PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 4, 2022
Greeting
Prepare the way of the Lord;
prepare His way in our Church,
prepare His way in our community,
prepare His way in our homes,
prepare His way in our lives.
Come, let us prepare the way of the Lord.
Penitential Prayer
Forgive us, Father, if we are not heeding the words of John the Baptist — if we are not preparing the way of the Lord.
Forgive us, Lord, if we are leaving boulders of sin in Your path.
Forgive us, Lord, if we have publicly walked the high road by day and have sneaked into the alleys by night.
Forgive us, Lord, if we have neglected to trim away the underbrush and have allowed the vines of business and luxuries and money and prestige to overgrow our lives until there is no more room for You.
May this Advent season be for us a time of clearing away the underbrush, of walking the high road, and of removing the rocks in the road so that Your coming to us will be swift and joyful.
Blessing
May the love of the Father who plans,
the salvation of the Son who secures,
and the presence of the Spirit who enlightens,
be yours to keep and treasure forever.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 11, 2022
Greeting
If you have come to worship your Messiah,
we welcome you and pray that you will be enriched.
If you have come seeking a Messiah,
we welcome you and pray that you will find Him.
Penitential Prayer
Forgive us, Lord, if we have lived as if Christ had never come —
as if He had preached no Sermon on the Mount;
as if He had left no example of love and unconditional acceptance;
as if He had left no model of simplicity in lifestyle;
as if He had left no pattern of complete self-giving;
as if He had provided no forgiveness of our sins;
as if He had not provided new life for those who
follow Him.
Forgive us, Lord, if we have lived as if Christ had never come.
Blessing
Return to your homes rejoicing,
for the Christ has indeed come,
and He walks with you
as you go on your way.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 18, 2022
Greeting
Come, let us worship the Lord,
let us call upon the name of Yahweh,
for He has revealed Himself in our likeness,
and has saved us through His Son.
Penitential Prayer
If we have spent so much time shopping that we have had little time to spend with those we are shopping for, forgive us, and give us sensitivity.
If we have been busy practicing for the Christmas programs but haven’t thought about what they mean, forgive us, and give us understanding.
If we have been faithful in rehearsing the Christmas Hymns, but haven’t thought about the words, forgive us, and put a song in our hearts.
If we have worried about how much Christmas is going to cost but have given little thought to our treasures in heaven, forgive us and give us perspective.
If we have thought much about Christmas 2022 but have thought little about the meaning of the first Christmas, forgive us, and give us insight.
Blessing
May the salvation that was announced to Joseph be your salvation.
May the love that was conceived by God be your love.
May the Life that was born of Mary be your life.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
December 25, 2022
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 end 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” seem 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 nations, religions, factions, and politicians.
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, patience, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Forgive us when we have neglected to be peacemakers, standing by idly amid 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.
