a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
Emanuel, God with us, we know it is Advent, yet we wonder what time it is. Is it time to clean out our homes and our hearts, or is it time to be filled with cider and sweetness? Is it time to sing out carols with candles, or is it time to call out in anguish and lament?
According to scripture, there is a time for every purpose, and we trust that you create us for such a time as this. Give us wisdom to read the signs of our times, whether signs of hope in our halls or protest in our streets. Give us faith to read in all of them signs of the tiny child, the Human One. Give us ears for any alarm set for his hour of peace on earth, quickly coming, and help us all to be there in time. Amen.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Grace
Friends, Jesus comes so that God’s time might exist in our time, so that we might know the fullness of heaven here on earth. Let us live with eyes wide open! Thanks be to God!
Submitted by The Reverend Laura Cunningham, Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River NY
Prayer of Confession – Isaiah 42:5-7
(each section is a portion of the sanctuary seating)
Leader: Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out…
Section 1: We confess that we have polluted and over-consumed, living a life that uses up resources with no plans for renewal.
Leader: Who spread out the earth and what comes from it…
Section 2: We confess we have only paid attention to our corner of the house, of town, of the church, of the world.
Leader: Who gives breath the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it,,,
Section 3: We confess that we have stood by and watched when others cannot breathe.
Leader: I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations…
Section 1: We confess we have lived no differently from those who worship no God.
Leader: To open the eyes that are blind…
Section 2: We confess that we have not pointed out injustice.
Leader: To bring out the prisoners from the dungeon…
Section 3: We confess that we have not shared the good news of your love and forgiveness.
Leader: From the prison those who sit in darkness.
All: Forgive us our sins, loving and powerful God. We confess these out loud and others to you, silently now.
Time of Silent Confession
Assurance of God’s Pardon – Isaiah 42:8-9
Leader: Listen to what God says through the prophet Isaiah, “I am the Lord, that is my name. …See, the former things that have come to pass, and new things I now declare.” In the name of the Lord, I declare forgiveness. I declare mercy. I declare love that is stronger than sin and death. And I declare these things to you.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, believe the good news of the Gospel.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Submitted by Rev. John Weicher, Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, Swarthmore, PA
O Lord our God, light of the world, we confess that we are not always good at letting your light shine through us. We insist that the earth is ours, not yours. We insist on building walls that keep others out. We insist on serving ourselves first, and offering you our leftovers. Forgive us for all the ways we obscure your light, and turn our attention to you, that all our days we may glorify only you. Amen.
~silence~
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
Boundary-Breaking God, you call us to speak up on behalf of those whose voices have been silenced. You took on flesh and called us to stand with those who are pushed to the margins. You call us to serve you ahead of any earthly power. We confess that we are blinded by our privilege. We confess that we benefit from the status quo and are often unwilling to risk rocking the boat. Forgive our apathy and our inability to be fully loyal to you. Prepare our hearts to receive you yet again, in this time, and for this time.
~silence~
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
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