Advent Litany: Isaiah 40

Here’s an advent litany of commitment from Bread for the World.  It was posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website.  Visit that site for other good resources for Advent and Christmas worship.

Advent Litany
(based on Isaiah 40)

Prepare the way for the Lord!
Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
How will we make a straight pathway for our God?
By straightening the crooks and bends of our own hearts.
By removing the secret places we hide from God.
By exposing the failings of community and nation,
the failings that as a nation we hide from ourselves
but cannot hide from God or the rest of the world.


Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
How will we comfort the people of the Lord?
By seeing and hearing the world’s anguish,
and by acting to relieve its sufferings.
By beating our swords into plows,
that the earth might support the Lord’s people and not its rulers.


A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I say, “What shall I cry?”
What shall we proclaim of the Lord’s coming?
We proclaim that the acceptable day of the Lord is here—
when we are delivered from sin and death.
When the meek shall inherit the earth.
When the blind will see and the deaf will hear;
when the hungry are fed and the oppressed delivered.


You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout.
Lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah:
“Here is your God!”

— from Banquet of Praise, copyright © 1990 Bread for the World. Posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. 


Gospel Reflection: Luke 1: 47-55


Here’s a reflection on Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55), written by Cheryl Lawrie.

for all we know

For all we know,
before Mary sang her song of joy
she wept tears of frustration
despair
and heartbreak.

I like to think she did.

For all we know,
before Mary welcomed God’s action with delight,
she fought what was happening to her
and she resented the presumption
of the divine.

For all we know,
for at least a moment
and probably longer,
Mary was bewildered,
distraught
and lost.

The miracle we celebrate today
may somehow seem more impossible
than the idea that Mary got pregnant
or that God became human.
It’s that in the face of devastation
and from deep within the truth of heartbreak and desolation
there might still come
unbidden
a moment of joy.

— Cheryl Lawrie, on her wonderful [hold this space] site. 

For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resourcesor click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

Digital Story of the Nativity

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer: Isaiah


Here’s a call to worship litany and an opening prayer for Advent.  They were written by Rev. Nancy J. and posted on her wonderings through life and other such nonsense blog.

Call to Worship Litany
(Isaiah 11:6-9; 40:3-5)

‘Prepare the way,’ the prophets call,
‘make ready the highways for God.’
How we long to walk down the sidewalks
in God’s kingdom of peace!
Prepare your hearts,
for God’s realm opens up a new day.
We yearn for the time
when the wolf and lamb will live together in harmony.
Prepare the way,
God promises a new day when adversaries will lay down their arms.
We dream of a world transformed by God’s love.
May the God of hope fill your hearts with all joy and peace.
We rejoice for God’s Spirit is in our midst!

Opening Prayer

God of hope, we come to you in the midst of a world fraught with troubles. Although the darkness is powerful, open our eyes, Lord, to the light of your presence. Give us faith to stand against the voices of division and violence. Through your Spirit remake us into hope-filled disciples, discovering lives attune to your wonder, and sparking in others a desire to know you more. In the name of the One who comes to us, we pray, Amen.

— Rev. Nancy J, on her blog, wonderings through life and other such nonsense

Advent Affirmation of Faith

Here’s a wonderful affirmation of faith, suitable for use during the season of Advent.  It was written by Nathan Nettleton, and posted on his Laughingbird website.

Affirmation of Faith for Advent

We believe in God,
creator and lover of the earth,
origin and destiny of us all.

We believe in Jesus the Christ—
God coming to us
in the fragile promise
of a baby yet unborn—
who emerges as the herald of hope,
God's laughter in the face of despair.
Plunged into death and hell,
he broke free the captives,
and is leading the way
to the land of promise
where justice and peace will flourish.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who implants the seed of truth,
brings us to birth
as the body of Christ,
and empowers us
to confront and transform
all that is corrupt, degrading and deceitful.

We believe in the coming reign of God.
Announced by the Baptist,
it has drawn near to us in Jesus,
and will be consummated
in the glorious marriage of earth and heaven,
when all who have passed through
the world's deep sorrow
will be raised from the waters,
robed in righteousness,
and gathered into the joyous fulfilment
of God's desire.

For the coming of that day on this day,
we work and pray:
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

— written by Nathan Nettleton, and posted on his Laughingbird website.  

For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resourcesor click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 


Prayer: You Break In

Here’s a beautiful prayer suitable for use during Advent or at other times.  It was written by John Birch and posted on his Faith and Worship website.  

