Prayers for Worship
Advent 4C
December 23, 2012

Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten

Call to Worship

Leader: Our soul magnifies the Lord, the Messiah.
People: Christ’s birth lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry.
Leader: Children, parents, teachers—the wounded, dead, and grieving—
People: you pick up and embrace through the Advent of Christ.

Invocation

We glorify you, God, for this sacred, blue season during which you challenge us anew to prepare the way of Christ. As we finish Christmas preparations, lead us to see the Messiah in our lives in both the joy and the pain. In the Savior’s name we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Mother in Heaven, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Often, during this season, we make mountains out of molehills and vice versa. We make primary matters secondary, secondary matters primary. We forget the birth and sharing your love and fixate on stuff.

For the sake of the Baby, make our paths straight. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Good Christian friends, rejoice! Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! Through the Baby, God forgives your trespasses. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Prayer of Inspiration

Maranatha!

Prayers of the People

Mama, we praise you for sending your Son. The Incarnation. Astounding! Joy to the world, (congregational response: the Lord is come.).

We find Christmas thrilling. Yes! We praise you for the music, the time with loved ones, the food. Continue to enlarge our compassion for those who do not find this season glorious. Joy to the world, . . .

We offer strong gratitude for your servant Stephen. Embolden us to imitate his courage. Joy to the world, . . .

Lord, there was no Mayan apocalypse. Help us always to be ready for your coming, always ready to announce joy to the world, . . .

Adonai, we’re driving toward the fiscal cliff. Heal Washington of its dysfunction so that we can steer away from the edge. In any case, we declare joy to the world, . . .

God, as we recall the Holy Innocents, we focus on the horrific, heart-breaking shooting in Connecticut. All those children. Such brutality. God, why? Please bring healing to that grief-heavy community, and grant us the resolve to do what we can to help those people and to make our nation safer for all. Although we are sad, we can still proclaim joy to the world, . . .

Shootings have become prevalent. Lead us away from faulty theology and toward an understanding of you and one another that will lead to an end to such violence. In the midst of it all, we still sing joy to the world, . . .

During this holy time, tutor us on new ways to bring comfort to the sick, poor, addicted, lonely, disrememberd, imprisoned, mentally ill, and all we mention now [Add names.]. Because you are with us, we announce joy to the world, . . .

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

In the name of the Messiah, we thank you for hearing us. Yes.

Offertory Prayer

Receive our gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Benediction

Leader: Our soul magnifies the Lord, Father, Son, and Spirit,
People: and wonders of God’s love,
Leader: and wonders of God’s love,
All: and wonders, and wonders of Christ’s love!

(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)