Advent Week 2
Theme – Faith
Gather
This is the season of Advent, when we anticipate the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. The nights are long…
…the darkness deep…
…but the reason for our faith draws near. He comes to interject himself into our world, messy and unclean though it is. Like the Israelites of old, we yearn for that expected arrival, and yet also as God’s people, we can miss the unexpected ways in which He comes to us even yet today.
Song – Carol of the Week
- Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Confession
Giver of light…
…we confess to You that the darkness which surrounds us so often has its source in our own deeds and thoughts, for we turn away from the light to embrace those things which conceal our need for You, rather than be exposed by it. Forgive us, O Lord.
Song – We Have Waited
We-Have-Waited-BookletPrayers of the People
God of the faithful as well as the doubting, we pray this day for those in our community who feel tossed aside and forgotten during this time. For those needs which are also known to us, we seek Your intercession. [A time to list the publicly shared needs of the congregation as well as the community.]
Lord, in Your mercy…
Hear our prayer.
In this season when loss is felt most profoundly, whether it be loss of relationship, loss of dignity, or loss of purpose, help us serve those who bear these burdens, that we all may dwell in the hope You give, for this life and the one to come.
Lord, in Your mercy…
…Hear our prayer.
We also come to you with burdens of our own.
(a time for reflection and supplication)
Lord, in Your mercy…
…Hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Lighting of the Advent Candle/Song – In This Season (Week 2)
In-This-Season-Week-2-Faith-BookletReading – 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’
Devotion
Song – Wintertide
Wintertide-BookletPeace/Benediction
And now as we wait for the revealing of His plan may the God of our faith strengthen us this day, this week and this season. May we have a vision that spans the generations. Go in faith to love and serve the Lord.
Amen.
Next: Advent Week 3