O God who is greater than the most powerful forces in this world, enable us to be still & know that you are God.
        O Lord who answers out of the whirlwind of everyday life, breathe in us your Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, & guide us in the midst of the storm.
        O still, small voice, speak to us this hour, that we might become makers of your peace in our homes, in our communities, in our world.
        We pray all this in the name of the One who calmed the raging sea.        Amen.

Gentle...yet powerful.
Lowly...yet almighty.
Shepherd..yet King.
        In your gentleness, guide us.
        In your power, strengthen us.
        In your lowliness, strip from us our selfish pride which only destroys us.
        In your greatness, lift us up that we might aspire to greater things.
                As a shepherd, call us be your servants.
                As a King, call us to be your royal priesthood.
                        O God, who is our shepherd and our King;
                        O Christ, who was crucified and is now risen from the dead;
                        O Spirit, who comforts and empowers;
                        O great One in Three, Holy Trinity, this hour, set us free to worship. Amen.

        Gentle Shepherd ... King of Love, we come to you as we are, not as we pretend to be. The truth is, God, that when we lift our heads above our path, we all too often discover ourselves lost in a maze of choices. We confess from the very beginning of this worship that we are lost... Were it not for you, O great seeker of our souls, patient parent to our childhood, joyful host to our homecoming; Were it not for you, O Lord, we would be lost forever. But, because of you, there is room for us at the great Love Feast. Gentle Shepherd ... King of Love, seek and find us as we are, not as we pretend. Be patient with us, and teach us how to wait. May the echoes of your celebration reverberate in our midst this hour, transforming our worship from a mournful plea to a joyful song. Gentle Shepherd ... King of Love, lead us. Amen.

        O God from whom every gift derives, we gather to worship you this day. You are an awesome God, greater than our comprehension or our imagination. You are beyond any word we could ever use to describe you. And yet, through Jesus, we know the intimacy of your vast Love.
        We have come to you in thanksgiving and praise, to know that you are God and to place our lives anew into your perspective. Enlarge our vision this hour with your Word. Instill in us, again, your hope in place of our despair, your peace where our hatred threatens, your joy amidst our depression, your love overwhelming our apathy.
        May your Holy Spirit surround and indwell this congregation now, and forevermore. In Jesus we pray. Amen

        O God of Love, who came as a infant, small and vulnerable; O Prince of Peace, who said "Let the children come to me;" O Spirit of Life, who empowers little ones to lead us in worship, continue to bring Joy to this world. Desperate is our need. Great is your Joy. Make of this hour a festival of joyous song, truthful confession, hearfelt praise, earnest words of hope amidst our fears, hands and voices raised in adoration and extended in compassion. When at last we stand and sing our majestic chorus of "Hallelujah!", remind us again of the lowliness of a manger, and the folly of a cross, and the words of a prophet who once witnessed:
                "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."  (Isaiah 11:6)  Lead us, O Lord. Amen!

O God, music is the food of our souls ... but not all are musically inclined.
        We long to sing of you with the greatest of melodies,
                                                    the sweetest of tunes,
                                                    the grandest of rhythms,
                                                    the purest of pitches,
                                                    the fullest of sounds.
                We aspire for excellence in our praise, to be worthy of your greatness ...
                        Well, perhaps our goals are a bit high ...
                                Do you suppose you could lend a few angels from your heavenly choir?
                                        "O for a thousand tongues to sing!"
                                                One just doesn't seem to be enough.
                                                           One tongue to sing;
                                                            One set of ears to hear;
                                                            One pair of arms to break free;
                                                            One heart to rejoice.
                                                One just doesn't seem enough.

                                        "O for a thousand ...", a million.
        Hear our longing, O God.
                We are not just tongues, or ears, or arms, or hearts.
                We are whole persons, not just the sum of our many parts,
                        some of which work better than others.
                We are whole persons who long to worship you with everything we've got;
                                                          for you are the source of everything we've got, great and small.
                                For the wholeness which you give us in the midst of our imperfection -
                                        our ability to be fully human, for this we are thankful,
                                                and our praise represents our thankfulness,
                                                                                       our longing for more of you in our common life.
        Hear now our praise, "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing"

        O God, who is here - in this place, now - in our midst; Empower us to praise you, not with words and actions which come from outside of us, but from within us; Dwell in us more fully that we may sing to you with all our being; Fill us with a sense our your joy, that we might actually delight in your worship; Focus us upon your self-giving Love, which is above every love we have ever known, the source of all.
        O God, who is here - in this place, now - in our midst; Make your love real here and now, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

        "Get out of bed, sleepy head," we heard a voice say: an alarm clock, a mother or father, a husband or wife, an excited child. "Eat breakfast," "get dressed," "hurry up - let's go", the voices prodded us, Lord. And so, we are here. But are we really? Wake us up, God. Really! WAKE US UP!
        So often we begin worship by asking for you to be here. But we are the ones who need the prodding. Prod us, Lord! Tickle us awake with your Spirit! Make us alive in Christ! Help us to be aware that you are here with us, now!
        You have crowned us with your presence. May we this hour crown you, glorify you with lives that are lived for you.
                            In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

        The Life you give us in Christ is so very real, God. Who are we to receive such goodness. Yes, we have come to church today, but we confess that we have not been all that faithful throughout the past week.
        There were moments when we acted in love. But more often our actions were powered by other motives. Forgive us. Help us to forgive ourselves.
        We did remember you upon ocassion, but too easily we forgot you amidst the daily grind. Forgive us. Help us to live in you.
        Every now and then an "Amen" did come out of us in word or action. But like the father who came to Jesus with his dying son, we more often cried out: "I believe; help my unbelief!" Forgive us. Empower us with your Spirit.
        Who are we to profess the life you freely give? Who are we to claim your daily goodness? Who are we to receive your healing presence?....
        Thank you, Father God, for your forgiveness.
        Thank you, Christ Jesus, for your Life.
        Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your power.
                We open ourselves to you, anew ... today. Live now in us, we pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

