For December 9, 2018 -- Advent 3 -- The Life of Christmas Present

CALL TO WORSHIP

The God of our Past, our Present, and our Future

invites us to worship as we prepare for Christmas.

We come closer to the birth of Jesus

the excitement is building, our preparations continue

As we prepare ourselves, we sing, we pray, we reflect

opening our eyes and hearts and souls to God’s presence.

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

Joy! God sometimes Joy is hard.

Sometimes we look at the world around us and find nothing to be joyful about.

If we are honest we know that the world is a troubled place

That is why we know we need you, why we need Jesus to be born in our world again.

God as we sing about Christmas help us remember the Grace that Jesus preached.

The Grace that helps us reform and reshape our lives and our world. Joy to the World, Jesus is coming!

Amen

COMMISSIONING:

In this season of Joy and Hope we get ready for the coming of the Prince of Peace

We go from this time of worship to prepare our homes and our hearts.

As you continue to prepare for the amazing birth that is a fortnight away be sure and secure in the knowledge that the God who breaks into the world as a Baby is with you everywhere you go.

In trust we will walk with God: Parent, Child, and Spirit. Amen.

For December 2, 2018 -- Advent 2 -- The Remembrance of Christmas Past -- Blue Christmas Ritual

CALL TO WORSHIP

The God of our Past, our Present, and our Future

invites us to worship as we prepare for Christmas.

Here we come to be reminded who we are and whose we are.

Here we open ourselves to God’s presence and listen for God’s voice

As we sing and pray and remember,

may God be with us, may God fill us with the peace that passes understanding.

BLUE CHRISTMAS PRAYER

God of Christmas promise and possibility,

we know that sometimes Christmas is less than joyful.

We remember the pain of the past and of the present,

we acknowledge that this pain is a part of our Christmas, is a part of who we are.

God who walks with us in joy and in sorrow, when the way is easy and when it is hard,

as we remember our past be with us we pray. Strengthen us as we go forward.

God who is always present, we lift up our memories, the happy and the sad,

And we are thankful that we are not alone.

We pray in the name of Jesus, whose birth we await. Amen

COMMISSIONING:

We have gathered, we have sung, we have prayed.

We have remembered the joys and sorrows of the past that has shaped us.

We go out to continue to get ready for the birth of a baby

a child who will lead us in the way of peace and love.

We go out trusting that the God who offers us the peace that passes understanding

is with us wherever life may lead. Thanks be to God.

FOr November 25, 2018 -- Advent 1 -- Bah Humbug

CALL TO WORSHIP

We come into the season of preparation.

A time when we open our hearts, where we get ready for a baby.

As we prepare for Christmas God calls us to reflect

reflect on the world around us and our place in it.

God has called us to this place to worship, to reflect on our world, to get ready for the birth of Christ.

Come, let us worship together.

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God, you send us many messengers as we try to understand what it means to be your people.

You remind us that our choices have consequences, that sometimes we do indeed reap what we sow.

Will we listen?

Will we take advantage of the choices your offer?

In grace and mercy you give us the opportunity to change how we are living.

Will we heed the warning? Will we be open to being changed?

...time of silent prayer...

The God we meet in Christ is Gracious and Merciful. God allows us the freedom to choose a path, but in Grace God allows us to change course when we chose a less helpful path. We are forgiven and led to wisdom.

Thanks be to God who helps us sow things we actually want to reap. Amen. 

COMMISSIONING:

We go out to continue living and working and serving.

We go out to continue to prepare for God’s breaking into the world.

As we go we remember that choices matter

and so we commit to make good choices.

Go with God: known as Creator, as Christ, as Spirit at work in the world.

Amen.