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prayer of the day: Advent 2

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You come,
so the poor might
get a fair shake
(not a shakedown);
so faithfulness and righteousness
might be the suspenders
we put on each morning;
so we might listen
to the voiceless
without judgment.

When we long for a
leader beyond our imagining,
you show us a
picture
of a dusty-footed
itinerant preacher,
with a ragamuffin
group of followers
and say to us, ‘here’s who
you are looking for.’

In the midst of bigger and brighter,
louder and flashier ad campaigns,
you offer a vision of
cows given milk to wolf cubs,
snakes charming little kids,
lions, and tigers, and bears (oh my!)
playing hide and seek
on our front lawns.

God in Community, Holy in One,
bring this kingdom closer to us,
even as we pray as we have been taught,
Our Father . . .

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies.

CTW: season of crowded stores

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L:  In this season of crowded stores
and unpacked stress,
P:  we will welcome one another
    as God has welcomed us.
L:  In this time of hurried hellos and curt replies,
P:  we will greet one another
    with words of hope and peace.
L:  In a culture of increasing isolation,
P:  we will embrace our sisters and brothers
    as God has enfolded us in grace.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies.

confession: the corner of easy choices

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Call to Reconciliation
Despite our foolish and angry words, God continues to speak of mercy to us.
Despite our best efforts to be faithless in our living, God remains faithful
in keeping the promise to forgive us and restore us to wholeness.  Let us
confess our sins to God, so that God’s hope and grace might endure in our
brokenness.

Unison Prayer of Confession
God beyond borders, we know that on our way to worship, we may not have
noticed the exiles in our neighborhoods. We admit how easy it is for us to
wander down the streets of temptation, pausing at the corner of easy
choices. We fall silent in the presence of those who speak words of anger
and hate. We tolerate a culture that suspects all who are different from us.
Have mercy on us, O God, for surely you take the side of justice. Open
our hearts to all the wonders you are performing in our lives. You gift us
with those of other cultures, that our lives might be blessed.  You send us
friends out of places we least expect, that our community might be enriched.

You call us to be generous with our blessings, so others might be graces
with the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  God challenges us, God encourages us. God confronts us, and God accepts
us. God works wonders in our midst and gives us the eyes, the hearts, the
souls to see such miracles.
P:  God forgives us, God guides us through the wilderness of the world, God
leads us home.  Thanks be to God. Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies.

CTW: home

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L:  Whether we live in an apartment or a house;
if we reside in the suburbs or the city:
P:  God tells us to pray for the places where we live.
L:  Whether we are exiles or prisoners for the gospel;
if we are young, old, insider, outcast:
P:  God says, ‘when you search for me, you will find me.’
L: Whether we have been wandering and lost;
or if we have lived in the same place all our lives:
P:  God says, ‘I will gather you from all your places and bring you home.’

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies.