a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
One: Come from east and west, north and south!
All: From everywhere God has placed us,
with everything God has given us,
as the people God made us—we come.
One: Come, receive again the gift of grace!
All: Not for owning, not for boasting, but for celebrating—we come.
One: Come, discover again the way that leads to life!
All: Remembering who we are, seeking who we are yet to be—we come.
(Suggested opening hymn: We Rejoice To Be God’s Chosen)
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Advent God,
you are near,
so near we can feel it in our hearts and in our bodies.
As the day of your dawning draws close,
keep our minds on your presence during this busy holiday season.
In a world that tells us that we are supposed to find joy in everything else,
remind us that our only true joy is the joy we find in you. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
Sing aloud, daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!
Let us rejoice and exult with all our hearts.
God has taken away the judgements against us.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in our midst; we shall fear no more.
God is gathering us, bringing us home.
we will sing and praise the Lord.
Come, let us worship God on this Advent journey.
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
Christ is alive!
We will rejoice and give thanks!
God’s grace is always at work!
We will let love overflow!
The Spirit is speaking yet again!
We will join our voices in proclaiming the good news!
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
the congregational responses are from the hymns Rejoice, the Lord is King! and Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! both to the tune Darwall’s 148th.
One: Come, people of God! With open hearts and open hands, let us worship!
All sung: Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say rejoice!
One: We come, declaring our allegiance to Christ, praising our Lord with a loud voice.
We come, seeking God’s way and committing ourselves to Christ’s path.
We come, longing for the peace and justice of the Kingdom of God.
All sung: Long years have come and gone, and still God reigns supreme,
empowering us to catch the vision, dream the dream!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
One: God’s future is on its way, the kingdom is at hand, and God’s vision of hope is true!
Come, people of God! Let us worship!
All sung: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, Rejoice!
One: The Spirit is moving in this place, creating and re-creating the Body of Christ.
We come, eager to be transformed into citizens of God’s kingdom!
Let all the people say: Amen!
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
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