Christmastide 2019-2020

The Christmastide altar with tinsel stars, and many, many candles and red and gold ornamentsGATHERING

ENTRANCE

 REFLECTION

Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Christina Rossetti    

CANDLE LIGHTING

 CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:                        God of all creation,

                                     today we remember the promise we have heard

                                     from your prophet Isaiah:

Voice 1:                       The people who walked in gloom

                                    those who dwelt in a land of deep shadows,

                                    on them has light shined.

Voice 2:                       For to us a child is born,

                                    and the government will be upon his shoulder:

                                    Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

                                    The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Leader:                        We gather as your community, O God,

                                    waiting again for the sign that you are among us.

All:                               Give us a fresh vision of what it means to be your body

                                    in this time and place.

 OPENING PRAYER

 HYMN

 WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 SILENCE

 PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:    As love becomes flesh to live among us,

                 we learn what it means to love our neighbors.

                 and refuse to offer a helping hand

                 to those who are carrying more than they can bear.

Leader:    We pray for your coming reign of justice and peace.

People:    Yet when we see injustice taking place before us,

                 we keep our indignation silently in our hearts,

                 rather than defending those who are mistreated.

Leader:    Even as we feel guilty about our many failures,

                 we are quick to become smug

                 about our spiritual successes.

All:            Holy Lover, forgive us

                 when we fail to be love made flesh.

ASSURANCE

Leader:    Stars and angels are signs of love incarnate,

                 reminders of God’s forgiving grace,

                 endlessly poured out for us

                 and for the healing of the world.

All:            Amen

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

All:                               O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.                                                                    We open our hearts to you and your creation                                                                                in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ.    Amen.

HYMN

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION

Leader:     Go into the world in peace.

                  love and serve God,

                  rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

All:             Amen.