Prayers for Worship
Advent 1C
November 29, 2009

Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten

Call to Worship

Leader: The days are surely coming
People: when the Lord will fulfill all his promises.
Leader: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be alert at all times,
People: trusting in the strength that comes from the Son of Man.

Invocation

Advent-Adonai, you are with us always, even to the end of the age. Open our eyes to your agapic presence. So be it.

Prayer of Confession

To you, O LORD, we lift up our souls. Instruct us sinners in your way. We live carelessly, without regard for the sacredness of time. We are busy sleeping, wasting our lives, or we are obsessive compulsive about the Second Coming, interpreting every thunderstorm as a sign of doom.

For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon our guilt, for it is great. In the name of the Triple-Coming Christ, forgive us. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Christ is here! The LORD relieves the troubles of our hearts. God forgives us all our sins, every single one. May our integrity and uprightness preserve us, for we wait for God.

Prayer of Inspiration

Fig Tree-Spirit, prepare us for the coming of Christ through the sermon.

Prayers of the People

God-With-Us, you have supported the Church throughout the centuries. We offer extra gratitude for Andrew the apostle. We praise you for missionaries such as Francis Xavier and theologians and hymnwriters such as John of Damascus. Let integrity and uprightness preserve us, (congregational response: for our hope has been in you.).

God-With-Us, you have given our nation cornucopious riches. Care for President Obama, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all our leaders, so that we use these riches for the healing of the nations and not for selfishness. We lift up our souls to you, . . .

God-With-Us, we exalt you for good family and other loved ones. During the holydays, inspire us to lay aside dysfunction. Keep us safe in travel. May this be a season of healing fellowship. We lift our souls to you, . . .

God-With-Us, the holydays are painful for many. There is much grief, loneliness, and poverty. Compel us to care for those in need in substantial ways that make a difference. We lift our souls to you, . . .

God-With-Us, you have filled us with healing. Heal the suffering, including those we mention now. [Add names]. Let integrity and uprightness preserve us, . . .

(You may add other praises and petitions here...)

These prayers are for you, in the name of the Advent-Messiah. Amen.

Offertory Prayer

We come to you with this offering in accord with your truth.

Benediction

Leader: Trinity-Yahweh, Father, Son, and Spirit, even when the sun, moon, and stars collapse,
People: you are still our salvation.
Leader: We leave worship
People: ever vigilant to your arrival.

(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)