Hope for the World 
Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2016

Isaiah 2:1-5	Psalm 122	Romans 13:11-14	Matthew 24:36-44

Call to Worship: After Psalm 122
Leader: I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of God!"

People: Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Leader: We are built to be a community that is bound firmly together.

All: We give thanks to you, O God, for you are worthy to be praised!

Prayer of Invocation
Loving God, we give you thanks for the season of Advent 
that reminds us that your love stopped at nothing 
to save us and claim us as your own.
Keep us awake during this season 
so that we may be able to receive 
all that your Holy Spirit wants to offer us.
Speak to us now.
Fill us with your power and your grace.
Let us leave here a changed people willing and ready 
to be your light in the world. Amen.

Call to Confession
Christ came so that our sins may be forgiven.  
In full confidence that Christ stands ready to hear, accept and forgive our sins, 
let us confess them now, first silently and then together:

(After a time of private, silent prayer the congregation begins to pray the following responsively)

Prayer of Confession: After Psalm 122, and Romans 13:11-14, 13:11
Forgiving God, 
we confess to You that there are times 
when we would rather stay asleep in sin 
instead of awakening to live in your light.
We confess that we do not trust that your armor of light is sufficient for us, 
and hide in the shadows of greed and quarreling. 

Give us courage, O God, 
to trust in your ways, in your peace, and in your good.
In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
The good news of Advent is Christ's love and forgiveness of sin.
Thanks be to Christ who sets us free to love and to serve.
Rejoice! For in Christ we ARE forgiven!

Pastoral Prayer
God of love and mercy, thank you for your great gift of your Child, Jesus Christ, 
who fills us with all that we need.
Merciful God, we are fully aware that not all your children 
are able to bask in joy or peace during this season.
We pray for peace within all walls: 
walls within our own homes, walls that surround each city and town.
We pray that during this season of Advent 
we may share the Good News of our Savior with others.
We pray that the promise of your birth may be the promise 
that we live in and share at home, at work and at school.
May we be moved to compassion and action in your name.
We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ who taught us all to pray saying...

Prayer of our Savior

Offertory Prayer of Dedication
Dear God, in your faithfulness and generosity. You lavish us with so many blessings, thank You!
Help us to be generous with all our gifts.
Bless these gifts so that they may be used for your good purpose 
in our community, in our nation and throughout the world.
In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Benediction
Go therefore in the name of our Triune God,
Walking in the Light of God and sharing in the Spirit of Peace.
Go out in joy and thanksgiving, to live in Christ our Savior. Amen.

Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent was written by the Rev. Elizabeth Aguilar.

Copyright 2016 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.