Prayers for Worship
Advent 2
by Ron Gordon

Mark 1:1-8

Collect: 

Holy God, you chose to make known your name and your will 
through holy women and men who listened for your word, and staked 
their lives on your promises. We rejoice in their faithfulness. You 
chose to call Israel to repentance through John in the wilderness and 
so to prepare the way, and to point to Jesus as the coming one. 
Blessed indeed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in 
the highest! Amen..

Prayer:

Father we rejoice in all your gifts to us: our very lives 
come from you, and in all the ways you sustain and bless us on our 
way. We thank you that we are not alone in our search for you, but 
that you have given and inspired men and women who have lead us in your ways.

We thank you especially for the good news proclaimed by John in the 
wilderness, and ask that we may hear your eternal call to change 
direction and to return to you for the forgiveness of our sin. We are 
grateful for the good news which comes through Jesus and offers us a 
life lived in friendship with you and all your people on earth and in heaven.

We must confess and seek forgiveness:

On lives lived in guilt and shame when we are called to be liberated 
and set free as your loved and loving children: Lord, have mercy.

When we hear the word of the Gospel and our hearts remain stubborn 
and cold to your pleas for acceptance and forgiveness, and when we 
hold grudges and fail to forgive others: Christ, have mercy.

When we have soured the good news by our lack of joy and humour, and 
turned people away by a failure to show the wideness of your mercy to 
us and others: Lord, have mercy.

We bless you, Father for the good news coming to us in Jesus: for his 
acceptance of people as they are, and the offering of new life and 
new possibilities. For his suffering love which has freed us all and 
brought us to the kingdom of your grace we can only
express our love. Blessed are you Holy Trinity for ever and ever. Amen.
 
wilderness of longing
by Jenn Gordon
 
Mark 1: 1-8

beginning before it begins
finger pointing past the present
forerunner
through the wilderness of longing
for the one
who is to come

no neat narrative or starry story
just a hairy honeyed prophet
tied with tradition
waiting,
anticipating
the coming of God's glory

veracious voice
in the cacophony of humanity

grace that goes before
straightens the path
opens the door
and turns us right way round
so we can sense the sound
of God's eternal plea;
"come back to me"
 
© Jennie Gordon 2008

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)