GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
Call to Worship
Leader: Happy are we who hear the joyful call to worship,
People: for we walk in the light of God’s presence!
Leader: Let us worship God together—
People: celebrating who he is and all that he has done!
Leader: For God is our strength and our protection,
People: the One in whom we trust.
(based on Psalm 89)
*Lighting of the Advent Wreath
Watch and wait for Christ's coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.
We light this candle in hope. We light this candle for peace.
We light this candle in joy! We light this candle with love.
Out of love for the people of God, the Lord speaks through the prophet Isaiah, as found in the seventh chapter, verses 10-14:
"The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 'Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.' But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.' Then Isaiah said: 'Hear then, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.'"
Let us pray: God of hope, Prince of peace, Jubilee Judge, and Lord of love, your goodness is beyond our wildest imaginings. You give us more than we can think to ask, coming to us with impossible possibility in the union of flesh and spirit. Teach us to love this world and all people as you love us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. God of promise, God of hope, into our darkness come.
Charlie and Melissa Yates
Hymn
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him; O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
ADESTE FIDELES
Invocation and Lord's Prayer (Unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Call to Confession (Unison)
O Holy God of Promise, we so often place our trust in the things we can see, and touch, and easily believe.
But you did not ask us to believe what is easy, you asked us to believe what is true!
Forgive us, Holy One, when we doubt the ways you work.
Forgive us when we find it hard to believe an ancient story.
Forgive us when we question how you chose to enter the world, born as one of us.
Forgive our lack of faith and belief in ways which seem so impossible to believe.
Help us to look in faith, open our belief, and set aside our doubts that you sent your Son, born of a virgin – the one who has come to set us all free.
We offer these prayers in the name of your Son, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.
~ written by Rev. Jan Brooks, Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church
Silent Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Response: Thanks be to God!
Gloria Patri
