December 27, 2009 - First Sunday After Christmas Day

Greeting
Leader: Hear now the call to the manger.
People: We offer our very selves to this holy child.
Leader: Join the mighty and the lowly in worshiping the infant King.
People: With the angels and shepherds we keel before Him.
Leader: Thanks be to God for the gift of his precious Son.
People: Glory to God in the highest!

Collect
Our God made flesh, with wonder and joy we come before you. We come from the aftermath of Christmas celebrations, contented though weary, relaxed and thankful. Please do not allow the glory of Bethlehem to slowly fade from our focus, but let it illuminate all our worship, our homes, and our service in the world. In the name of your holy Son, your greatest gift, who lives with us now and forever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift, has come in power and glory;
Wisdom has come to teach and guide us;
Emmanuel has come, the hope of all the peoples;
let us lift our voices in prayer with the saints
and cry out with the angels. Please respond to each petition with “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

For the Church to whom a child is born;
For those who have become children of God;
For all who still seek the infant-king;
For people of faith among whom our God dwells:
May the Word Made Flesh raise in us a cry for justice,
a shout for joy, and a song of comfort for all people.
We pray: “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

For the world in darkness that has seen a great light;
For all the ends of the earth that have seen the saving power of God;
For nations at war that dream of everlasting peace:
May the grace of God appear to them, saving them,
training them to live in hope and justice.
We pray: “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

For those who have suffered this year;
For the unemployed or exploited;
For those unsure of where their next meal will come from;
For those made homeless by natural disaster or economic strife;
For marriages, families, relationships, and promises broken:
May the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster be smashed by the Lord’s holy arm.
We pray, “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

For those we remember during this season;
For the Jewish people who celebrate the promise of the Lord’s light;
For children born and children hoped for;
For parents-to-be, parents dear,
or parents distanced by miles or emotional separation;
For loved ones ill or close to death;
For all those we keep in our hearts:
May they receive from God’s mercy grace upon grace.
We pray, “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

For friends and family who have died
whom we miss most during this holiday season,
May Christ who brings glad tidings gather us together
into the eternal light of heaven.
We pray, “Jesus, Be Born in Us.”

Lord Jesus, Everlasting Light, and precious gift to all,
shine your mercy upon us and hear our prayers.
Do not let the darkness of doubt overcome us
but stir in us deeper faith in you.
We ask this in your name, Emmanuel,
God with us, for ever and ever. Amen.

Christmas Eve Service - outside in a barn

Greeting
Leader: Here, in a lowly stable, Jesus, the crown of heaven, meets the dust of the earth.
People: This, tonight, is the meeting place.
Leader: Here, the darkness encounters a bright light, which shines in every corner and dispels all fear.
People: This, tonight, is the meeting place.
Leader: Here, God is made flesh in us, and we are joined to God forever through this holy child.
People: This, tonight, is the meeting place.

Prologue
Adapted from “This, tonight, is the meeting place” from Cloth for the Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1997

This, tonight,
Is the meeting place
Of heaven and earth.
For this, tonight,
Is the stable
In which God keeps his appointment
To meet his people.
Not many here are high and important,
Not many holy;
Not many innocent children,
Not many worldly wise;
Not all familiar faces,
Not all frequent visitors.
But, if tonight only strangers met,
That would be enough.
For Bethlehem was not the hub of the universe,
Nor was the stable a platform for famous folk.
In an out-of-the-way place
Which folk never thought to visit –
There God kept and keeps his promise;
There God sends his son.

Collects and Prayers - December 20, 2009 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent, a service of lessons and carols

Collect
Let us pray…
Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas,
Let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning.
Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture,
How the prophets of Israel foretold that God would visit and redeem the waiting people,
Let us rejoice, in our carols and hymns,
That the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled.
Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Will bring all peoples and all things into the glory of God’s eternal kingdom.
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk,
The lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,
The dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
But first, let us pray for the world that God so loves,
For those who have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it;
For those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death;
And for the Church in this place and everywhere,
That it may be freed from all evil and fear,
And may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God.
Amen.

Collects and Prayers - December 13, 2009 - The Third Sunday of Advent

Greeting
Leader: Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
People: For the Lord will come and dwell in our midst.
Leader: Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord,
People: and we shall be His people and dwell with Him.
Leader: His time is near; hasten to Him!
People: Come, Emmanuel, come.

Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Candle
Loving God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of the Savior,
who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
May the joyful promise of your presence, O God,
make us rejoice in our hope of salvation.
Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light this candle.
May its light reflect the splendor of Christ,
who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
As we watch and wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us pause, embrace the hush of silence, and ponder the depth of God's love through the incarnation of God's son.

We offer prayers to God who comes to our aid. After each petition, please respond with “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

We want to be prepared for your coming Lord, but we confess that we are not ready. Too often distractions and busy-ness in our lives cause us to miss you. Our days get bogged down in tasks, to-do lists, and projects that cause us to lose sight of your coming kingdom. Free us from this poverty of spirit.
We pray, “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

Gracious God, we give thanks for your calming presence and gentle guidance in this season of waiting. Bring our hearts to a place where love, peace and joy abound. Teach us to wait patiently for your kingdom to come and your will to be done.
We pray, “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

Loving Father, you have nurtured your Church as a place where all can come to know you, love you and serve you. We pray for church leaders - bishops and pastors - and for the laity and all who minister in Christ. We ask especially for God's blessing on Reverend Greg Jenks, with us this morning, and all the leaders of the ZOE ministry in Africa. May all who are affected by their work experience hope and healing.
We pray, “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

We pray for those who have difficulty waiting through this Advent season due to strife, relational conflicts, physical or emotional pain, or grief. Help them sense your gentle presence around them and find peace in you. Lift them out of valleys of despair and loneliness into pastures filled with hope and love.
We pray, “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

With hopeful expectancy, we pray for our Christmas Eve celebration, and for all who will gather to worship you. May all of your children, especially the unchurched and dechurched, hear the call to the manger and be found by you this Christmas.
We pray, “Come, Emmanuel, come.”

With a giving spirit and and open heart, we ask these things through your Son, the long-awaited Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Collects and Prayers - December 6, 2009 - The Second Sunday of Advent

Greeting
Leader: A voice cries out: “In the wilderness
People: Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Leader: Make straight in the desert a highway,
People: A highway for our God.”
Leader: The God of Israel comes to set us free.
People: Come, Emmanuel, come.

Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Candle
Merciful God,
You sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance.
As a candle lights the darkened path, may their words prepare the way for our salvation.
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may celebrate aright the commemoration of the nativity,
and may await with joy the coming in glory of Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God forever and ever.
Amen.