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Hymns
Hymn GTG #88, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” [vv. 1, 6, 7]
Hymn GTG #104, “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”
Hymn GTG #82, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Call to Worship & Lighting Advent Wreath
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 purple candle] The first step on our journey of spiritual regifting is to recognize God’s gifts to us and receive them fully and gratefully.
People: We celebrate what is as we await what soon will be: Come, Lord Jesus.
Call to Confession (based on Jeremiah 29:12-13)
Leader: In order to receive God’s gift of mercy, we must first acknowledge the sin that makes this gift so precious. Let us confess our sin together.
Prayer of Confession (based on Luke 1:28-30, 38)
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: Benevolent One, you lavish your gifts upon us each and every day of our lives. And yet, we do not always receive them joyfully. Sometimes, we look upon them with suspicion. Sometimes, we ask for more. And sometimes, we take them entirely for granted. Forgive us, Lord, and make us more like Mary; give us hearts willing to receive your abundant gifts just as they are. In your mercy, hear our prayers…
(Silent prayers of personal confession)
Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Luke 1:37)
Leader: Nothing is impossible for God - from taking on flesh to taking on our sin. Hear the good news: in the name of the one whose birth we await, we are forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!
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