katyandtheword

Narrative Lectionary: Ash Wednesday Links of Prayer

Ash Wednesday

“Invitation to Lent” Author Rev. Mary Austin

Feel free to use/edit. Credit to the original author (i.e. based on prayer/prayers written by Rev Mary Austin) appreciated.

Luke 9:51-62 and Psalm 5:7-8 or Psalm 5:8

Call to Worship

We are dust and ashes,

bone and breath,

full of frailty and limitation.

Lent calls us into reflection and repentance,

drawing closer to God.

Lent calls us to see ourselves as dust and ash,

alive only with God’s breath.

Lent invites us to be pilgrims,

moving with Jesus toward the truth.

In Lent, we travel with Jesus,

moving toward an end and a beginning.

Let us worship the God of glory,

with all that is within us.

Call to Confession

Keeping up appearances is exhausting. Pretending to be something we are not takes a toll on our spirits. The illusion of perfection makes us weary. Lent invites us into a place of freedom. Let us speak the truth about ourselves, and know the truth about God.Trusting in God’s abundant, living mercy, let us pray. (time for silent reflection)…Amen

Prayer of Confession

God who breathes life into dust,

and fills ash with glory,

we come to you knowing that we are broken,

not by your doing,

but by our own.

Forgive us for chasing shiny gods,

instead of turning to you.

Forgive us for trusting our own abilities

more than your goodness.

Forgive us for seeing other people as stepping stones,

instead of as your beloved ones.

Breathe life into our dust again, we pray,

and claim us once more as your own.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Assurance of Grace/Pardon

Who are we, that God is mindful of us? God’s fingers have shaped us, and God’s breath gives us life. God’s abundant mercy follows us with each step. In the life of Jesus Christ, we see a new way to live. In following him, our lives are redeemed. Through Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Be at peace in God’s grace.

Invitation to Communion

My friends, dust and ash we are, and also God’s beloved people. Jesus, who knows both death and resurrection, invites us now to the table. Here, even on this day, we see a glimpse of God’s table. At the table of God, there is hunger is no more, and all of God’s people feast together. There death is no more, and we see our beloved ones and God’s people of all the ages. There tears are no more, and we rejoice in the presence of God’s living grace.

In the name of Jesus our host, Jesus whom we follow into Lent, Jesus who gives us living bread, we are all invited to come and share in the feast.

Prayer after Communion

Holy God,

with the taste of ash still in our mouths,

you have fed us with the bread of heaven

and the cup of new beginnings.

Lead us now, we pray,

into a Lent of somber reflection

and committed service,

spreading the taste of your love to all people.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Offering Prayer / Prayer of Dedication

Merciful God,

our gifts are as limited as our lives,

but we offer them to you with gratitude,

knowing that they really are your gifts,

loaned to us.

We offer them with praise,

that you invite us to share in your work.

We offer them with hope,

knowing that you can transform them

into instruments of love and justice.

In Jesus name, Amen.

More Narrative Lectionary Lenten Themed Prayers

A Short Good Shepherd Ash Weds Service

NazarethFirst? Nah!

The first time the people riot in Luke is in response to Jesus preaching in his hometown. (hinting at his eventual crucifixion by the state) There he proclaims the word of the Lord to the poor, lost, forgotten and marginalized.

He talks about that the Word of God, he says he is there to fulfill the word of God

and the People of Nazareth say “Great, me first”

Jesus says, “Nah”

c2u1iwbwiaemumg

Then they get mad, because they want to be first. Because they think that if they don’t go first God won’t get to them.

It should be NazarethFirst or JewsFirst or AmericaFirst: Those who are the most entitled should go first in the human world.

Not to Jesus, tho, for Jesus says I’m helping the most needy ones, the forgotten ones.

During the inauguration speech the only piece I felt like struck home was when Donald Trump said was “No one will ever be ignored again”

Do not be confused, we humans often look for a human savior/king. Lots of the Old Testament is about humans begging God for a King they don’t need. When Donald Trump did his alter call for patriotism, insisting that it negated all prejudice, we Christians all shook our heads and said. Only JESUS does that. God calls not to nationalism, but to the forgotten ones.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.–Psalm 146

Because people DO feel forgotten! About 3 million women gathered on all 7 continents and march to draw attention to all that gets ignored. If that isn’t a counter to blind nationalism I don’t know what is.

