1st Sunday in Advent year B

• First Reading Isaiah 64:1-9
• Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
• Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
• Gospel Mark 13:24-37

Call to Worship Psalm 80

Hear God’s people, we are called by God, by name

Let us rejoice in our Lord and praise today

We longingly a wait the day when we can greet the Lord

Until then we worship our Lord

Let our God restore our souls this Advent season

We will let the light of Jesus shine on our faces

Let us rejoice in all the Lord has done, calling us his people and preparing a way for us through Christ

We will let the light of Jesus shine through us, reminding all of Baby we worship

Let us worship in preparation for the Lord is coming

The Lord is coming indeed!

Confession

Holy Redeemer, we know so very well that you provide for us, love us and forgive us. We confess that we often fail to live into the joy of Jesus’ arrival. It is all too often hard for us to live in the unknown or in the anticipation of the life to come. So we fall short, living into the here and now – living into the materialism of the world. We allow ourselves to be consumed by the world instead of by your love and grace. Give us strength to revive in us the joy that comes with mystery and miracles, with baby Jesus and the assurance of life to come...(assurance of Pardon)...Amen.

Prayer of Illumination

God of Hope, mold us with your words; inspire our souls through this worship service so that we may be the vessels of your love and will in the world. Create in us the Hope that comes with these seasons of Advent and help us bring forth your message to the world. Allow this service to work within and through our Spirits and bring new meaning to your message. Amen

Offertory

Gracious Lord, allow these gifts given freely and in the Spirit of Advent to be used to further your work with this church, our community and our lives. Help us to make joyful offerings to you and we generously offer our money, our time and our talents to further spread your hope in this world. Continue to mold us so that we may better serve you and guide us in all we do. Amen.

Christ the King, Year A

• First Reading Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
• Psalm 100:1-5
• Second Reading Ephesians 1:15-23
• Gospel Matthew 25:31-46

Call to Worship Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

We worship the Lord with gladness and come into his presence with singing

Know and trust that the Lord is God, he has made us

And we are his, we are his people and he is our shepherd

We enter worship with praise and readiness

We prepare to enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise. For we give thanks to our Lord

Blessed is the name of our God

For the Lord is good

His steadfast love endures forever!

His faithfulness extends to all generations!

Let us worship today with joy and thanksgiving

Let us make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Confession:

Christ our King, God our Holy Judge, we lift up our sins and that of the world. We confess that we live within the world, not calling the world out when it fails. We confess that we let ourselves be the judge and jury of our peers and instead of shepherding people we divide. You are the Holy Judge and yet we let our egos take your place. Forgive us Holy King, for we are reminded today that we are but humble servants. Offer redemption so that we may go out and help redeem the world (assurance of pardon)...Amen.

Prayer of Illumination:

Jesus we pray to you our King and Christ today. We lift up our readings, our words and our praise to you and ask that the Spirit move in them and through them so that your Word is heard, felt and worked within this church today. Inspire us to proclaim your greatness; encourage us to call you King and guide us to know your Will. Amen.

Offertory:

Christ you are our King and in acknowledgement of that we cheerfully and with gracious hearts lift up to you the offerings not only of those in these baskets but the gifts of our Spirits. We ask that your wisdom be shown to us so that we may use this money and our gifts for your Will and our world. That you may work within us and through us and this church to provide ministry and God's love to those who need. Help us to offer salvation instead of judgment; show your Kingdom instead of accepting ours and shepherd people into our flock. Amen.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

• First Reading Judges 4:1-7
• Psalm 123:1-4
• Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
• Gospel Matthew 25:14-30

Call to Worship: 

   Praise the Lord

   Praise God's Holy Name

   Raise your eyes to the Lord

   We lift our heads to Heaven

   Raise your voices in Praise

   We sing to the Lord a song of worship

   Open your hearts to the Lord

   We embrace the Spirit with wonder and awe

   Worship the Lord

   Worship and Praise God's Holy Name

Confession: 

   Merciful God, we know that you love us and yet we often fail to pass your love on.  We hid your love and the knowledge of your existence in our lives.  On Sundays we worship and praise you but by Monday mornings we let the world consume us and we fail to work at your love in the world.  We let our Christian voice get consumed by other voices, including other's proclaiming your name: yet we see the injustice in the world around us.  Forgive us for hiding your voice, your love and your grace.  Grant us courage to speak up and out.  Grant us wisdom to trust your will and strength to do more to pass your love forward...(assurance of pardon)...amen

Illumination: 

   God of mercy show us your will and your vision this morning by speaking to us through your Word spoken and through the Spirit for the sermon and worship.  Give us wisdom to hear your desire for us, this community and the world.  Grant to us the Spirit of truth.  Amen 

Dedication: 

   Loving God of mercy, we thank you for the blessings in our life both big and small.  Even in our darkest of moments we know that your presence fills us with enough light.  Help these gifts be enough for this church to continue to do your Will within the community and the courage to do more for your Kingdom.  Amen. 

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

• First Reading Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
• Psalm 78:1-7
• Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Gospel Matthew 25:1-13

Call To Worship: inspired by Psalm 78

    Gracious God, we enter worship with scattered minds

    But we incline our ears to hear your Word through the noise of the world

    Allow these ancient texts to come alive and speak your truth today

    Allow your wisdom to shine through our will

    Allow us to praise and worship you

    Through generations past and generations to come help us sing to our Lord

    We praise today, for we have not forgotten all you have done

    We praise you tomorrow, for we shall teach and share your grace

    As long as there is hope, we shall worship you

    For your hope endures and your love is everlasting

Confession: 

   Gracious Redeemer, we admit that all to often we fail.  We are not prepared for your judgement as we spend our days worried about the judgment of others.  We live into the earthly desires and the things we have instead of looking beyond our wants to our true needs.  We diminish the needs of others, allowing for hate and anger to dominate the voices in the world instead of the hope of God and the grace of Christ. Gracious Redeemer help us to know redemption and to spread that through love to the world around us; grant us strength and courage to allow the needs of others to outway our wants; help us to hear your Word in our lives and your Will for our actions...(assurance of pardon)...amen. 

Prayer of Illumination: 

    Gracious God, guide us in our readings today that we may hear your wisdom.  Incline our ears to hear your Word and your Will for our lives.  Work within and through the sermon so that the Holy Spirit may give us the courage we need to act and the wisdom we need to know.  Open these readings up so that all who hear may know your Will and teach others your hope. Amen

Prayer of dedication: 

     Gracious Sustainer, we lift up to you today these gifts.  We are thankful to you for the blessings you bring in our lives and are grateful when we are able to share them to further love and grace in the world.  Help this congregation make good choices in how we use these gifts; give hope to this congregation that we can and do matter in our community; and continue to work within and through each of us to spread your loving hope to the world around us.  Amen.