO? SAVE US FROM FRUITLESS SPECULATION THAT DOES NOT ISSUE IN OBEDIENT ACTION
TO FULFILL OUR VOCATION TO SERVE YOU IN THE SERVING OF OTHERS. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MAGNANIMOUS GOD, TO THE CRIES FOR HELP WE HAVE MADE IN ANXIOUS MOMENTS, AND THE PETITIONS WE HAVE OFFERED IN TIMES OF NEED, WE ADD OUR THANKSGIVINGS AND OUR EXPRESSIONS OF JOY. WE HAVE JOY IN THE LORD BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENABLED US TO PUT INTO PRACTICE SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT JESUS AND THE APOSTLES HAVE TAUGHT US, AND TO FOLLOW THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF OTHERS, OLD AND YOUNG, WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN FOLLOWING CHRIST. WE HAVE NO HIGHER JOY THAN THE SENSE OF YOUR PRESENCE AND THE LOVE YOU SHOW US AGAIN AND AGAIN. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, CHRIST OF THE CHURCH, WE GATHER HERE AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FAITHFUL, TO MAKE OUR DEEDS KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE, AND TO DECLARE THAT YOUR NAME IS SUPREME. WE DEPART TO TAKE OUR CUP OF JOY TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN
ISAIAH 12:2-6
Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
FOR THE LORD IS MY STRONGHOLD AND MY SURE DEFENSE,
AND HE WILL BE MY SAVIOR.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation.
AND ON THAT DAY YOU SHALL SAY,
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND CALL UPON HIS NAME:
Make his deeds known among the peoples;
SEE THAT THEY REMEMBER THAT HIS NAME IS EXALTED.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world.
CRY ALOUD, INHABITANTS OF ZION, RING OUT YOUR JOY,
FOR THE GREAT ONE IN THE MIDST OF YOU IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
Express gratitude to God, invoking God by name. Make God's deeds known in the world around, declaring the supremacy of the divine name.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF PEACE, PRINCE OF PEACE, SPIRIT OF PEACE, YOUR NAMES ARE TO BE HALLOWED AS SUPREME. FORGIVE US IF WE FAIL TO GIVE DUE HONOR TO YOUR NAME IN OUR FAMILIES AND IN OUR SOCIAL LIFE. IN OUR SOCIETY THE NAME OF SANTA CLAUS SOMETIMES OBSCURES THE NAME OF THE CHRIST CHILD, THE HAMMERING OF ELVES DROWNS OUT THE SONG OF ANGELS. THE MISSION OF REINDEER COMPETES WITH THE ADORATION OF SHEPHERDS AND THE TRAVEL OF THOSE WHO SEEK THE ONE BORN TO BE KING. PARDON US IF WE HAVE LET SUCH THINGS GET OUT OF HAND IN OUR SOCIAL CIRCLES. HELP US TO RESTORE YOUR NAME TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION: Now my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable - fill all your thoughts with these things.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
GOD OF WISDOM, GOD-IN-ACTION, SPIRIT OF INQUIRY, PROMPT US TO ASK NOT ONLY WHAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE
BUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO? SAVE US FROM FRUITLESS SPECULATION THAT DOES NOT ISSUE IN OBEDIENT ACTION
TO FULFILL OUR VOCATION TO SERVE YOU IN THE SERVING OF OTHERS. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MAGNANIMOUS GOD, TO THE CRIES FOR HELP WE HAVE MADE IN ANXIOUS MOMENTS, AND THE PETITIONS WE HAVE OFFERED IN TIMES OF NEED, WE ADD OUR THANKSGIVINGS AND OUR EXPRESSIONS OF JOY. WE HAVE JOY IN THE LORD BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENABLED US TO PUT INTO PRACTICE SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT JESUS AND THE APOSTLES HAVE TAUGHT US, AND TO FOLLOW THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF OTHERS, OLD AND YOUNG, WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN FOLLOWING CHRIST. WE HAVE NO HIGHER JOY THAN THE SENSE OF YOUR PRESENCE AND THE LOVE YOU SHOW US AGAIN AND AGAIN. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, CHRIST OF THE CHURCH, WE GATHER HERE AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE FAITHFUL, TO MAKE OUR DEEDS KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE, AND TO DECLARE THAT YOUR NAME IS SUPREME. WE DEPART TO TAKE OUR CUP OF JOY TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN
ISAIAH 12:2-6
Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
FOR THE LORD IS MY STRONGHOLD AND MY SURE DEFENSE,
AND HE WILL BE MY SAVIOR.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation.
AND ON THAT DAY YOU SHALL SAY,
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND CALL UPON HIS NAME:
Make his deeds known among the peoples;
SEE THAT THEY REMEMBER THAT HIS NAME IS EXALTED.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world.
CRY ALOUD, INHABITANTS OF ZION, RING OUT YOUR JOY,
FOR THE GREAT ONE IN THE MIDST OF YOU IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