These women marched for a variety of reasons, and yet the same thing

They marched for

Women’s Rights, Black Lives matter, the queer community, the Muslims, the immigrants, poor in the rust belt, Flint water, Indigenous rights, survivors of assault, climate change, sex workers, the poor, the disabled, poor.They marched

They marched for their children and husbands and communities.

But most of all, they marched for the forgotten & ignored.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.–Psalm 146

c2upvx2ukaeezsd

Our God is the one who fights on behalf of these people. Our God is not a human or a politician, our God is the God of the marginalized, the lost and forgotten.

Jesus made that clear. Its not about being first or getting the most. Its about making sure NO ONE GETS IGNORED.

We need to do this work, the time has begun.

c2tix_nwiaapevo

Luke 4: 14- 30

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ ²²All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ ²³He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ ²⁴And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. ²⁵But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; ²⁶yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. ²⁷There were also many lepers^* in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ ²⁸When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. ²⁹They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. ³⁰But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Why Evangelism Needs a New Metaphor by Emily Rose Proctor

More #faith thoughts #christianity

Background photo: Tawnyowl/Pixabay, CC0.
Manipulation and design layout: Elizabeth Stark

Emily Rose Proctor is a pastor and poet who grew up in South Alabama, escaping to the frozen North to attend Williams College, where she was awarded the Bullock Prize for Poetry by the Academy of American Poets in 2003. Her poetry has since been accepted for publication by The Christian Century, Slippery Elm Literary Journal, Poetry Breakfast, Rogue Homilies, Columbia Theological Seminary’s Journal for Preachers, and Presbyterians Today Magazine, among others. She is a winner of the West Florida Literary Federation’s 2016 Foo Foo Festival poetry contest, and one of her poems was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She currently works as a children’s librarian and Community Chaplain in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, where she lives with her drummer-priest husband and infant son, and enjoys co-hosting Just Sayin’, a monthly open mic night and live…

View original post 9 more words

“I don’t believe it, but I’m sticking to it. That’s my definition of faith.”

“I don’t believe it, but I’m sticking to it. That’s my definition of faith.”My Brief Theology of Belief vs. FaithBelief is individualFaith is communal Belief is confessionalFaith is God given Belie…

Source: “I don’t believe it, but I’m sticking to it. That’s my definition of faith.”

#reading 2017

1h7m27

#fantasy culture and #faith & what it means

In the long history of Christianity, Western literature changed after Jesus came upon the scene, then fairy tales…

(also, too I’d love to do a long history of anime and its reflection/fascination with the Christ story…letme know if you ever get to studying that!!)

Fairy tales: you know, where people are loved into being/transformed into what they really are supposed to be.

Fairy tales, where resurrection and happy endings are possible.

Cupid & Psyche is the last myth (Petty Greek Gods who are messing with humanity)

and the First Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Beast

Since then, fantastic literature has tended to mirror spirituality

the Discovery Mythos (think Gulliver’s Travels) about Christianity “taking over” and “conquering” the world civilizing people<–NOTE we are still not recovered and must Decolonize both our theology and our fantastique literature (Sci-Fi/Fantasy etc)

But Also there was the mythology of Human progress…the myth that science and humanity would continually evolve into perfection–that religion/God/magic will become inconsequential and fade like the elves of Lord of the Rings & the invisibility of Oz.

Today the fantastique myth talks about parallel and intersecting realities of magic and reality. Think Muggles & Wizarding Folk, Urban Fantasy, Neil Gaiman

On the whole I find it a more (w)holistic stance.

and so no I don’t think faith and church will die out, I think it will become more (w)holistically part of our lives…

This is my good news for 2017 🙂

Have hope

PS someday I may write a complex thesis on all this..but for now I continue to purport it in conversation that the few who are fluent in religion and or fantasy lit understand…

#Dancing (#story)

She danced.

Her and her sisters, danced around the ambassadors and the senators. Never saying anything serious, yet looking like everything that was said was being seriously considered.

She danced as she put on her clothes, dancing to the mirrors, periodically checking her front for stains, floating her hands ever so gently to her head surreptitiously checking every hair was in place.

Then she danced through the family, the eldest, she made sure the youngest were behaving, that the middles were saying their please and thankyous. She danced back and forth because it was her job to make sure everyone was doing as her parents needed.

Then she fell asleep on the couch, feet sore, hat askew, glasses barely blearily taken off and sort of clipped her collar.

Dreaming of the dance, dancing into dreams.

Not sure when she learned the steps.

Doomed to do them tomorrow, and the next day. Invisible steps to the invisible burden that her and all her sisters were doomed to do.

Unnoticed except for the traces of tattered slippers that appeared in the trash.

