Sunday Prayers - Advent 2 - Dec 6

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Advent 2 Call to Worship

Advent 2 Reader:             “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.””

All:    In the beginning was the Word—spoken and breathed, a promise made and kept. God’s promise is true! The Word was in the beginning, and through Him all things come into being.

Advent 2 Reader:     Eternal and near at hand, already and not-yet, God’s promise is the foundation of all life. Speak out, giving voice to God’s peace that passes all understanding.

~2 Purple Advent candles are lit~

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal God, whose power is absolute and abounds throughout the universe, we gather before You in this peaceful place of praise and prayer. We have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and continue to bless Your Holy Name.
People:                 Precious Father, we confess all of our sins to You. For years, we have stored up bitterness in our hearts and allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our spite and disappointed You with our misdeeds. We have sinfully fulfilled our selfish desires by casting aside Your sacred commandments. Forgive us, Gracious God, for we repent of our ugly ways and tarnished faith. Hear us now as we personally seek forgiveness from You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, You permit us to call upon Your Son Jesus for help, healing, and wholeness. He alone grants us forgiveness and salvation through His sacrificial death on the Cross. In Christ, we are pardoned and forgiven, reconnected to Your Kingdom and restored to Your everlasting favor. In Christ’s own precious words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on Earth and in Heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s blessing, and to be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True, and Only Savior, both now and always. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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.

Anthem

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor:                 Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your strength is like the mighty mountains, and Your justice like the great deep. We humbly pray that You will preserve our lives and our loved ones. Your unfailing love and mercy is precious to us. May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and the healing of all that harms them.
People:                May we regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant us our petitions and delight us with Your grace. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light; through Your peace, we are released from pain; by Your love we are set free from our fears. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others.

Pastor:                 Living and Gracious Lord, continue sending Your love to those who need You, and allow Your healing to be granted to those most cherished in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)


Prayer for Illumination
Reader :               Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents, and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to go out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory, and power. Both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers for Advent 2 - Dec 7

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Lighting of Advent Candles

Herald:                 Revive us again, O Christ our Savior, so that we may rejoice in Your grace and peace.

People:                 Show us Your unfailing love, O God, and grant us Your salvation.

Lighting of 2 candles

Herald:                 May peace be experienced in our hearts as we worship and glorify the Lord. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, who watches over all Creation and who understands our thoughts and fears, open our hearts to Your Holy Presence and enhance our spirits to experience Your Living Power. In this sacred place of prayer, may we know Your peace. As we gather in Your Name, may we sense Your Precious Love.

People:                 Lord of all Righteousness, we confess our failings and weaknesses. We are sinful and selfish creatures. We are bitter and resentful beings. We are greedy and stubborn people. We are careless and faithless servants.

Have mercy on our souls and deliver us from Your displeasure. Forgive us and cleanse us of our past mistakes, shameful acts, and broken promises, through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, our Lord. Hear us now as we personally pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Compassionate Father, we thank You for Jesus. His obedience and service, as well as His crucifixion and death have paid the penalty due for our sins. We are completely in His debt and totally grateful for His Grace.

We uplift our prayers in Christ’s Name, and through His Sacred words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  The broken body and the lifeblood of Christ atoned for our sins and acquits us of our guilt. We are set free from God’s condemnation and given the perfect opportunity to be restored to His favor and grace. We cannot do this by ourselves, for only Jesus can completely restore us to God’s Kingdom, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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:                 God presides over our lives, sustaining our bodies, and nurturing our spirits. May He constantly defend us against disease and discomfort; may His favor grant us hope and health. In the midst of our weaknesses, may the Lord grant us His strength. When fear affects us, may He enhance our faith.

People:                 Lord, rescue us from pain and suffering; attend to our loved ones and answer all our prayers. Grant us patience and understanding. Free us from worry and reinforce us with Your peace. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May the Lord positively respond and grant all of our requests. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 82)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, fill us with Your sacred presence and rule our hearts and minds. Let Christ’s teaching be personally experienced by all of Your people gathered here today. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, Your love never fails and we are blessed by Your grace. We gather these tokens in Your Holy Name and ask for Your blessing upon them. These tithes and offerings are the gifts of grateful people. We pray that You will enable us to honor God’s Kingdom by using them to proclaim the Gospel, help the needy, and serve God’s Kingdom in this community and throughout the world. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to honor our daily debts to Him; may the Father keep us loving one another; and may the Holy Spirit fulfill our lives through continuous service to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and throughout eternity. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Advent 2 Sunday Prayers - Dec 8

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent Two

Pastor:                 Isaiah 11:6-7      The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Family:                  Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday in Advent. Peace is what we all long for in our lives and the scriptures tell us of a wonderful day when all of nature will be at peace forever. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we welcome His sacred presence in the world.

Lighting of Two Advent candles

Family:                  May Christ’s peace descend upon our hearts and souls during this time of praise.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.               Singing of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Hymn   

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace, and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.

People:                 Gracious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments. Forgive us, Merciful God, as we repent of our sinful ways and selfish deeds. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Compassionate Lord, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing, and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, we would remain unforgiven. Through His sacrifice, we are pardoned and restored to Your favor forever. Hear us now as we pray in Christ’s words, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on Earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor, so that we may be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True, and Only Savior, both now and always.  Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison)                      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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens; Your faithfulness to the skies. Your strength is like the mighty mountains; Your justice is deep and unfailing.

