Liturgy

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.
Advent is a season of anticipation. Of waiting.

In this season of expectation,
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah,
Into the bustle of our lives
and the hard to find moments of solitude.

We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah,
Into our homes and situations
along with friends and families.

We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah,
Into our hearts and those often hidden parts of our lives
for beneath the surface of your story
is an inescapable fact.

You entered this world
as vulnerable as any one of us
in order to nail that vulnerability to the cross.

Our fears, our insecurities and our sins,
all that separate us from God,
exchanged by your Grace for Love.

We can not comprehend the reasoning,
and only marvel that Salvation comes to us
through a baby born in a stable,
and reaches out to a world in need.

In this season of anticipation
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, our Messiah,
and we light a candle of hope to honor you,
Immanuel, God with Us.

Congregational Prayer

In prayer, let us confess to God as a community.

O promised Christ:
We are a world at war.
Our peace depends on your advent.
We are a sinful people.

Our pardon depends on your coming.
We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping promises;
our only hope of doing God’s will
is that you come and help us in your mercy.

Lord Christ, the Word made flesh,
our world waits
for your peace,
for your pardon,
and for your grace.

Come, Lord Jesus.
We are in need of you.

We pray in your name, Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer and King,
amen.

Reflection

What does waiting look like for us during this Advent season?
How can we replace consumption with expectancy as we celebrate Christ’s birth this season?

Benediction

Go now: wait and work for the coming of the day of God.
In the wild places prepare a straight path for the Lord.
Lead lives of holiness and godliness,
strive to be found at peace,
and speak freely of the Lord’s comfort and promise.

And may God, our Shepherd, gather you in loving arms;
May Christ Jesus reconcile justice and peace within you;
And may the Holy Spirit baptize you into the life of God.

Let us leave here to serve our Lord faithfully and full of hope
in this Advent season.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by dearclaudia @ Flickr]