CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Our God can part the sea. People: God can bring water from a rock, and provide bread in the desert. Leader: Our God can walk on water. People: He can heal the sick, and turn water into wine. Leader: Our God sets the stars in the sky. People: God hears our voice when we cry, and is closer than our own breath. Leader: There is nothing our God cannot do. People: Let us stand in awe. Let us worship God with wonder.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
*HYMN No. 140
“ Once in Royal David ’ s City ”
Irby
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison) Holy God,
Somewhere in our childhood we face pressure to outgrow awe. We turn into adults who obsess over data and facts. We praise those who have answers, and assume that wonder is an answerless game. Forgive us for closing that door to you. Remind us that the kingdom of God belongs to children. Teach us the ways of awe and wonder, so that like Zechariah, when we find ourselves speechless, our first words will be words of praise. With hearts open wide, we pray, amen.
SILENT PRAYER
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Family of faith,
Just as we marvel at mountains and newborns, at sunrises and sunsets, God marvels at us. Here is nothing you could do or leave undone that could prevent God from loving you. So hear and believe the good news of the gospel: We are forgiven. We are loved. We belong to God. Amen.
All:
RESPONSE HYMN No. 113 “ Angels We Have Heard on High ”
Gloria
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