Advent 1: Promise of Messiah: Waiting for Hope Jeremiah 33:14- 18, Mark 8:27-29, Psalm 89, Psalm 31 Narrative Lectionary

 

Note: Micah 4-5can also be used throughout Advent

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Narrative Lectionary Advent Liturgy

Advent 1: Promise of Messiah: Waiting for Hope Jeremiah 33:14- 18, Mark 8:27-29, Psalm 89, Psalm 31

Call to Worship

Take heart, Jeremiah says the days are surely coming

The days are coming where God will fulfill God’s promises

And God will execute justice and righteousness throughout the land, and all people will be safe

Come Let us worship the lord.

Call To Worship

God is our very help in a time of trouble, what do we call Jesus?

Savior and Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Protector of Peace

Come let us call upon the Lord

Let us worship God together

Call to Worship

Rejoice, O Pure of Heart.

We will rejoice, give thanks, and sing.

Let us praise God, for great things he has done.

Come let us worship the Lord

Prayer of Confession: At times I feel like do not want to give thanks. I forget that you are Lord and King, I sit in my smallness. Lord, remind me that I am blessed to be a blessing. Teach me to be as generous as you are, teach me to give thanks I pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Lord, I confess I do not always know who you are and what it is you are doing in my life. I ignore you, or I get stuck in my own head. I get lost is petty thoughts or just feel too overwelmed by the trouble I see in the world. Teach me the grace to get through all of these things I pray.

Prayer of Confession: Lord, I confess that I get tired of waiting for things to change. So I give up. But you have promised that justice will ring out, and the all will be fulfilled. Grant me the hope I need I pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: You know I don’t have much hope right now. At best, I confess, I am hoping for hope. I feel empty–and yet you promise all will be fulfilled. Help me when hopelessness overwhelms me I pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God plants the seeds of hope in love, and our hope is in Jesus Christ, so we can be assured of the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: God is coming! But know the truth God already loves and forgives us, hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Lord, you have promised to use us as a part of the promise of Jesus. This is our hope. Help us to go forward working so that all might be a fulfilled, we pray. Amen.

Communion Prayer: Lord, God, Jesus, Messiah. Let us name you and all the ways it is right to give you are thanks and praise. When we could no longer connect or feel your presence. When we felt distant from your love, you sent Jesus to be conceived and born of a human. Living, breathing, laughing and growing up, here on this earth. Jesus spent time with us, so we might truly begin to understand God’s love for us. And gifted us, even when he knew his time was up, with this Holy Meal, wherein we can call up a very real presence of Jesus whenever we might need it, and so that we can celebrate his love as a community. Send your Holy Spirit here on these elements, we pray, that we might taste and see your love, all the more, and so that we might live into the Hope of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymns: Live Into Hope, We Are One in the Spirit, Rejoice Ye Pure of Heart, For the Fruit of All Creation, God of the Sparrow, Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Children Ideas: Go through newspapers together and find stories of hope, Discuss what to do when one doesn’t feel hope, Light candles as beacons of Hope: Sing This Little Light of Mine, Discuss the Appearing of the Star and how that was a sign of Hope, Give everyone empty plates: discuss waiting and hoping for food–>pass out a snack to fill/fulfill the plate/hope