You Break In

Into the daily cycle of our lives
When all seems well
With us and with the world
When our yoke is easy
And the burden light
You break in
And scatter our complacency

Into the daily cycle of our lives
When we are comfortable
And at our ease
When the fire is lit
But eyes are closed
You break in
And challenge our dependency

You break into
Our daily prayers
Humble hearts
Lay souls bare
You break in
You break in

You break in
When defenses are down
With an Angel's shout
Or the quietest sound
You break in
You break in
And we change
And all things change
When you break in

— written by John Birch and posted on the Faith and Worship website.  

For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resourcesor click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 

For more prayer resources on this blog, click on Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Scriptural Prayers index or Topical Prayer index at the upper right.


Advent Confession

Here’s a prayer of confession for Advent by Jamie Barnes. 

 

Advent Prayer of Confession


Lord God,
we praise you for sending light into this world.
We confess that we live as though the light had never defeated darkness.
We confess that we ignore the Savior you sent to be among us and to live in us.
We’ve kept the birth of your Son confined to the Christmas season
and do not yearn for his coming each moment in our waiting hearts.

Forgive us for not opening our eyes to Jesus.
Prepare us for His return.
Help us rejoice in the light,
so that your grace can illuminate
the darkened places of our hearts.  Amen.

— adapted from the Worship Sourcebook by Jamie Barnes for the Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY. 

For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resources, or click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 


Christmas Pageant Ideas

If you’re looking for a Christmas pageant script for Christmas Eve, here are a variety of free pageants available online. 

From Katherine Hawker’s Liturgy Outside the Box website:

From Rev. Mindi Welton’s Rev-o-lution website:

From Katherine Willis Pershey’s any day a beautiful change blog:

Dramatix lists a wide variety of different children’s scripts for Christmas on their website.

Louise Egan offers this pageant script:

Here’s another Christmas pageant script written by Brendan Leahy from the Gloria Dei! Lutheran Church in Arnold, MD.

Rev. Greg Ward has adapted this pageant script from the book of the same name by Barbara Robinson:

Our Sunday Visitor offers this pageant script:


If you have other Christmas pageant scripts to suggest, leave me a message. I’ll gladly add them to the list.

For other resources for Advent or Christmas, check the Indexes at the upper right side of the page, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right.


Christmas Eve Candle Litany

Here’s a candle-lighting litany suitable for use in worship on Christmas Eve. It was written by Peter L. Haynes.

Christmas Eve Candle-lighting Litany

Immanuel, God-with-us,
interrupt and open our eyes to the wonder of this night,
that we might catch a glimpse of your glory
in the simplicity of these moments.
May your light shine!
(First advent candle is lit.)

Immanuel, God-with-us,
interrupt and soften our hearts to the message of this hour,
that we might turn toward you,
and have the way prepared in us for your coming.
May your light shine!
(Second advent candle is lit.)

Immanuel, God-with-us,
interrupt and open our minds to truly listen to all
who speak and sing this evening,
that we might hear your voice cry out from many lips.
May your light shine!
(Third advent candle is lit.)

Immanuel, God-with-us,
interrupt and fill our spirits
with the courage to admit when we are lost
and the insight to recognize that we have been found.
May your light shine!
(Fourth advent candle is lit.)

Immanuel, God-with-us,
with eyes open, hearts softened, minds listening, and spirits full,
we rejoice that you interrupt what we have in mind
in order to bring into being something more than we dare imagine.
May your light shine! Amen.
(Center Christ candle is lit.)

— written by Peter L. Haynes, and posted in the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren Christmas Eve service

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.


Call to Worship for Christmas Eve

Here is a call to worship for Christmas Eve.  It quotes Isaiah 9:2 and John 1:1, 14.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Entry into Celebration
(inspired by Isaiah 9:2, John 1:1, 14)

The impossible is about to happen in a stable.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness,
on them has the light shined!

This is the evening when creation stood still and held its breath,
for God was doing the most unbelievable, dangerous thing.
This is the evening when God embraced humanity
from the inside, as one of us, from birth to death.

In the beginning was the Word,
   and the Word was with God,
      and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
Amen!

— written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage 

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more calls to worship, click on Calls to worship in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Call to Worship index at the upper right.


Christmas Poem: In the Midst of It All

Here’s a thoughtful Christmas poem written by Barbara Doerrer-Peacock.

In the Midst of It All – Love Has Come

In the midst of it all…
a government tax, a burdened journey,
a burgeoned town,
no room
in the midst of it all.

In the midst of it all…
each single life, here and now,
walks the hard pavement of ordinary life,
wading through
the sinking mud or flash flood
of waking tasks,
worried racks of anxious unknowns.

