PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 4, 2016
Greeting
Said John the Baptist,
“The One who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Come, let us worship, for He whom John spoke of is here with us, ready to baptize.
Penitential Prayer
As those who listened to John the Baptist were called upon to repent, in preparation for the coming of the Lord and His Kingdom; so it is fitting that we also should repent in preparation for the coming of the Lord and His rule in us — for we have been guilty of the very same sins.
We confess that we who have two coats and perhaps more — to say nothing about the rest of our wardrobe — have often failed to share our luxuries with the needy.
We confess that we too, who have so much food, have been reluctant to give to the starving, even while we spend more and more on expensive delicacies.
We confess that we, too, like the tax collectors of old, have been less than honest in some of our business dealings.
We confess that although we may not have robbed anyone by violence, we may very well have done so by false accusation: robbing them of their good name.
We confess that we, too, have not been content with our wages and our standard of living, but have been caught up in the concept of life which judges success in terms of material possessions.
Forgive us, we pray, in the Name of the Christ who wishes to fully establish His Kingdom in us.
Blessing
May the Spirit of the Living Christ
increase within you daily,
bringing forgiveness and fruitfulness,
peace and power.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 11, 2016
Greeting
We come today to experience the power of Jesus:
the power that cures the blind
and even raises the dead.
We come today to experience Jesus’ power of healing:
and to partake of that power
so that we may become healers.
Penitential Prayer
There are times when we say “It’s hopeless,”
when we should be saying “All things are possible with God.”
There are times when we have tried to bring down
God’s faithfulness to the level of our own faithlessness.
There are times when we closed our minds and hearts
to the limitless possibilities of the miracles and surprises
we can expect from Your hand.
Lord, we need strength for our weak faith.
Lord, we need to have our belief in miracles restored.
Blessing
His call is echoing in my ears,
and pounding in my heart and soul;
For He has called out my name,
and I shall follow Him.
He has worked the miracle of faith in my life,
and I believe!
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 18, 2016
Greeting
Enter, and have no fear …
His Name is “Immanuel,”
A Name which means “God is with us.”
Have no fear …
God is with us!
Christmas is coming!
The signs are everywhere!
Penitential Prayer
We confess, Father, that peace and brotherhood do not reign through the earth. When the scourge of war ends in one land, it rages anew in another. Because we seem so small and helpless, we do not act. Because we imagine ourselves unable to make our voices heard, we do not speak,
Forgive us, Lord,
if our peace efforts are lackadaisical.
Forgive us Lord,
if we promote goodwill less than we are able to.
Blessing
May the peace of Christ,
the joy of the life in Christ,
the wonder of the love of Christ,
be with you now and forever.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 25, 2016
Greeting
Our God is the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
Before the beginning of the world He was;
and after the ending of the world He will be.
Come, let us worship the timeless One,
for with Him we will share eternity.
Penitential Prayer
We confess, Father, that the words, “Peace on earth, good will among men” seems rather out of place here.
There seems to be so little peace among the nations of the world.
There seems to be so little peace between the races and religions, between the rich and poor, between the political right and the political left.
There seems to be so little peace in our schools, in our neighborhoods and on our streets.
There seems to be so little peace in our shops, our businesses, our unions and our factories.
There seems to be so little peace in our homes and our family circles.
Forgive us, Lord, for what we have contributed to the turbulence of our times.
Forgive us where we have failed to embody the love, the patience and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Forgive us when we have neglected to be peacemakers, standing by idly in the midst of increasing hostility.
Enable us, in a small way, to be the fulfillment of the angel’s prophecy that there will be peace on earth, good will among men.
Blessing
May the peace the angels proclaimed,
the joy the shepherds experienced,
the wonder the wise men expressed,
be with you forever,
now and to the end of time.