#2016 #fuckthisShit and #lookout2017

I don’t know about you, but 2016 was a rough one for me!

I guess this is being an adult, when national news effects your daily life

Starting with Police shooting minorities, to the bathroom needs of transgender people, the election and celebrity deaths.

Carrie Fisher really got me….like really got me. Princess Leia broke so many barriers and Star Wars was my constant companion, getting me through the hell that was Jr. High. The fact that she opens up by spitting in the face of evil (Governor Tuck) and then getting the hell out (Somebody has gotta save us kids) helped me..I watched Star Wars almost every day in Junior High.

Then there is Carrie Fisher herself, opening up about toxic family relationships, addiction and mental illness. Putting a name and a face to the reality so many struggle with–once again busting through the barriers.

I don’t know about you, but every time I hear someone has died, I’m like #fuckthisShit! No more 2016. No more brown and black women lying dying on the street. Every time I hear about a hate-crime or bigotry being enabled, I’m like #fuckthisShit.

#God do I need #Jesus. I need #Jesus because we humans are fumbling at best, with our simple platitudes and our inane struggle to communicate and be community.

I need the #HolySpirit, so I can hear the strong leadership of my #queer sibs, who have taught me about strength and hope in a new way.

I need the #HolySpirit, so I can be angry about the institutionalized racism that I cannot help but to be a part of…and every time the #HolySpirit helps me to listen more and talk less, its a gift.

I’m going to do #2017. As my colleague Katie Mulligan is apt to say, the work is still the same. Whether things seem rosy and happy or dark and terrible, the binding of wounds and feeding of the hungry are still the basis of our work, and our existence.

#FuckthisShit I will not be defined by what has not yet been done, I will not let death have the final say–didn’t Jesus step out of the tomb and say Ta-Da! Didn’t he throw life in the face of death, betrayal, hatred & darkness? This is what I’ll be doing.

I’ll raise my children, and love my church, and open myself to be in relationship over and over and over again.

I will not let evil have the last word

#FuckthisShit, because I know of a better way and a better truth, and a better way out of here.

I will spit in the face of evil, I will fight for the rights of every human being, and I will continue to love.

#lookout2017

(PS #fuckthisshit is an online advent study about the real/harsh/viscereal exp of living human life. The language, tho offensive, is not that different from Psalms were we to translate the actual words…. as you know I curse very sparingly, but have found this super helpful)

#JesusMaryandJoseph

My mother-in-law was raised Catholic. When she is in distress she calls out JesusMaryandJoseph. Its a blessing and curse….

Sometimes my soul hurts so much, I am crying out and I’m not sure if that cry is a call for help or a curse. I’m not sure what it means, I’m just crying out.

When the peace deal brokered in Syria failed a few days ago. I cried out No, and cried. I wasn’t sure if I was rejecting the news, the failure or the peace, the violence, or all of humanity.

All I could think was no, no, no….

JesusMaryandJoseph

Holy Family, I need all of you. The pregnant girl, the struggling stepfather and the helpless baby.

I need you when I see the baby covered in dust, laying out in Syria, I need you when the killer of an ambassador stands in celebration. I need you when those who hate and gaslight feel empowered.

fuckthisShit, JesusMaryandJoseph

Bless us, help us, hold us, love us…..

A Resource:Narrative Lectionary Advent Prayers

Many Thanks to those who have pitched in to write prayers. Page will be edited as more prayers come in.

These are resources, seeds and jumping off points. Hopeful they are useful!

advent-candles-with-messages

Advent 1 Nov 27 Daniel 6:6-27 Daniel in the Lions’ Den Luke 23:1-5

Author: Pastor Andrea Allen Advent theme is “God Makes a New Home in Us.”

Advent Wreath: Psalm 62: Hope

v. 5-8 For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my deliverance and my honour;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. ⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.

Call to Worship: (Based on lyrics from hymn “O radiant Christ, incarnate Word” by Ruth Duck 1991 found in Voices United #84)

One: Come, let us prepare ourselves this Advent, our faith and hope renew.

All: God, come, lead the peoples to your peace.

One: We gather for a time of hope found in waiting and preparing for the light to be born within us again.

All: God, come, shine upon our shadowed world.

One: We come into this time to pause, to pray, and to share in our worship.

All: God, come, make your home within our hearts.

Gathering Prayer Gracious God, We give you thanks for today and for the opportunity to prepare and celebrate this Advent season. Be with us as we worship you, reminding us that you are our living God, and that your love endure for ever. Guide us to hear your word to each of us today and be with us as we seek to live out your call. In the name of Jesus the Christ, in whom we await, Amen.

