Advent 2005

Binding Up the Brokenhearted

 

Seekers Church

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

Advent 2005

 

Binding Up the Brokenhearted

 

CIRCLE TIME

 

ENTRANCE

 

REFLECTION

"… To feel abandoned is to deny

the intimacy of your surroundings.  Surely,

even you, at times, have felt the grand array;

the swelling presence, and the chorus crowding 

out your solo voice. 

…

"Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into

the conversation.  The kettle is singing

even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots

have left their arrogant aloofness and

seen the good in you at last.  All the birds

and creatures of the world are unutterably

themselves.  Everything is waiting for you."

"Everything Is Waiting for You." David Whyte, pg 6.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:   Greetings, favored ones! The Holy One is with you.

 

People:   What sort of greeting is this?

 

Leader:   Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.

 

People:   The Holy Spirit has come upon us,
and the power of the Most High overshadows us.

 

Leader:   The One who calls us is coming towards us:
Jesus, the Christ, the Child of God.

 

All:          Here we are, the servants of the Holy One;
let it be with us according to God's word.

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:      A voice says "Shout!"

                  And I said: "What shall I shout?"

 

Voice 1:     Raise your voice, people of God.

                  Make it good and loud.

 

Voice 2:     Tell all the cities of this land:

                  "Look! Your God is coming!"

 

All:             Like a shepherd God will gather up the lambs,

                  and lead the nursing ewes to good pasture.

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS                 

CONFESSION

Leader:      O God, tear open the heavens and come down.

 

Voice 1:     We tremble in your presence.

 

Voice 2:     We sorrow for our transgression.

 

Leader:      No ear has heard, no eye has seen

                  any God besides you.

 

Voice 1:     You work for those who wait for you.

 

Voice 2:     Our sins take us away from you.

 

All:             We can not see you.

                  We fear you have abandoned us.

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:      "Comfort, comfort my people," says our God.

                  Like a shepherd,

                  God gathers us in loving arms

                  like a mother to her breast.    

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

JESUS PRAYER

All:             Eternal One, Father and Mother of us all,

Holy is your name.

 

Let justice and mercy fill all Creation

and let us recognize

that every thought and thing belongs to you.

 

Feed us with the bread we need for today.

Forgive our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Stand with us in trial and temptation.

Free us from the grip of all that is evil.

     

For you alone are creating our universe,

now and forever.

     

Amen.

 

HYMN

 

 

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON

SILENCE

EPISTLE

SILENCE

GOSPEL

SERMON 

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING

 

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

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader:      Let us go forth, bringing good news to the oppressed,
                  binding up the brokenhearted,
                  and giving thanks in all things.
                  May the God of peace hold us in grace;
                  and may our spirit and soul and body
                  be kept sound and blameless
                  at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All:             Amen.

 

 

 

Worship Resources

Call to Worship adapted from Luke 1:26-38

Confession adapted from Isaiah 64:1-9

Assurance adapted from Isaiah 40:1-2

Responsive reading adapted from Isaiah 40:3-11

Benediction adapted from Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11