Advent 1C–November 28

Signs-in-the-Moon One

Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent

November 28, 2021

CALL TO WORSHIP

Emmanuel! God with us!

Incarnate one! Embodied one!

Crying one! Bleeding one!

At-table one! Loving one!

Hand-in-the-wounds one!

Signs-in-the-moon one!

Hear our plea!

Come! Be here now.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

O God of wholeness,

Let us not be put to shame.

Some of us live with shame everyday

In our bodies

In our hearts

In our self-images, self-esteem, and self-regard.

Have mercy.

Others of us have afflicted our siblings with shame

By our racism

By our ableism

By our sexism, heterosexism, and cissexism.

Have mercy.

You instruct both sinners and the upright in your ways, Sovereign one.

Teach us, that some of us may be free,

and some of us may learn to be free of fault.    Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The God of unlimited compassion

will strengthen your hearts in holiness

that you may be blameless and whole before our God and Parent

at the coming of our brother Jesus with all the saints.         Amen.

CALL TO OFFERING

The earth distresses. Nations are confused.

The power structures we’ve grown accustomed to are being shaken.

And we will not be shaken. We will look up.

And be children of the God of Mercy.

Let us give of what we have accordingly.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

The day of redemption draws near

      For all who labor but do not eat,

      For all who are hated for how they love.

      For all who live with a sense of foreboding,

      wondering what injury will be inflicted on their bodies

      because of their bodies.

      We offer these gifts  as a taste of the equitable world to come.

BENEDICTION

Emmanuel! God with us!

Incarnate one! Embodied one!

Send us forth  with confidence to seek you where you dwell

in the signs-in-the-moon-and-sun-and-stars,

in the turbulence of our lives,

and in unexpected Hope.

Signs-in-the-Moon One: Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent C was written by Stephanie Dorsey, chaplain resident at York Hospital in York, PA

Copyright 2021 Faith INFO Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.

    

     Advent 1 C–November 28