But, somewhere in this night,
the desert night of long ago,
or this daily desert of a road—
a twinkling here, a shining there,
a flower blooms
in deepest winter.
Love has come
and calms the shiver.

A warming kiss
a soft embrace,
a lighted window
a stable place.

In the midst of it all…
a hard won labor,
grace is born in fleshly groans.
The baby cries his birthday song
as angels weep and sweep
the heaven-to-earthbound glory.

And, love has come,
to each and every one of us
whether our eyes are open
and we perceive,
or closed in lonely fear.

We will receive
this love come to us –
whether open-hearted
in abundant waves,
or in unsuspected
and surprising ways.

Love has come.
Love has come…
Arise and shine – with the sun!
Love has come
in newborn grace
to offer truth
and God a face.

— posted by Barbara Doerrer-Peacock on her blog, Living Desert Voice

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.


Christmas Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the birth of your Son. 
Help us to prepare again for his coming:
to prepare inwardly, in our hearts,
and outwardly, in our world. 

We do not only commemorate the birth of Jesus,
but celebrate his presence and his continued rebirth in our hearts. 
We not only celebrate the meaning of his life for our world,
but rejoice at his continued presence and involvement in it. 

We thank you for that moment 2000 years ago,
and for this moment, and for those to come,
when the miracle happens again,
and the Unseen, Unheard but not Unknown occurs,
and he is here and with us yet again. 
In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

— from Banquet of Praise, copyright © 1990 Bread for the World.

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more prayer resources on this blog, click on Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see this Scriptural Prayers index or Topical Prayer index at the upper right.


Prayer of Confession: After Christmas

Here’s a prayer of confession for the Sunday after Christmas.  It was written by Rev. Nancy J.

Prayer of Confession
On this the sixth day of Christmas,
as another year draws to a close,
we come together before God and with one another,
confessing
the ways in which we have been caught up
   in the frenzied spirit of the holidays
   and turned away from Your Spirit of Peace;
the times we have focused so much on our own lives and desires,
   that we have neglected the voices of your children
   who cry out for Justice;
in our focus on making the season perfect,
   we have turned away from the hurting people
   and broken places in our world in need of Healing;
in the times we have dismissed Christmas as a time only for children,
   and we have stubbornly closed our hearts to your amazing gift of Love.


O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Word Become Flesh,
   our Savior and King, hear us as we humbly pray,

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news of Christmas.
Today God reveals to us the wonders of divine love.
For unto us a Child is born;
unto us a Son is given.
His name shall be called Wonderful,
   Counselor,
      the Mighty God,
         the Everlasting Father,
            the Prince of Peace.

— Rev. Nancy J, on her blog, wonderings through life and other such nonsense

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more confession resources, click on Confession or Words of Assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Confession/Assurance index at the upper right.


Benediction for Christmas

Here is another lovely piece by Carol Penner, from her Leading in Worship blog.

Christmas Benediction

By the tender mercy of our God
love has broken upon us!
Light is given where once there was darkness
and hope where there was only death.
We go into this season knowing
that God will guide our feet into the way of peace.

~ written by Carol Penner, on her Leading in Worship blog.

Closing Litany for Christmas Eve

Here’s a beautiful closing litany for Christmas Eve, written by Lisa Frenz.

Closing Litany: In the Quiet of the Night

1:         In the quiet of the night
2:         We have heard God's truth;
All:       A personal word of life
            Given for our redemption.


1:         In the quiet of the night—
2:         In the quiet of this night—
All:       We are called to act.
            We are called to care.
            We are called to share
            A personal story of Christmas,
            A personal story of salvation.


2:         In the quiet of this night
All:       God sends us to be living faith:
            A personal invitation,
            A personal voice of hope,
            A personal hand of service,
            In our day-to-day acts,
            In our day-to-day relationships.
            May God grant that it be so. Amen.

— written by Lisa Frenz, in An Order of Worship for Christmas Eve, and posted on the Mount Carmel Lutheran Church website. If used in worship, include the following note: “Copyright Lisa Frenz. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more benedictions, click on Benedictions in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Benediction index at the upper right.

Christmas Confession

Here’s a prayer of confession for the Christmas season.  It was written by Nathan Nettleton.

Prayer of Confession for Christmas

O God, you search us out and know us,
and all that we are is open to you.
We confess that we have sinned.
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

When we make no room for Christ,
and fail to welcome him into our lives,
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

When we follow shooting stars
and squander our gifts in Herod's court,
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

When we seek to cut down those
who might rise above us,
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

When we sanitise your birth place
and erase from memory the poor and displaced,
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

When we sing sweet sentiments over Christ's birth,
and fail to rejoice over his everyday presence,
In your mercy, Lord,
forgive us and heal us.

