GATHERING
REFLECTION
The reality of Advent isn’t that we are waiting for the birth of the Christ Child. The Christ Child is here and is waiting for us to come. He is crying out to us from the border. He is calling to us from the voices of the poor. He is shouting to us from prison. He is waiting for us to live out our faith. He is waiting for us to seek justice. He is waiting for us to pursue peace. Let us go, for He is waiting.
– The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe,
General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) for the United Methodist Church,
https://www.umcjustice.org/latest/christ-is-waiting-for-us-796
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: As we light the Advent candles,
Christ calls to us from Bethlehem,
from Gaza, from the West Bank, and from Jerusalem.
People: We hear the cries of the wounded,
the starving, the grieving, the oppressed.
Leader: Christ calls to us from exiles and deportees,
from holding cells along the southern border,
and from every place where people are imprisoned.
People: We hear the cries of people
who have no money, no food,
no shelter, no access to medical care,
no lawyers, and no hope.
Leader: Christ calls to us
from every place of need,
waiting for us to live out our faith.
All: We are ready to seek justice.
We are ready to seek peace.
Christ is waiting for us right now.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Holy Source of light and life and love,
you are waiting for us
to come and help bring justice
and pursue the peace that passes understanding.
People: We confess that we feel overwhelmed
by the roar of war and domination.
The cries from every corner of creation
seem more than we can bear.
Leader: We long to find the courage deep within us
to respond to your calls for help.
All: We confess the ways we are not yet ready
to be your loving body living in this hurting world.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: God speaks to us from the chaos and disorder,
welcoming us just as we are:
an inclusive family of faith
working for peace and justice.
People: Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
INTERCESSION AND PETITION
COMMITMENT
All: O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.
We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1: This is the table of the heavenly feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.
Leader 2: We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us,
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once.
All: Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven, we make one circle
of knowing, believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader 1: Holy Loving Parent,
we thank you for sending your son, Emmanuel,
God with us, to be our guide
as we follow in your paths.
People: We give thanks for Jesus,
who is waiting even now for us to hear
the voices of the oppressed,
the cries of the hungry,
the groans of those who are imprisoned—
waiting for us to act and live out our faith.
Leader 2: We give thanks for the Holy Spirit,
who gives us courage to take action,
to pursue peace, seek justice,
and be your hands and feet
in this broken world.
All: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
a body of believers awaiting the Christ Child,
who is already here and is crying
for us to transform the world with your love.
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.
Leader 2: Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger;
you who believe in me shall never thirst.
Leader 1: On the night he gave himself up, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,
broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.
Leader 2: After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.
All: O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of grain and grape,
and work of human hands
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation
to your eternal realm.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant,
poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All: God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this Body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: May we remain watchful,
anticipating the arrival of the Christ Child,
whose coming into this world in the flesh,
through his mother Mary,
brings us the promise of God’s glory.
And may the blessing of our Creator,
our Savior, and the Holy Spirit
be with all of us now and forever.
All: Amen.