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Hymns
Hymn GTG #106, “Prepare the Way, O Zion”
Hymn GTG #87, “Comfort, Comfort Now My People”
Hymn GTG #93, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”
Leader: As we await the gift of God-with-us, we give thanks for all that God has already given to us.
People: Truly, we have been blessed by the Lord’s goodness
Leader: As we await the gift of the Messiah, we ponder how best to share these gifts with the world.
People: Truly, ALL should be blessed by the Lord’s goodness.
Leader: [Light pink candle] The third step on our journey of spiritual regifting is to reframe God’s gifts to help others see them in new ways.
People: We see with fresh eyes as we look to the manger: Come, Lord Jesus.
Call to Confession (based on Matthew 1:23)
Leader: Even in the depths of our sin, Christ’s birth reminds us that God is yet with us. With full confidence in the promise of Emmanuel, let us confess our sin, knowing that even it cannot separate us from God’s love.
Prayer of Confession (based on Matthew 1:19-20)
You are invited to speak a word or short phrase that describes a personal or collective sin of which you repent and seek forgiveness.
When the gathered community is finished sharing, we pray together:
People: Good and Gracious God, we think that we have righteousness all figured out. We follow the rules and try to do what they tell us is right, but that is not enough for you. Your standard of righteousness goes far beyond ours, and you call us to more: more mercy, more compassion, more acceptance than human laws require. We confess that we are not always willing to meet this standard, to go above and beyond for your name’s sake. Forgive us, Lord, and keep pushing us towards a righteousness that exceeds the bounds of human law - for it is through your righteousness alone that miracles happen. In your mercy, hear our prayers…
(Silent prayers of personal confession)
Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Matthew 1:21)
Leader: Jesus’ very name is a proclamation that “God saves”: our sin no longer has any power over us, our salvation is at hand. Hear and believe, then, that this is the truth: in Christ’s name, we are forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!
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