Advent 4 Sunday Prayers - Dec 22

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent Four

Pastor:                 Isaiah 7:14          Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Family:                  Love is the theme of the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Love is what we all seek from our families and friends. The scriptures tell us that God is love, and that He loved the world so much, He allowed His Son Jesus to come among us. Love is at the heart of our faith and will continue beyond our mortal lives, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lighting of Four Advent Candles, including the Pink Joy Candle.

Family:                  May the love of God be experienced by all in our worship today.

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

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Foundation of All Life, Everlasting God and Creator of the Universe, we come before You as servants and seekers, as well as disciples and people devoted to You. Living Lord, You are our Rock and refuge, our shield and salvation, and also our gracious leader and loving guide.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we have sometimes wandered from Your ways and pushed against Your righteousness. We have chosen to embrace our pride and greed; we have followed after false notions and selfish sins. Forgive us for being unfaithful, unholy, and unworthy. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, we regret our past mistakes and look to Jesus for salvation. We turn away from our guilty sins and seek Christ to renew our lives. Keep us in fellowship with Jesus and help us to remain united to Him. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ was sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world from sin. He sacrificed Himself so that we may be given the opportunity to be forgiven of all things and restored to God’s favor and grace. Without Jesus, we have no hope of receiving the love of God. With Christ, we are spiritually purified and totally pardoned. We rejoice in His power and Holy Name, 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:                 O Lord, in the midst of this sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, and our hearts cry out for healing. Bless us, Living God, for we set our hopes on You and trust You for our strength.

People:                 Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob. Look upon Your people, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion, for You alone, O LORD, can fill us with hope and help us through each day.

Pastor:                 Gracious God, do not withhold Your power from us; please heal our loved ones from their sickness and pain, their anxieties and depression, as well as their illnesses and injuries. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, enable us to receive God’s word into our hearts through the reading of these sacred scriptures. Lead us with Christ’s teaching and presence in our lives. May we experience Him being born in our spirits this day and forevermore. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You are the Perfect One and our lives are transformed by Your mercy and grace. In return, we pledge to You our lives and dedicate our time, talents, and offering to You alone. Take these gifts and bless them for Your work in the world, as well as Your ministry among us. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to love and support our neighbors each day; may the Father help us to treat one another with mercy and grace; and may the Holy Spirit lead us to fulfill God’s law through being servants of His Kingdom and disciples of Christ, for now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude