Advent 1996

 

SEEKERS CHURCH
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

Advent 1996

REFLECTION

What good is it to me if Mary gave birth to the Son of God fourteen hundred years ago and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and culture?

Meister Eckhart, quoted in Original Blessing, p 24.

PRELUDE

ADVENT RITUAL

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:

The days grow short,
and all creation groans with expectation.

People:

We hear the cry of the prophets,
the greeting of the angel,
and wonder.

The spirit of God is upon us
and we proclaim the good news:

Unison:

The One who calls us is faithful.
Nothing is impossible with God!

INVOCATION

HYMN

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

SILENCE

ADVENT LITANY

Leader:

When the Holy One restored the fortunes of Zion
we were like those who dream;
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Voice 1:

Then it was said among the nations
"The Holy One has done great things for them."
The Holy One has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.

Voice 2:

Restore our fortunes, O God,
like the watercourses in the Negev.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.

Unison:

Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seeds for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.

Psalm 126

SILENCE

PRAYERS

CONFESSION (Unison)

Leader:

God of hope and wonder,
sometimes we forget
that you have walked among us,
that you are always creating us,
and that the Holy Child is always being born.

People:

It is then that we refuse to hear your prophets,
reject your messengers of peace,
and believe that there is no hope.

Unison:

Help us to remember that you are with us,
and forgive us when we forget.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE (Leader)

The Eternally Incarnate One
knows our fears and failures
And tells us that in Christ
we are forgiven.

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

HYMN

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON

SILENCE

GOSPEL LESSON

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.

OFFERING

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION (Leader)

Let our mouths be filled with laughter,
and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Let us go into the world saying,
"The Holy One has done great things!"