December 11, 2022
3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday
Strengthen Your Resolve

CALL TO WORSHIP
One:	Our souls magnify the Lord. 
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
All:	We come today with eager hope, awaiting God’s new revelation.
One:	The mighty One has done great things! 
God’s mercy covers generations.
All:	We come today with ready peace, trusting with anticipation.
One:	The One who lifted up the lowly 
And filled the hungry, dwells with us.
All:	We come today with fervent joy, we worship with great expectation.

-	Inspired by Luke 1:46b-55, The Magnificat

INVOCATION
God of Mary, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Rahab—
God of us all, your children here and your children afar—
We enter this moment of worship with eager anticipation.
We know that even before a child would come to lead the way, 
You were leading our way. From the valleys of the shadows of death to the tables in the presence of enemies, you have never left us nor forsaken us. You rod and your staff have guided us. Guide us now, O God. 
Make your presence known as we worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen.

PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE
Leader: 
We gather together in this season of Advent
anticipating hope, praying for peace, attempting to cultivate joy and share love 
amidst commotion, grief, despair and uncertainty.

Moment of silence

All: 
God, we confess that we have often placed our hope in 
people and things that can’t fulfill our every need. 
We have searched for peace in shallow places. 
We have mistaken joy for temporal pleasure and artificial exhilaration. 
We have put limits on the ways we love, 
excluding those who need our loving kindness the most.
God, when we have lost our way, show us yours.
Guide us to the hope in you that will renew our strength.
Lead us to your peace that transcends all understanding.
Fill us with a joy we can only experience in your presence.
Remind us that you have always loved us with an everlasting love,
so that we may share that love with others. Amen.

WORDS OF GRACE
Leader: 
In this season of desolation and uncertainty, it good to know that
God’s love for us is sure—that God’s commitment to us is definite—that God is walking with us, guiding us, as the compassionate companion that we are called to be for each other. 
Let us live into this gift.
Amen. 

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY
Leader: As recipients of the generosity of God, let us share our generosity with each other and the community.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THANKSGIVING
One:		For the wondrous ways this offering will bless this community
One or All:	We dedicate these gifts.
One: 		For the ways it’ll help us live out God’s mission
One or All:	We dedicate these gifts.
One:		Let these gifts strengthen our call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.

BENEDICTION
God forth with great expectation
Waiting for God’s mercy to fill us
Wait for the God’s grace to surround us
Wait for God’s child to lead us
And in that waiting, 
May God bless and keep you 
May God’s face shine upon you 
May God be gracious to you 
And give you peace. 
Amen

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP SERVICE:
My Heart Sings Our with Joyful Praise		The New Century Hymnal #106
My Soul Gives Glory to My God			The New Century Hymnal #119
Each Winter as the Year Grows Older		The New Century Hymnal #435
Keep Awake, Be Always Ready			The New Century Hymnal #112

Rev. Mia M. McClain is the Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Washington D.C. She is an ordained UCC minister.