Lord of giving,
In this Christmas season
we remember Your generosity
to us –
from the child in the manger,
to You healing touch and gentle forgiveness,
to the wise counsel and inspiring stories,
leading to the power of Your love
shown in Your death and resurrection.
As we learn from what we know of You
make us generous
in the gifts of our time, talent and wealth,
knowing that we can only offer
a reflection of the gift You have given us
in Christ.
Amen.
Lord of all celebrations,
You invited the world
to be present at Your birth
into human existence.
With choirs of angels
and dazzling skies,
you announced Your presence
in the midst of Your creation.
With signals to shepherds and wise men
You declared Your intention
to be a God for all people.
As a baby in a manger
You challenge the notions
of the world,
of who is important
and who can be trusted.
Lord, we gather placing our trust in You,
knowing You
as someone who welcomes all,
even when the world would turn its back
and ignore.
May we know Your love and forgiveness
in those times
when we have put trust in the wrong places
and listened to other voices;
when we have ignored those
who needed to be offered a helping hand
and a place of trust.
Silence.
Child in the manger,
You welcome us back to our innocence
that we might always remember that we are children of God
in need of Your love and forgiveness.
Amen.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
from the highest heights.
Praise the Lord with the angels,
in the midst of the heavenly host.
Praise the Lord
as the sun shines,
the moon glows
and the stars twinkle.
Praise the Lord,
as the sky sweeps over head
and the waters wash below.
Let us praise the Lord
as we meet to wonder
at the breadth of His creation
and our place within His Love.
Let us praise the Lord
for He holds us close to His heart.
It’s been quite hectic in this new place, so eventually this evening I decided that I would rework old prayers from past years so that in the business of what lay ahead I just had to think of a sermon for Sunday and Watchnight. The problem with reworking old things is I’m not always sure which bits I borrowed from elsewhere and which is mine.
Normal service will be resumed for 30th December, I hope.
Joyful Lord,
in the sparkling lights
and the surrounding decorations;
in the anticipation of children
and in the desire to please of older people;
You make known Your presence
in the season that surrounds us.
You sparkle with the possibility
of how Your Love will be expressed this year
as we repeat the treasured stories of faith
and find something we had never noticed before.
The Advent waiting for Your presence
might seem long and drawn out,
yet You use it
to teach those of faith
the importance of waiting and listening
that what might seem tired, old and out of touch
in the presence of Your Spirit
becomes vital, refreshing and of this moment.
God of rejoicing,
it is tempting to get lost in the moment
of wonder and excitement,
and to value only the relationship
we share with You
and those closest to us.
The sparkle and the decorations
are for more than this moment
for more than our eyes,
and with refreshed vision
You loving Lord,
take our attention to where we fail to look or respond.
Forgive us for our willingness
to be caught in the season hustle and bustle
that asks us to respond to our wants
rather than to our needs.
Forgive us that in our desire to be cheery
we ignore those who hurt
and feel lost and lonely
in a world that only seems to value glitz, glamour and excitement.
Forgive us when do not hear the Gospel story
of respect for others,
and think only of ourselves in what we say and do.
Silence
Your voice,
Lord of gentleness and strength,
calls to us from the wilderness,
offering the invitation to change,
and in Your love and forgiveness
the Holy Spirit
works amidst Your people
that Your gift of Love might be shared
in the words and action of Christ’s people.
Amen.
The next few weeks may be a little light compared to the past year. Tonight’s excuse is that I’m not preaching this week, and only contributing to the first part of the service. I’m also not long out of bed, having tried to shake off a cold that has gone straight for the throat. Just as well I’m not preaching then!
So this week I’m offering a Call to Worship and an Opening Prayer. Hopefully they will offer inspiration to others.
Sing and shout aloud,
be glad and rejoice with all you heart,
for the Lord our God is in our midst.
We should not fear
the worries and woes
that weigh upon our lives,
for the Lord delights in who we are
and what we might be as He fills us with His love.
The Lord rejoices as He lifts our burdens
and shares our sorrows.
For in His time
He will gather us in His embrace
and restore us to His heart.
Let us worship God
It’s communion here, and so I’ve resorted to prayers within the Book of Common Order for Offering and Intercession
Holy Lord of heaven most high,
You hold the sun, moon and stars in Your sway
for You are the constant
whose voice has called creation to order.
Out of the darkness
You called forth light,
and in the day and night
You are at work.
From the chaos of the sea,
You brought into being
land on which creatures and plants of every kind
could thrive and grow.
In the midst of the wildness of the creatures,
You gave humanity a voice
to show signs of You
in the care of each other and the world You made.
How often we forget that this is Your world.
So selfish are we,
that at times we place ourselves
at the centre of activity,
and forget the needs of others,
the world around us,
and even our service of You.
When we step out of our own desires
and notice others,
it is in those moments that we remember
the ill-chosen words;
the failure to notice others;
our indifference to injustice;
and our blinkers
to those who struggle.
With Your forgiveness,
may we be offered the compassion and forgiveness
that remind us to speak
with the voice of Your love
and offer hope to the world
in Christ’s name.
Amen.
Praise the Lord,
for He comes to redeem His people.
In ages past,
the prophets told of the Lord’s mercy
and His desire
to deliver His people from their fears
into His presence.
In this Advent season
we await stars and angels
to guide us towards God’s love,
yet as we gather in worship today
and share faith and food,
we will be reminded of God’s loving presence
in every activity under heaven,
shining into the darkness of our fears
and lifting us to peace.
Blessed Lord,
who raises up His people that they might be changed,
You have shown Your mercy
in the fullness of our days and in the blossoming of relationships.
May we find You always a light to our path, guiding us towards peace.
Amen
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