Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude, Gathering
Advent Candle prayer (liturgy from the Uniting Church in Australia)
Family: Today is the first Sunday of Advent - the time when we prepare once again for the coming of Jesus.
Congregation: We light a candle each week to remind us that Jesus brings light into the dark places of the world.
Family: Today, the prophet Isaiah describes a future shaped by peace for all nations as they walk in the light of the Lord. We wait in hope for this prophecy to be fulfilled.
Congregation: We light the candle of hope to proclaim that God's light is coming into the world
A purple candle is lit.
Family: God of all nations - You spoke to Isaiah and You empowered him to speak welcome words of peace and hope to the people of his time.
Congregation: We need to hear Your word anew to us today as the darkness of despair is still experienced wherever peace and hope are absent.
Family: Strengthen us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may be Your prophets in this day and age - teaching Your ways and lifting people's darkness through words and work of love and peace and justice.
Congregation: In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
First Hymn:
Prayers of Confession
Guide: Loving God, who established the heavens and the earth, we come before You as people of Christian faith, seeking to please our Lord and King.
People: We raise up our prayers and praises to You alone. We worship You with our lips and cherish You in our hearts.
Guide: Almighty Father, we have come into Your holy house, so that we may learn Your sacred words and be thankful for Your merciful ways.
People: We remember that You judge us, so we confess our sins to You alone. We regret our past mistakes and disputes. We are sorry for our selfish choices and foolish decisions. We seek Your pardon and need forgiveness. Hear us now as we personally pray.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Gracious Lord, thank You for sending Jesus into our world and for the hope and peace that He brings to our lives. He is our Loving Savior and we are restored to Your favor through the blood of Christ.
People: We live and walk in the light of Christ. By His own words, we conclude our confessional prayers, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Our salvation is bought dearly by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are clothed in His righteousness and redeemed forever by His truth. Let us rejoice and celebrate our everlasting forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Lord . Amen.
Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: Contend, O LORD, with those things which harm us; defend us against all illnesses which weaken our bodies, minds and spirits.
People: Receive our heartfelt prayers and personal pleas for healing; arise, Heavenly Father, and come to our aid.
Pastor: Brandish Your power against those viruses and diseases, sicknesses and cancers which threaten our health. Grant peace for our troubled minds and bring strength to our souls by becoming our complete and effective shalom.
People: Permit our loved ones to rejoice in Your healing, LORD, and bring them to recovery through Your total deliverance.
Pastor: May our whole beings exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor in spirit from sickness and despair. You deliver the anxious and needy from the fears which overwhelm them.”
People: Enable us to give You thanks in this congregation for answered prayers; from within our hearts and souls, we bring You our petitions for hope, health and healing.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: May we delight in our deliverance and shout for joy with gladness; may our loved ones joyfully say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of His people." In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)
Prayer of Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, awaken us from our spiritual slumber and make us more aware of what Christ is doing throughout this present age. Help us to ponder upon these scriptures and openly receive God’s teaching in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Dedication: Lord Jesus, the day of our salvation is nearer than we know. In Your Holy Name, we gather together our tithes and gifts. Bless them for the holy work of Your Church, the preaching of the Gospel, and the saving of souls throughout the earth. Amen.
Communion
Closing Hymn:
Benediction: May Christ clothe us in His righteousness each and every day; may the Father teach us His ways, so that we may continue to walk in His paths; and may the Holy Spirit shower us with the light of eternal love, so that we may continue to worship and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude
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