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Dec 24th 2017 Prayer Resource Created by Rev. Lee Ann Higgins
Luke 21:1-20 and Psalm 96:7-10
Call to Worship
Like the shepherds at the manger of the little tiny Babe,
on that first Christmas Day, all are welcome;
Come worship the little One who will one day rule the world;
Come, all ye who are called to share the divinity of the Christ Child;
Come. Let us worship our Lord together.
OR
Responsive Call to Worship (Psalm 96:7-10, NIV)
Leader: Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
People: ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Leader: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
People: bring an offering and come into his courts.
Leader: Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
People: tremble before him, all the earth.
Leader: Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
People: The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
Leader: He will judge the peoples with equity.
Opening Prayer
O most gracious and ever loving Father;
We come, as your children, to be with you.
We come to experience the love you have for us as revealed by the birth
of your son over 2000 years ago.
Just a babe, not knowing what His life would bring, he obeyed your will.
The most precious baby born among us … to live with us … to love us … to save us.
Be with us Father, as we worship and remember that day O so long ago. Amen.
Advent Wreath Prayer (adapted from umcdiscipleship.org)
Reader: “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:6-7).
Reader: Tonight, angels far and near sing tender lullabies; well-worn fabric full of years holds in the warmth of parental love; animals and shepherds crowd in tight, glowing with adoration, while a muffled cry squeezes out to greet the world.
People: Tonight we give thanks for every child among us. Each new birth, regardless of circumstances, reminds us how precious life is, the potential of tomorrow, and the promise of God.
Reader: On this Christmas Eve, we light the Christ candle for the child-King, the infant-Redeemer, the lowly-Lord. And now we know … He is born, and nothing will ever be the same!
Hymn: Infant Lowly
Prayer of Confession / Assurance
Almighty God and Father;
Delight in our pleas for forgiveness as we repent of our sins.
We come before you shameful that a little Babe had to be born into this dark world,
and then suffer to save us.
We come wholly committed to doing your will;
we accept your Son, Jesus the Christ, as our Lord and Savior.
Teach us to forgive as you have forgiven us. Let us hold no grudges.
Keep us from prideful acts and hurtful behavior.
Show us the path of love as we struggle in our human flesh.
Teach us your ways and remind us daily of our need to give up bad habits, anger,
unforgiveness, and all the things that keep us from being close to you.
Most Holy One, the birth of your Son, Jesus the Christ child, assures us of a future with you;
a future of joy, happiness and peace.
He came to be born this day to save us from eternal damnation.
Through him you poured upon us your grace, hope and forgiveness.
Help us to see this little babe in the manger, not as a cute cuddly baby that we’d
like to snuggle and rock, but as the Savor and King you sent him to be. Amen.
We ask all these things, in the name of the tiny babe, Jesus the Christ,
whose birth we celebrate today. Amen.
Hymn: What Child is This
Communion Prayer
For the Bread
We give thanks Father for this Bread of Life,
for your Son, born to die.
We remember the sacrifice He made
so that we can have the opportunity to live in your presence.
Let us never forget the reason he so willingly came to us this night.
As we partake in this meal we remember the babe,
who so willingly gave all for us.
For the Cup
We give you thanks Father for the cup of eternal salvation,
for the healing he brought us.
By taking of this cup we experience the glory of your majesty.
By taking this cup we experience your saving grace
By taking this cup we experience faith and hope so freely given
In this communion encounter may we experience
oneness with you, may we experience your presence,
and may we go forth into the world sharing your light.
Prayer of Dedication / Offering
Gracious Father,
You gave us your son;
we give you our lives.
You supply our needs;
we share with the needy.
You are generous with us.
We return a portion of that which you have so graciously given us.
Bless these gifts, dear Lord;
that they will be used for your purpose and for your kingdom.
Hymn: Silent Night
Dec. 3rd by Rev. Johanna Rehbaum
Dec. 10th by Rev. Mike Williams
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