a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
We thank you, Gracious God, for the gifts you have given us.
We return money to you that we might do the work of your Son,
and usher in your kingdom here and now
as we wait and hope for the coming of our salvation in flesh. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
Guiding God,
without the presence of your Holy Spirit,
we are hopelessly lost on this Advent journey.
Come to us in this place
as we gather to hear your Word.
Open our hearts to receive your Word
and our minds to understand it. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
call to confession
We are called to lift up our souls to God.
Often, we would prefer only to lift up the parts of our soul that we are proud of.
But it is equally important that we lift up to God our sins as well.
Let us do so together with honesty and courage.
Prayer of Confession
We are told to be on guard, to be prepared for your coming.
We confess, merciful God, that too often we are lazy
and do not trouble ourselves with the prayerful sabbath
that is required on this Advent road.
Help us to be alert at all times,
to be aware of your presence in our lives.
Make us to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths and lead us in your truth.
This pray in your holy and merciful name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The prophet Jeremiah reminds us
that the days are surely coming
when God will fulfill the promise God made to us.
A righteous branch is springing up!
God shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
The Lord is our righteousness!
Friends, I proclaim to you that our sins are forgiven!
Alleluia! Amen!
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
Gracious God,
without the hope we have in you
we would be pitied above all.
With hearts open and thankful,
we come before your presence to wait, watch, and wonder.
We ask that you would come to us as we are
but not leave us as we were.
May we emerge from these travels
having found your newborn son
and having found our true selves along the way.
This we pray in the name of our coming Savior. Amen.
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
Advent has come and along with it another journey in need of beginning.
We gather in hopeful anticipation of our Savior’s birth.
This journey of waiting will have moments of sabbath and service.
We take a break from our busy lives to ponder and wonder.
As we seek the newborn king, worship is that which directs our search.
We seek that which has saved and will save us forevermore.
Come, let us worship and seek our savior with hope and thanksgiving!
Submitted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, NY
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