Gathering prayer/Call to worship
I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’.
We gather here today God, standing in Your house,
ready to encounter You in word, song, prayer and in one another.
May Your peace fill this place,
that together we might turn our hearts and minds to You,
and dedicate this time in praise of Your glory.
Amen
confession/repentance
God,
We live in the in-between times,
where we know the light that You bring,
yet still we fear that the darkness will overcome.
We are sorry for the times this week where we have thought the darkness more powerful than Your light.
(Hold a moment of quiet for reflection)
Ever-present God, You bring light that banishes all darkness.
Help us to trust that the day will dawn and the night will be no longer.
In Your gracious love, You shine Your light upon us,
that we might know Your forgiveness.
Call us, God, to put on the armour of Your light,
that we might be emboldened by Your mercy to be bearers of Your love,
today and evermore.
Amen
Thanksgiving/Gratitude
God, You bring hope for restoration,
even beyond the imaginable.
You surround us with peace,
that we might be bound together in Your love,
held in right relationship that enables each of us to flourish.
We thank You that in Your generous love
You promise light beyond the darkness,
peace beyond the war,
and life beyond death.
Amen
Prayer for Others during Advent
Into our troubles and weaknesses,
Into the barren places of our souls, Come Lord,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the war torn and the refugee,
Into those who live in conflict, Come Lord,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the homeless and the unemployed,
Into those who feel abandoned, Come Lord,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the sick and the disabled,
Into those with mental health concerns, the affects of Covid and with cancer, Come, Lord
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the poor and the starving,
Into those who are oppressed or abused, Come Lord
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the lives of loved ones,
Into those from whom we are estranged, Come Lord,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into our joys and celebrations,
Into our work and our achievements, Come, Lord
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
O Christ we long for your coming. Hasten that day when those who seek you in every nation will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south and sit at table in Your Kingdom. Hasten the day when your Kingdom will come in all its glory and suffering and pain and sickness and oppression and death will be overcome forever. Hasten the day when we will be resurrected as a great multicultural family and live in peace, harmony, joy and love together in your kingdom. Amen
Blessing for Advent
May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder
May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger
May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth
and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin
Bellshill Central Church 