Opening Prayer: Prepare the Way

Here’s an opening prayer for Advent from Bruce Prewer.

Prayer of Invocation

(inspired by Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6)

Loving God, 

be to us as a bulldozer of the spirit.

Clear your road in us;

clear a path through the detritus of possessions and obsessions.

Thrust aside our divided aims and devious games.

Topple the ramparts of pride and the doubts that deride.

Make a highway on which Christ may come

and take possession of the whole territory of our being.  

To the glory of your name we pray.

Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Epiphany Blessing

Here is a blessing for the Epiphany season from Jan Richardson’s The Painted Prayerbook website.

Epiphany Blessing

“He is my chosen one, and I am pleased with him.

I have put my Spirit upon him.

He will reveal justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1

May the path

that Christ walks

to bring justice

upon the earth,

to bring light

to those who sit

in darkness,

to bring out those

who live in bondage,

to bring new things

to all creation:

may this path

run through our life.

May we be

the road Christ takes.

~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Confession: Path in the Wilderness

Here’s a prayer of confession for Advent from the Ministry Matters website.

Prayer of Confession

“Prepare the way of the Lord!

Make a straight road for him!”  Matthew 3:3

Holy and loving God,

we have dwelt in darkness

and preferred it to the light;

we have been proud of our accomplishments

and despaired over our shortcomings.

Smooth down the mountains of our pride,

and lift up the valleys of our doubts.

Open a path in the wilderness of our lives

that we might find our way to you again.

Refine us and prepare us once again

for life in your kingdom.

Hear our prayer, O Lord. Amen.

~ from First Sunday of Advent Prayers and Litanies, posted on the Ministry Matters website. www.ministrymatters.com/

Advent Confession: Prepare the Way of the Lord

Here’s an advent confession inspired by Luke 3:4 (Isaiah 40:3, John 1:23, Mark 1:3). It comes from the Monthly Prayers page (now Weekly Worship) of the Christian Aid website.

Prayer of Confession for Advent

(inspired by Luke 3:4, Isaiah 40:3, John 1:23, Mark 1:3)

The voice of one comes 
crying out in the wilderness 
… prepare the way of the Lord.

A messenger prepares the way, 
transforming us like the refiner’s fire 
… calling us to account.

For the prophets of old have spoken, 
announcing the breaking open of the dawn 
… guiding our feet in the way of peace.

Merciful God forgive us… 
Forgive us when we are quick 
to point the finger at someone else. 
Forgive us when we put our heads down 
and ignore the cries of injustice. 
Forgive us when we presume to understand 
the complexity of issues that divide and distract 
the peoples of the land your feet once walked.

Merciful God... 
forgive us, heal us, 
encourage us and speak through us, 
that we may be transformed through the refiner’s fire, 
and the offerings of our hands and our hearts 
may prepare the way for the Christ child 
to be welcomed among us in peace.

~ originally posted on the Monthly Prayers page (now Weekly Worship) of the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/churches/weekly-worship

Advent Calls to Worship

Here are a series of calls to worship for the Advent season from Harry Disher in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. They were inspired by the lectionary texts for Advent C, but you may find them useful for Years A and B, too. The were posted on the United Church of Canada’s website. (See below for link.)

Calls for Worship for the Advent Season

Advent 1

November ends. December begins.

We find our beginning and our ending in God.

Month after month, our God attends us and supports us.

For God’s company, we offer thanks and praise.

Let us worship the God who gives us Jesus Christ:

God who is the Alpha and the Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the Living One and our Redeemer, now and forever.

Advent 2

The day of the Lord brings grace and blessing.

We come to this day with hearts prepared for praising.

The day of the Lord brings judgment and pardon.

We come to this day with souls set on praying.

The day of the Lord brings wisdom and light.

We come to this day with minds eager to listen for God’s will.

In our praising, praying, listening, and responding,

we come to worship God.

Advent 3 (based on Isaiah 12:5–6)

Sing praises to God on high, for glorious are God’s works.

Sing praises to the ends of the earth.

Shout and sing for joy, O people of God,

for great is the Holy One in our midst,

blessed is the One who comes to dwell among us.

Advent 4

Seasons come and seasons go,

but our God endures forever.

Our faith exhibits ebb and flow,

but our God endures forever.

Our lives may freeze up or may grow,

but our God endures forever.

So let our souls magnify the Lord our God this day. 

~ written by Harry Disher, Grand Bend/Greenway P.C., Etobicoke, Ont. Published in Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, 2004–2005, produced by the United Church of Canada. Please credit the author. https://www.united-church.ca/worship  

Call to Worship: Luke 1:68-79

Here’s a call to worship for the second Sunday of Advent, Year C.  It was written by Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on his website, Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing (see link below).

Advent Call to Worship

(inspired by Luke 1:68-79)

Lift up your hearts, people of God,                                                              
for the Lord has looked favorably upon us
and is sending us his beloved son.
He is raising up for us a mighty savior
in the house of his servant David.
God is showing the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our ancestors Abraham and Sarah,
that we might serve him without fear.
We go before the Lord, following John the Baptist,
to prepare the way of the Lord.
Come, let us worship God
and listen to the voice crying out in the wilderness.

