Advent Week 1
Theme – Hope
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 hope 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
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
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 hopeful as well as the hopeless, we pray this day for those in our community who are struggling 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 1)
In-This-Season-Week-1-Hope-BookletReading – John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Devotion
Song – Wintertide
Wintertide-BookletPeace/Benediction
And now may the God of our hope shine His light into our lives this day, this week, and this season. May it overcome every darkness. Go in hope to love and serve the Lord.
Amen.
Next: Advent Week 2