At Ease in our Struggles

 

SEEKERS CHURCH

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

 

Advent 2002

At Ease in our Struggles

 

 

 

REFLECTION

 

This point must not be overlooked, dear friends: in the eyes of the Most High, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. God does not delay in keeping the promise, as some mean delay. Rather, God shows you generous patience, desiring that no one perish but that all come to repentance. The day of our God will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will vanish with a roar; the elements will catch fire and fall apart, and the earth and all its works will be destroyed in flames. Since everything is to be destroyed in this way, what holy and devoted lives you should lead! Look for the coming of the Day of God, and try to hasten it along. Because of it, the heavens will be destroyed in flames and the elements will melt away in a blaze. But what we are promised are new heavens and a new earth where, according to the promise, God’s justice will reside. So beloved, while waiting for this, make every effort to be found at peace and without stain or defilement in God’s sight. Consider our God’s patience as your opportunity for salvation.

 

2 Peter 3:8-15a 

 

 

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

 

SILENCE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP   

Leader:      Friends in Christ,

we've come together in this familiar place

to remind ourselves that we are God's people.

 

People:       We've brought with us our hopes and fears,

our pain and anger,

our gifts and needs.

 

Leader:       Let us reach out from the heart

to claim the coming day of Peace,

the coming of the Good News we so earnestly seek.

 

All:              We offer who we are –

to God,

to one another

and to the world that waits in painful hope.  Amen.

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

JESUS PRAYER

Eternal Spirit: Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and all that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all, creation resonates

with celebration of your nameless name.

 

Let justice and mercy flood the earth;

let all creation harmonize in your imagination;

and let us recognize

that every thought and thing belongs to you.

 

With the bread we need for today, feed us;

in the hurts we absorb from each other

and those we inflict on others, forgive us;

in times of test and temptation, stand with us;

from the grip of all that is evil, free us.

 

For you alone are creating our universe,

now and forever. Amen.

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:       Living One, true One, holy One,

you are completely present

in every atom of your creation,

in every ordinary moment of our lives.

 

People:       But we refuse to notice your presence.

We forget that every moment is filled with grace.

We ignore the wonders of your world.

 

Leader:       Living One, true One, holy One,

you call us to move from fear to hope,

to help establish your day of peace and justice.

 

All:              But we stay stuck in our old ways,

putting our comforts before the needs of others,

putting our habits before the salvation of the world.

 

 

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE  

Leader:      God does not delay in keeping the promise.

Rather, God shows us generous patience,

desiring that no one perish,

forgiving all who truly repent.

 

All:              Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader:      Go and live as the Spirit leads,

as if this is the one day.

Live in peace with love.

As God is,

let us also be.

 

All:             Amen.