Call to Confession O Holy God Today we come to you asking for your forgiveness for those times when we have not left room for you to build a home within our hearts and our lives; those times when we have pushed you out of our hearts and lives. Advent is a busy time in our world when so many activities, parties, and events pull us away from you, forgive us when we leave you to the last of our lists and help us to put you first in our lives. Forgive us when we forget the importance of the season of advent, when we forget to cherish the time of waiting and preparing, and so we push along with the world to celebrate Christmas before it is time. Daniel prayed to you in a time when doing so was dangerous. He trusted in you and because of that you kept him safe. Forgive us when we do not trust in you but rather put our trust in the world and turn away from you. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Today and every day, God loves us, forgives us, and sets us free. Today and every day we remember that our living God endures forever. God’s kingdom will never be destroyed and we will always have a place in God’s kingdom. Amen.

Communion Prayer (TBD)

Offertory Prayer O living God, we thank you for your constant presence in our lives and in response to the constant blessings you give, we offer you our gifts today. Accept our offerings of time, talents, and treasures that they may further your work here on Earth so that one day all will truly know your Kingdom here on Earth. Amen.

Advent 2 Dec 4th Joel 2:12-13, 28-29 and Luke 4:16-21

Author: Pastor Shea Zellweger

Advent Psalm: Peace Psalm 2

v. 6-8 There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’
⁷ You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound. ⁸ I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Leaders: Hear our fervent prayer, oh God.

People: Listen to our plea, and grant us your peace.

Leader 1: Our old men have visions of a time when all will be content, for all will have enough, no longer driven to spend and consume.

Leader 2: Our young women dream of nations who wage peace and not war.

People: Listen to our plea, and grant us your peace.

Leaders: We light the second candle, a blue candle, which carries the glow of peace. In the midst of turmoil, its steady glow reminds us that when all seems bleak, even then there is peace to be had.

People: Come, o Prince of Peace, Come.

Song of Response

O Come, O Come, O Adonai, who came to all on Sinai high.

And from its peak a single law, proclaimed in majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

Call To Worship

One: Sing Praises to God, all you who dwell on Earth!

Many: We sing our praise, echoing the joyous strains of the angels.

One: God gives strength to us, the people of God.

Many: God blesses us with peace.

One: In peace, let us sing praises to God.

Many: In peace, let us worship!

Prayer of Confession

One: We confess our sins before God and one another,

[Pause for silent confession]

God, whose peace surpasses all understanding, we do not always seek peace.

Many: We sow the seeds of strife and division.

One: Nation wars against nation, and our people fight amongst themselves.

Many: Forgive us, o Lord, for we know not what we do.

Assurance of Pardon

One: Our God is a merciful God. Our conflicts have already been forgiven. We receive God’s forgiveness together as we follow the path of peace laid before us.

Many: Thanks be to God

Reading: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We praise and thank you, God, for the visions and dreams you have poured out on your people. As we await your coming, may we prophesy with boldness your lasting call to walk the path of peace together.

Offering Dedication Prayer

Here are our gifts, Lord – the work of our hands. The sweat of our brows. The first fruits of our harvest. We dedicate them to your service. May they help to spread your reign of peace throughout the Earth. Amen.

Advent 3 Dec 11 Isaiah 61:1-11 and Luke 4:16-21

Author: Pastor Katy Stenta

Advent Candle Joy Psalm 98

v. 7-9 ⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   the world and those who live in it.
⁸ Let the floods clap their hands;
   let the hills sing together for joy
⁹ at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
   to judge the earth.

Call to Worship

God you send the Holy Spirit, clothing us in the good news

You bind up the broken-hearted and comfort those who mourn

We are planted in God, who loves justice.

Therefore we will rejoice in the Lord! Let us exult the Lord with our entire being!

Prayer of Confession: Lord we confess that joy is difficult. We would rather smile or be nice, than find the joy in our lives. We are too busy, too worried or too polite to embrace the God who cares for the lost, the poor and the forgotten. We long for a connection to this God who knows where to plant us and how to tend to us. Forgive us we pray and teach of the joy of the Lord who repairs the brokenness of the world.

