For December 7, 2008 -- Be Not Afraid, Prophetic Peace be with You -- 2nd of Advent

CALL TO WORSHIP
Into the wildernesses of the world,
God speaks through wild men and prophets.
Into the chaos of the world,
God promises peace that shall be.
Into the noise of the world,
God calls to God’s people, calling them together for comfort and challenge.
Let us worship together, let us pray…

OPENING PRAYER
God, the world is filled with troubles,
we pray for peace to fill the world.
God, sometimes we have trouble finding the path,
we pray for voices to remind us what is possible, to remind us which way to go.
God, in this time of worship,
move among us, fill us with hope, remind us that new life is being born in our world. We pray in the name of Jesus, whose birth we await. Amen.

Offering Prayer
God, with every heartbeat we come closer to the time when we celebrate the birth of a child. As we prepare to celebrate that birth open our hearts to give. May the gifts we give this Christmas season be gifts that enrich the lives of all your children. Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Into the wildernesses of our world,
We are sent out, to share God’s word of hope.
Into the chaos and noise of the world,
God wants us to bring peace, prophetic peace, for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
As we go out into the world we go confident in the knowledge that God: Parent Child, and Spirit goes with us always.
Thanks be to God! Amen.