Call to Worship
Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Invocation
Mighty God, whose signs are everywhere, restore in us your light that we may discern what you are about. Shine upon this congregation to give life to our tired routines. Fill our longing hearts with quiet confidence. Awaken the child in us to experience revelation. By your presence with us, deepen the prayers we utter, and turn our fears to eager anticipation. Touch us to lend strength and confidence as we reach out to one another for help and healing. Amen.
Prayer of God’s People
Our holy God, you presented to all humankind with the great and glorious gift of your Son Jesus Christ. We humbly come with our lives to give today. We come with lives shaken with doubts about the future, grant us hope. We come with lives broken in our relationships, mend us with reconciliation. We come with lives injured from illnesses and accidents, heal us with wholeness. It is because of our doubts, our brokenness, our need for healing that you have come to give us good news in Jesus Christ.
Particularly during this season of hope and joy, we pray for those in our midst who await your presence and healing power. Continue to be with Nettie Wong and her family for the lost of her husband Richard Wong. Fortify her with your strength and comfort. Be with Deanna Wong as she strives for health in dealing with diabetes. And we continue to celebrate with joy on how Anne Lee has felt the power of prayer in facing her recent surgery. Help us to not lose sight of the conviction that all things are possible with you—give us the faith to believe and to proclaim to the world that Christ is in our hearts.
Dear God, we are once again praying for the end of war and casualties. If there are solutions that can gather all sides together to eliminate the distrust and suspicion, please make it happen. Help us here today to realize that the bombs falling on Iraq are our bombs and the lives that are being destroyed are also your sons and daughters. Lead us to become stirred up because this cannot be pleasing to you. O God, help us to see that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace for the whole world.
Merciful Lord, we pray for our country. We are sickened over the impropriety of President Clinton and the absence of bi-partisan cooperation of our representatives. We pray for the country’s leaders to think more about the welfare of the nation over their own agendas. May there be reason and justice; understanding and taking responsibility; contrition and forgiveness.
While our world continues to spin with war and scandals, you come as a little baby in a manger. Forgive us for our dullness of mind and spirit that we cannot willingly accept a simple sign of your mystery and majesty, amazing God. We pray for brighter days, but we world-weary mortals have lost confidence in our child. Free us in this season of Advent to notice your appearance in the amazing wonder and excitement of a child concerning a new day dawning. Help us to accept a childlike freedom to choose the good news in the gift of another tomorrow.
Restore us, O God. Let you face shine through the joyous smile of a child. Come to heal our eyes and hearts hardened by the burden of tears. Give us the gift of new life, and restore unto us a vision of your coming to save. As your people of faith, whose Jesus Christ taught us to pray, Our Father….
Offertory
In First John, we read, “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
Offertory Prayer
Precious God, in this season of giving and receiving, we dedicate these gifts for the work of your kingdom here on earth. We humbly bow and present our small gifts and with them our lives. Amen.
Benediction
Give us lives that will in their deeds fully praise you.
Give us love, that we may love him who has loved us and who gave himself for us, Christ our Lord. Amen.