Assurance of Pardon: The Spirit of the Lord comes upon us, clothing us in salvation. Hear the Good news of the Lord, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of Communion: Mighty God, you gave us life, blowing your Holy breath into our lungs. Walking with us through time, you saw that we could only understand your law as a burden. Thus you gave us your very self, so we might feel your joy in the work of love and care, in your son Jesus Christ. Jesus who was born among us, broke bread together with us and died for us. Upon Jesus’s resurrection, all sin became forgiven. It is from this God we receive the invitation to the table today….

Prayer of Dedication: Lord, let us give with joy all that we have to you, so that we might truly build the kingdom of God together.

Advent 4 Dec 18th Luke 1:26-49 and Psalm 113

Author: Pastor (Dr.) Barb Hedges-Goettl

Advent Candle: Joy Psalm 84

v. 8-10⁸ Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
   for he will speak peace to his people,
   to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.^*
⁹ Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
   that his glory may dwell in our land. ¹⁰ Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
   righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

One: Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!

Many: Just to speak his name is praise!

One: Just to remember God is a blessing—

Many: now and tomorrow and always.

One: From east to west,

Many: from dawn to dusk,

All: keep lifting all your praises to God!

Call to Worship B Psalm 113 NIV

One: Who is like the Lord our God,

Many: the One who sits enthroned on high?

One: Who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Many: God raises the poor from the dust

One: God lifts the needy from the ash heap.)
Many: God seats them with princes,
One: with the princes of his people.

All: Praise the Lord.

Alternative Call to Worship (Luke 1)

One: The Lord is with you.

Many: What kind of greeting is this?

One: Do not be afraid; you have found favor with God.

You are caught up in service to the Kingdom of God.

Many: How can this be?

One: The Holy Spirit will come upon you

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you

for with God nothing is impossible.

All: We are servants of the Lord.

May God’s word to us be fulfilled.

Prayer of Confession:

God, we confess that sometimes our plans don’t allow for your plan. We rely only on ourselves, not on you and on one another.

Creator, Spirit, and Lord, forgive us when we do not consult you.

Break through to us with your Advent, your coming, your calling

(Silent Confession)

Assurance of Forgiveness:

One: God looks with favor on the lowliness of God’s servants. The Mighty One has done great things and holy is his name. The Son of the Most High was given the throne of David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of this kingdom there will be no end. Thanks be to God for the Good News:

All: In Christ Jesus we have eternal and abundant life.

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving/Communion Prayer

We give you thanks, Lord God on high. You are high above all nations. Your glory is above the heavens. From the rising of the sun to its setting, we praise your name. We thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ, your son and son of Mary. Although his greatness overwhelms us, he came to dwell among us. You gave to him the throne of his ancestor David, yet he reigns now and he will reign forever. Of his kingdom there will be no end. We magnify you, Lord. We rejoice in you, our Savior. For you have looked with favor on our lowliness, doing great things for us. Make us a part of your great work. As you give the barren one joy and a home, give us joy and a place to be at home. As Christ Jesus heals and helps those in need, let us lift the needy from the ash heap. As Christ Jesus the King sits with sinners, may all be welcome at this feast. As you raised up Christ Jesus from the cross, let us raise the poor from the dust. For with you, nothing is impossible. As your Spirit came upon Mary and your power rested on her, shed your Spirit and your power this day. Come upon these gifts of bread and cup, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ Jesus. Embolden us to be the body of Christ Jesus and carry Christ into the world, transforming it by transforming us.

Offering

O God, like Mary, we belong to you, body and soul. Like Elizabeth, when we meet you, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and leap for joy. How happy we are when we believe in you, for it is then that our gifts, our lives, and our selves find their fulfillment.

Christmas Dec 25th Luke 2:8-20 and Psalm 123:1-2

Author: Katy Stenta

Advent Candle Psalm 68

v. 19-20 ¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Selah
²⁰ Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

Call to Worship

Come to Bethlehem and let us see the one whom angels sing!

Let us sing with the angels: Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and goodwill to all!

Come, let us see God!

Come Let us see the Christ child!

Prayer of Confession: Lord, we confess it is hard to approach you. It is hard to see the Christ child. Forgive us and help us to see you, to know you and to love you we pray.

Assurance of Forgiveness: Christ has come, love incarnate, salvation of the world! Know the Good news, Jesus Christ was born today, and it is in him we are each, and every one of us, forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Jesus, you are here with us today. Before the world even began, God knows us and loved us into being. Then God translated Godself into human form–so we might see and taste salvation in the feast of love. Providing to us the good news in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to the God who created us, became human with us, and died to save us all. Let us continue to give God praise….

Offering Prayer: Light of the world, you have given us your only son. May we offer our gifts in return from the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.