We turn to you, O Christ,
perfect union of Spirit and flesh;
We renounce evil;
We claim your love;
We choose to be made whole.

— written by Nathan Nettleton, and posted on his Laughingbird website.  

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more confession resources, click on Confession or Words of Assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Confession/Assurance index at the upper right.


Prayer at the Table: Christmas

Here is a prayer at the table suitable for use at Christmas.  It was written by Jennifer Phillips, the Vicar of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Kingston, Rhode Island.

Eucharistic Prayer for Christmas

Holy God, our Source and Ending, Alpha and Omega,
we give thanks to you!

You have called all creation into being,
setting the earth on its foundations.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent,
and set a boundary to the seas,
you have filled the world with your creatures
and called all things good.

The heavenly beings are your messengers night and day,
and with them we sing and give glory to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might.
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

In these latter days, God leaned toward the earth
and spoke to us by a Son, Jesus the Beloved.
Born of our sister Mary and the Holy Spirit,
guarded by our brother Joseph with fatherly care,
Jesus came among us as a baby, humbly born,
cradled beside the beasts and warmed by their breath,
human as we are, in need of human love.
Yet kings bowed down before him, bringing gifts
and emperors were troubled by his reign—
this Child in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

This Word of God made flesh and full of grace
was sent to deliver us from our sin,
from the power of evil and the fear of death.
As a servant, Jesus emptied himself of might upon the cross,
and as the risen Anointed One is enthroned at God’s right hand
to bring mercy and justice to all the earth at the end of days.

And so, rejoicing in all God has done for us,
we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again!

Holy God, as you visited us in the birth of Jesus,
visit us now by the power of your Spirit
in these creatures of bread and wine,
making them for us the Body and Blood of Christ,
the banquet of heaven here on earth,
as we remember how Jesus took bread and blessed
and broke it and gave it to his friends, saying,
“Take, eat, This is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
and after supper, took a cup of wine
and blessed and gave it to them, saying:
“Drink this, all of you.
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
Blessed God, shed your grace brighter than starlight on us
that we may bear your good tidings to all
and renew the weary world in your name:
the name of Emmanuel—God-With-Us,  
to whom we give honor and glory in joy, now and for ever. Amen.

— written by Jennifer Phillips.  Posted on the Worship Well website. 

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more prayer resources on this blog, click on Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Scriptural Prayers index or Topical Prayer index at the upper right.


Affirmation of Faith: Christmas Eve

Here’s an affirmation of faith for Christmas Eve.  It was written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on his excellent website, Bruce Prewer's Homepage.

I Do Believe

I believe in God whose light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never smother it.

I believe that on a night like this night in Bethlehem
there was born a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord.

I believe in the Word who has become incarnate, our very flesh and blood,
yet full of grace and truth.

I believe in the blessed appearing of the salvation of our God,
that is for the happiness of all people.

I believe in his name as Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of peace;
Of the increase of his rule and of his unique peace,
there will be no end.
The zeal of the God of hosts will do this.

This I surely believe!

— written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage 

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.


Opening Prayer: Christmas Eve

Here’s an opening prayer for Christmas Eve.  It was written by Lisa Frenz.

Opening Prayer

O God of love,
you have brought us together tonight
and blessed us with your very self.

Open our eyes to the light of Christ
which glows in the darkness of a world engulfed in apathy,
pain and loss;
a world separated from you.
Speak to us now that we may hear the good news of your salvation.
Bring us into the wonder of your presence.
Fill us with that light and carry it out with us into our lives. Amen.

— written by Lisa Frenz, in Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, and posted on Lisa’s Liturgies. https://sites.google.com/site/lisasliturgies/home  
If used in worship, include the following note: “Copyright Lisa Frenz. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more prayer resources on this blog, click on Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see this Scriptural Prayers index or Topical Prayer index at the upper right.


Call to Worship for Christmas

Here’s a call to worship suitable for use on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  It is based on Revelation 12:10 and Isaiah 9:6.

Christmas Call to Worship
(based on Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 12:10)

Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ have come.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and his name shall be called,
Wonderful Counselor,
   Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father,
         Prince of Peace.

— Robert I. Vasholz, from Calls to Worship: A Pocket Resource, posted on the Resources for Your Ministry website. 

For more worship resources for Advent and Christmas, see the indexes at the top right side of this blog, or click on Advent or Christmas in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more calls to worship, click on Calls to worship in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Call to Worship index at the upper right.