~ written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  http://www.stephenmfearing.com/ Permission is given for use in congregational worship.  Please give the following credit:  "Written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing - www.stephenmfearing.com"

For a complete liturgy for Advent 2C, visit http://www.stephenmfearing.com/liturgy/2015/11/8/call-to-worship-2nd-sunday-in-advent-year-c-december-6th-2015

Prayer: Waiting for Jesus

Here’s a timely prayer of petition and lament from the Sudan.  It was posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage.

Waiting for Jesus:  A Prayer of Lament

“The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—

indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1

Lord Jesus,

many of us are waiting for you:

  the war-torn are waiting for peace,

  the hungry are waiting for bread.

  the refugees are waiting for a homeland, 

  the sick are waiting for healers.

Have you forgotten us?

O Lord, come quickly, we pray.

Amen.

~  a prayer from Sudan, 21^st century. Posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/b_her.htm

Prayer: A Call to Repentance

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and commitment inspired by the call of John the Baptist.  It was written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship.

A Call to Repentance

(inspired by Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4-6, Isaiah 40:3)

As streets fill with shoppers
Bright lights and tempting offers
Christmas songs and children’s laughter
You lead us along a different path
To a desert river and a Prophetic voice
A call to repentance
A call to service
A call to immerse ourselves
In living water that will never run dry
A call to prepare a way in our own lives
For the Saviour of the world to enter in
To know the touch of tender mercy
And rest in your forgiving love

For your faithful prophets
And your Living Word
We give you thanks. Amen

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer: Prepare the Way

Here’s a responsive call to worship and opening prayer from Rev. Susan A. Blain. 

Call to Worship

(inspired by Matthew 3: 1-12, Romans 15:7)

The Reign of God is drawing near:      

The prophet calls us to change our lives!

Prepare the way for the Lord:

A just and peaceful path!

             

Welcome one another, for Christ welcomes you:

For the glory of God!

Opening Prayer

Holy God,

We long for your peace, and trust in your promise;

we hear your call to turn toward you,

to change our lives and welcome you in.

Meet us here and fill

our minds with your wisdom

and our hearts with your peace,

that our worship together

may open us to the challenge

of your dream of wholeness for all.

In the Name of the One who is coming, we pray.  Amen!

~ written by Rev. Susan A. Blain, in To Dream God’s Dream: Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent.  Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-a/ace/advent-service-prayers.html

Prayer Litany: John the Baptist

Here’s a brief litany on the theme of John the Baptist.  It was written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship.

Litany

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins... Luke 1: 76-77

In the lonely places
The wilderness
Where we stand forlorn
Windswept and alone
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord

In the dark places
The shadows
Where we hide our fears
Embrace our tears
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79

As the rising sun comes to us each dawn
Shine upon those who live in darkness
That all might know the joy of our salvation
The forgiveness of sins
And your great mercy

For the desert places in which we walk
The streets we roam
The paths we cross
Guide our feet
Take us to places
Where you would go
Give us words that you would use
That in this Advent season
Of promise and preparation
We might point the way with John the Baptist
To the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/Advent/Advent_John_the_Baptist.htm

Prayer for Grace: Malachi 3: 1-4

Here’s a prayer of confession and words of assurance inspired by Malachi 3: 1-4.  It was written by Rev. Gord.

Prayer For, and Assurance of Grace

(inspired by Malachi 3: 1-4)

God of Grace,

you blow the breath of life into our lungs,

you have formed us in your image.
And yet we acknowledge that sometimes

we are not who you would have us be. 
You challenge us to embrace the refining fire of your love,

to meet you on the threshing floor of life, to be washed as with fuller's soap.
But in our heart of hearts

we would rather keep those things

that would be removed in such an encounter. 
Through your Grace, life-giving God, accept us as we are,
Unrefined, unwashed, the chaff mixed in with the grain. 
And help us to move into a new way of being 

...time of silence...

Listen! For this is Good News!

God's Grace is wider than our wildest imaginings.

God's Grace embraces us as we are and where we are

and draws us out to be the people we were created to be.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

~ posted by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/

Advent Prayer: Between Hope and Fulfillment

Here’s an Advent prayer adapted from weekly Advent reflections by Mark Pierson.  It was posted on Facebook.

Advent Prayer

God in this season
suspended between hope and fulfillment,
let we never forget what you have done.
May we be overwhelmed by your mercy,
which flows in wave after wave.
May we be honest about the darkness within us,
and perceptive of the light around us.
May we make straight the path for the Lord,
that together we may see God’s glory revealed.

~ adapted from weekly Advent reflections by Mark Pierson. http://adventinart.org/)

Advent Litany: Upside Down Victory

Here’s a litany (or even call to worship) for Advent from Katherine Hawker’s Liturgies Outside website.