People:                 O LORD, we pray that You will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is Your constant love and mercy to us! May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.

Pastor:                  May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant our petitions and delight us with Your grace. Hear us now as we pray.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Leader:                 Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, and Your healing to those most cherished in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)

Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer for Illumination

Reader :               Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory     

Dedication (unison – led by pastor)                        Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents, and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.  

Hymn                   

               

Benediction (unison):    May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to branch out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory, and power. Both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology

Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Advent 2 - Second in Advent - Dec 4

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Call to Light the Advent Wreath

Family: Today - the second Sunday in Advent - we hear about Isaiah's
vision of a new and transformed world.
Congregation: A world where all creatures live together in harmony and peace.

Family: We wait with hope for this vision to become reality.
Congregation: The God of hope fills us with joy and peace in believing. We light the candle of hope.

(The first purple candle is relit)

Family: We proclaim our belief in God's faithfulness in keeping promises, as we light the candle of peace.

( A second purple candle is lit)

Family:  God of all faithfulness - Isaiah's vision paints a picture of a world shaped in accordance with Your will and Your design.

Congregation:   He tells of One so enlightened by your Spirit that he would open eyes and ears and hearts to a new understanding of your will and your design for the world. Isaiah described the one for whom the people waited - the Messiah .

Family:  We wait also, but we wait in the joyful knowledge that the Messiah has come in the form of your beloved Son.

Congregation:   We wait in faith, praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus - Prince of Peace - will be born anew in our hearts and in our lives. Amen

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Everlasting Lord and God of all the Universe, who calls us each by name, we offer You our devotion and pledge to You our hearts. Almighty Father, who helps the powerless and supports the weak, we worship Your holy ways and glorify Your loving deeds.

People:           Merciful Lord, we know that we are utterly dependent upon You to sustain our lives, yet we humbly confess that we often take You for granted and frequently try to cast You aside. When we take Your name in vain, or choose to neglect our neighbor's need, or decide to hate our enemies, please forgive us. When we place ourselves at the center of our lives, or selfishly seek to satisfy our sinful desires, or forget to honor Your Son, pardon our mistakes. Hear us now as we humbly confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving Father, left to ourselves, we would do nothing about our need to repent, nor would we change our lives. You Son Jesus challenges our ways and offers us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and restored to Your favor. Therefore, in His precious Name, we make these confessions and continue to pray in His own words, saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER”  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Christ came into the world, to reconcile all things to Himself, and to witness to God's everlasting grace. He alone is the Savior of our souls and the Redeemer of the Earth. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung in unison): 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             Give ear to our words, O Lord, consider our feelings and prayers. Listen to our cries and pleas for help, for You are our King and God.

People:           This morning, O Lord, we lay our requests before You and wait in expectation. We have come into Your house seeking mercy; in reverence we bow before Your presence and ask for healing.

Pastor:             Help us to release our prayers to You and to put all that concerns us into Your hands. Lead us O Lord, in Your righteousness. Make plain Your ways before us, as we pray for our loved ones and ourselves. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor:             We will take refuge in the Lord and be glad. May He bless us with His favor and love. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 5)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, may God speak to us through these sacred words. May we become familiar with His ways and honor the teachings of His Son. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You call upon us to do everything in a fit and orderly way. We bring before You our tithes and offerings, praying that they may be given to Your service and dedicated for Your work by this congregation. Take these gifts, and our lives, for the glory of God's Kingdom and the life, ministries and missions which You ask us to undertake, accomplish and fulfill.  In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.            

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May our Lord Jesus Christ bring us closer to the Father of all compassion; may the Holy Spirit lead us each day to the One, Triune and Everlasting God of all comfort, joy, and love, both now and forever. Amen.          

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

Advent 2 worship prayers: Second in Advent - December 05

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Advent 2 Call to Worship

Family:            This is the Second Sunday in Advent and we continue to look for our Savior.

All:                  We will prepare the Way of the Lord and await His Presence.

(Lighting of Two Purple Advent Candles)

Family:            We have been released from the law so that we serve God in the new way of Christ’s Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Amen.

Gathering & Prelude

Hymn:

Prayer of adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace, and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.
People:            Precious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments.
Guide:             Holy God, we have tampered with our faith by falling into temptation. We have neglected our devotion to Your Son by satisfying our dreams and needs. Forgive us, Gracious God, for we repent of our reckless ways and diminished faith. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate Creator, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing, and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, without His sacrificial death on the Cross, we would remain totally unforgiven  and cast out from Your Holy Presence. In Christ’s own precious words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor, and to be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True and Only Savior, both now and always. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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.
Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor:             Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your strength is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.
People:            O LORD, we pray that you will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is your unfailing love and mercy to us! May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.
Pastor:            May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant us our petitions and delight us with Your grace. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light; through Your peace, we are released from pain; by Your love we are set free from our fears. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others.

Pastor:             Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, Your healing to the most cherished of our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)


Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings :

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison):   Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents, and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn :

Benediction:    May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to go out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory and power. Both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!