"We proclaim the message of the cross:
It is the wisdom and power of God.
For God alone our souls wait in silence.
Steadfast love belongs to the Lord.
Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
May the word of God be fulfilled among us this morning."

"Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
Your justice is like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
We celebrate your incredible love today."

Let us worship the God who satisfies our every need, the Good Shepherd who guides us to abundance and refreshment. Let us praise the God who specializes in the restoration of the soul, who navigates our perfect path, and is present with us in times of trouble. He is our Blessing and our Protector. God surrounds and nourishes us in the midst of the assailing forces that seek our destruction. Let us give thanks and praise to our relentless God!

Wonderful Counselor, there is hope tonight

Almighty God, our hearts are open wide

Everlasting Father, bring us peace tonight

Prince of Peace, we thank you for Your life

We will sing Noel, Noel, Noel

Jesus says to you and to me:
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
But will have the light of life.”
Let us fix our eyes upon the true Light as we gather and worship today.

Come, let us be about our preparations for a new advent of love among us.
The wastelands of life around us cannot shut out the promise of life-giving water.
Hatred and warfare, injustice and suffering, are not the last word, for they are not of God.
We hear again the promise of peace, coming in the one who lived Shalom among all people.
We see again the light God promises in the midst of our darkness.
We are feeling again the joy that comes through partnership in the gospel.
May our worship recall us to what is centered in life; to the One who gives us breath and purpose in life.
We come to embrace the new advent, to be renewed in peace, faith, joy, and love.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

The Light that is the Word of God, God incarnate

Let us worship as we wait for the newborn king!

In the midst of frenzied shopping and end-of-year weariness,

we gather together here

to read again the ancient stories,

and light a candle in the darkness, to celebrate a visitation.

Gathered here we declare our intention to live as if the greatest gift in the world were about to be placed into our hands

and as if the Giver has understood our deepest needs, our most heartfelt prayers.

When Jesus speaks, our hearts burn within us;

Our eyes are opened when he breaks the bread.

Beloved, we are God’s children now;

When Christ is revealed, we will be like him.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain.

Blessing and honor and glory to God!

We are called into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,

to be God’s servants in the service of all,

to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,

to join Christ in his passion and victory.

“Beloved let us love one another, for love comes from God.”

All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ.

It is God who gives us the ability to stand firm.

God has commissioned us.

And God has identified us as his own

By placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts

As the first installment of everything he will give us.

As Jesus began his earthly ministry, he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Through the Holy Spirit, we too have been anointed to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

May we bring good news to the poor, as ministers of Christ Jesus.

Come, Let us Worship the Lord!

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

His love endures forever

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

His love endures forever.

Let us worship God.

In the morning when the sun rises we shall praise You, O Lord.

You have delivered us through every long night and given us safe passage across rivers of struggle.

The darkness is past; the light has come. Let us raise our song and prayer to you, O Lord, in joy.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,

But emptied Himself, taking on flesh, being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death-even death on the cross.

Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth; and under the earth,

And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So let us join in singing our praise.

Consequently, we are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens, God’s people, members of his household,

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

And in him we, too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

Christ’s Church has assembled.
We are one body, with Christ as our head.
What kind of body is this?
The Body of Christ, brought together not by human flesh, but by the sovereign Lord.
And who does he call us to be?
A people who look not to their own interests, but to the interests of others. Those who proclaim the goodness of their Lord.
Come, Let us worship as one united body.

We are gathered once again hear the good news of God’s Kingdom
For our hearts to be filled with the love of the Father
For our actions to be shaped by the teaching of the Son
And for our words to be filled with the Spirit of hope
Let us worship the Triune God, who has been, is, and always has been. Amen.

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
So that we may walk in his paths.
The law will go out from Zion,
The word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
God will judge between the nations
And will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords in plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
Nor will they war any more.
Come, house of Jacob,
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Hallelujah!
Praise! Praise God in the temple, in the highest heavens!
Praise! Praise God’s mighty deeds and noble majesty.
All that is alive, praise!
Praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!