Advent Litany

(incorporating Zephaniah 3: 17-18, Jeremiah 33: 15, Baruch 5: 7, Malachi 5: 4-5)

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a warrior who gives victory;

he will rejoice over you with gladness,

he will renew you in his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing

as on a day of festival. (Zephaniah 3:17-18)

Yet ours is an upside down victory.

In those days and at that time

I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David;  

and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 33:15)

Ours is a story of power in humility.

For God has ordered that every high mountain

and the everlasting hills be made low

and the valleys filled up,to make level ground,

so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. (Baruch 5:7)

Ours is a story of strength in vulnerability.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall live secure,

for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace. (Micah 5:4-5)

Ours is a story of a baby deemed king,

of a carpenter's son praying alone,

of a Roman execution.

The Lord, our God, is in our midst.

May we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker. Posted on Liturgies Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Call to Worship: Prepare the Way

A voice cries out:

“Prepare for God’s arrival!

Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God.

Fill in the valleys, level off the hills.

Smooth out the ruts, and clear out the rocks.

For our God is coming!

Let’s worship together.

Prayer Reflection: Isaiah

Here’s a prayer reflection inspired by either Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 40:1-4, 9-11.  It was written by Anne Osdieck.

Prayer Reflection

(inspired by Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11)

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one with whom I am pleased

We cry

in the wilderness.

The land we walk is rugged and rough.

We find no straight highways.

Only deep valleys and

high mountains.

Jesus,

a light for us

and for all nations,

grasp us by the hand.

Open the eyes of the blind,

bring prisoners out from their cells,

from the darkness those whose eyes are

blinded.

Come to us with your power and might.

Come and comfort

your people.

Like a

shepherd,

gather us as

lambs in your arms

~ written by Anne Osdieck.  Posted on The Sunday Website of Saint Louis University. http://liturgy.slu.edu/BapLordC011313/main.html

Advent Commissioning: Ready to Share

Here’s a closing litany for Advent from Rev. Gord’s Worship Offerings blog.

Closing Commissioning

Can you be a voice crying in the wilderness?

Can you proclaim that God is active in the world?
Maybe?
The time is near, of the crowning of the year.
We sing with angels,

setting the roadways and the buildings humming 
As people who are being changed,

we go into a world that is being changed.
Ready to share the Good News

that the long expected Jesus is coming,

that we are being freed from whatever binds us. 
Glory be to God!

Who walks with us, sings with us, and struggles with us,
each and every day. Amen

~ posted by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/

Reflection: Isaiah 40

Here’s an Advent reflection inspired by Isaiah 40: 3-5 (and, by extension, Mark 1: 2-3 and Luke 3: 4-6).  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Brave Wilderness Voice

(inspired by Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6)

O brave wilderness voice,

prophet of the Highest,

            come among our markets

            and consuming passions

and rebuke with your cry

            our modern addictions

            and frantic fashions.

O lonely, rough-hewn soul,

speaker of hard truths,

            axe our mad, fruitless boasts

            and viperous displays;

call us to that repentance

            which we have deftly dodged

            under pious cliches.

O smoother of crude ways,

mover of black mountains,

            tread down our pampered pride

            and cultured discontent;

straighten our twisted days

            until each childlike hope

            skips to meet the Advent.

~ from Beyond Words, copyright ©  B Prewer & JBCE 1995.  Posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Luke 1: 68-79

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving inspired by Zechariah’s song in Luke 1:68-79 (just after the birth of John the Baptist).  It was written by Michael Perry in Bible Praying, and is available on the Jubilate website.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

(inspired by Luke 1:68-79)

We bless you, our Lord God,

that you have come

and have redeemed your people,

raising up for us a strong saviour

   from the family of your servant David,

      as you promised through your prophets long ago.

You have rescued us from the grip of our enemy;

you have enabled us to serve you without fear,

   in holiness and righteousness before you

      all our days.

we thank you that you have given to us, your people,

   the knowledge of salvation

      through the forgiveness of our sins;

and that by your tender mercy

the Sun has risen into heaven

to shine on all who live in darkness

   and in the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Amen.

~ written by Michael Perry.  Posted on the Jubilate website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/

Benediction: Luke 1: 78-79

Here's a benediction inspired by the song of Zachariah in Luke 1.

Benediction

(based on Luke 1: 78-79)

A new day is dawning!

Despite what we see and hear in the world around us,

the sunrise is coming.

When it comes, it will break through the darkness of our world—

darkness caused by violence and death and hunger and despair.

And all those who now sit huddled in the shadows

will be able to rise and walk with confidence in the light.

So go from here with courage and hope,

to love and serve the Lord.  Amen.

Benediction: Philippians 1: 9-11

May God, who has begun a good work within you,

continue that work until the day when Christ Jesus returns.

May your love overflow more and more;

may you continue to grow in knowledge and understanding,

so that you can clearly discern what really matters,

and so that you may stand pure and blameless before God

on the day of Christ’s return.

The God who calls you is faithful,

and He will do it.

Go in peace.