"In Living Color" Liturgy Pieces

I wrote a few pieces of liturgy that we've been using, in different forms and more or less, over the last four weeks of Advent. It took me a while to feel like I got the wording right, so I thought I'd share it here for posterity and in case it helps anyone else.

Lighting the Advent Wreath                                 

God said, “I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Gen. 9:13, NKJV)

From the beginning of time, God has brought color to the world.  God brings us color still, even in the dullness of winter.  We are called to testify to the beauty of God’s promise, a promise made to all of creation.

Today, we await once more the promise of God’s salvation.  We wait for God’s color to once again break forth into our lives.

We long to see the world as God sees it.  Come, Lord Jesus.

We light a candle in hope for the Word, the Light, the Great

Artist—Emmanuel. 

Prayer of Confession       

            O God, you created landscapes of verdant green, skies of brightest blue, people and animals of every shade in the rainbow, and more.  Yet we insist on seeing only shades of gray, ignoring the beauty that you’ve created.  Instead, we cling to the ugliness, pain, and hatred that we ourselves have sown. Forgive our eagerness to seek that which makes the world dark and dismal.  Color our world, O Lord, in ways that we can only imagine.  In your mercy, hear our prayers...

Prayer for Illumination                                                                 

      God of all creation, of every shade and hue and color, grant to us an understanding of your Word, so that we may ponder it in our hearts and paint it in every corner of your world.  This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our hope. Amen.