OPENING
PRAYER
God
of joy, in this time of waiting and preparing,
we
come together to worship, to celebrate the promise of birth.
God
of birth, as we hear the story of a new life to come,
remind
us of the possibilities of the future,
remind
us of the joy that lies in growth and change,
remind
us that in Jesus you make all things new.
These
things we pray in the name of the Baby whose birth gets closer and
closer, Jesus, who will later teach his followers to pray saying...
PRAYER OF
WAITING AND WATCHING
God
of hope, we look around the world today
and
see lots of reasons to despair, help us find the hope.
God
of peace, we look around the world today,
and
see few signs of peace, give us the strength to be peacemakers.
God
of love, we look around the world today,
and
see many who need to be loved, push us to share love with each other.
God
of joy, we look around the world today,
and
see darkness and fear, awaken the joy of life in our hearts.
God
of grace, as we wait and prepare,
open
our eyes and hearts to see the world as it is,
open
our eyes and hearts to see where you are active,
open
our eyes and hearts to see the possibilities that surround us.
God
of Advent and Christmas, as we get closer to the time of birth,
through your grace help us to move past our fear or our complacency to embrace the promise of change in a baby in a manger. Amen.
COMMISSIONING:
We
have heard the angel come and make a surprising announcement.
A
baby! When we least expect it! What a joy! What a surprise!
We
have heard Mary agree to God’s surprising plan.
Now
we continue to wait and watch and prepare.
We
leave this time of worship and head out into the world.
Carrying
with us the promise of Joy for the whole world.
Go
with the God who created us, the Christ who leads us, the Spirit who
fills our hearts with Joy
We
are not alone. Thanks be to God.
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