2 - Please stand, ready to worship God.
1 - Listen! Do you hear?
2 - Listen! Are you alive to what God has created around you?
1 - Look! Have you beheld the wonder of God's Creation?
2 - Look! Do you see the wonder of God's presence around us?
1 - Wait! "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him."
2 - Wait! "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength."
1 - Come! "Come to me all who labor & are heavy burdened, & I shall give you rest."
2 - Come! "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of heaven belongs."
1 - Pray! "Pray without ceasing."
2 - Pray! "Lord, teach us how to pray."
1 & 2 & congregation - "Our Father, who art in heaven ..." (etc.)

        You are such a gracious host, Lord God of all creation. Who are we to receive such goodness? You prepare a table for us, amidst our daily struggles, our successes and failures, even in the presence of our enemies. You anoint us, wash us, feed us. You do all this.
        We confess that we tend to see our daily bread solely in terms of our own handiwork. But we are not self-sufficient. We need you. Forgive us. We need these brothers and sisters in Christ around us. Empower us.
        Shower us with your "holy manna" that we might be strengthened for the journey to which you have called us. By faith we stand and worship. By faith we walk and work. By faith we profess that your Christ is alive, and that your spirit moves us to be and to do more than we ever thought possible.
        We pray all this in the name of the One who said "I am the bread of life." Amen.

        O God, you refresh us with life-giving rain on a late summer's day, and bless us with a crisp hint of autumn's way. Our alleluias are but an echo of your voice, a ripple upon the waters from your splash, an aroma that lingers from your presence, a satisfying aftertaste from your banquet. O God, we have come, just as we are to worship you in grace and truth. Grant us this hour, the life-giving power to rejoice - to sing fully, to pray fervently, to love fiercely, to care deeply, to hope unendingly, to praise you in our words and our deeds, with all that we are, or could ever hope to be.
        Come, Holy Spirit, the source of every blessing. Tune our hearts that we might sing your praise. In him who died, and who lives to set us free: Jesus Christ. Amen!

        Holy God, make your presence known to us today. We come to you as we are, called to be saints, holy ones, but so often less than our calling. Help us this hour to let go of those sins to which we cling. Help us to know that our self-worth does not depend so much on our ability to hold on to our lives, as on your power to release ourselves into your hands.
        Holy God, make your presence known to us today. We come to you with our vision so often clouded by our sin. Clear away the mist, through Jesus, that we can catch a glimpse, now, of your presence here. Help us to behold you as you are, not as we would like you to be. In Him, through whom we become holy, on the wings of the Spirit, we pray to you, our Father. Amen.

(Advent)
        O God of the still, small voice, when you spoke through the angel Gabriel to Mary, mother of our Lord, you said, "Don't be afraid." And in the mighty chorus of your heavenly host, you comforted those frightened shepherds with the same words. This whole business of "Gloria in excelsis" can be a bit overwhelming, to put it mildly. It seems we're never really prepared for your new possibilities. We're not very good at waiting. And when the focus of our impatience arrives, well, you know how we react. You know us very well. And you say, again, "Don't be afraid."
        In your Word we find these words: "Perfect love casts out fear." May that love come to birth in us today. In the stillness of this moment, cast out our fear, and create in us a united voice which cannot help but cry out your delivery room song: "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"   Glory to God in the Highest!  amen! Amen! AMEN!

(Advent)        A WELCOMING PRAYER
        Be still ... Hark! ... Pay close attention ... Listen ... Quiet us, Lord, that we might be able to hear, over the noise of our busy lives, beyond the clutter of our Christmas preparations; Help us to become still, even for a moment, that we might hear the herald of your angel voices: "Glory!" ... "Peace on Earth" ... "Mercy" ... "Reconciliation" ... "Joy!" ... "Christ is born." The message of the ages still rings out for those willing to listen. This is our desire. Open us that we might hear. Today ... Now. We pray this in the name of the One who was born where he was welcomed: a garage out back. Come, Jesus, into our home. Welcome! Amen.

        O God who watches over all of creation, you are far greater than our ability to understand. How do you do it? From where do you do it? Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father who art in heaven." What a mouthfull, Lord! On the one hand you are as close as a loving parent. But on the other hand, you watch from a distance.
        O God who is beyond our reasoning, accept us as we are. Take our faith as it is, and move us to higher places. Teach us the truth, that we might be able to call on you in truth, where you are, and not just where we want you to be.
        O God who is both compassion and power, receive from us this hour all the praise, the thanksgiving, the love we are able to return to you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

        "Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give them will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." (John 4:14)
        "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
        "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

(used with "A Mighty Fortress")
        O God, our refuge, our strength, our help; you are the bedrock upon which our lives are built, the mighty fortress which surrounds and protects. Though the earth should change, the mountains shake, the waters rise, we will not fear. Help us, O Lord, to live fearlessly amidst the storm. But in so doing, guide us as followers of the prince of peace, the servant king, away from a fortress mentality, where outsiders are enemies, toward a Kingdom where Love is the final word. On bended knee we sing praise to the One you have exalted, the lamb who was slain for our sin. May the doors of this mighty fortress open wide this hour, that the music of the Kingdom may resound through this valley and into our hearts, our homes, our communities, our world. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

(Advent)
        O come, faithful God, who empowers the weak, who encourages the fearful, who enlightens the blind, who intones the deaf, who energizes the lame, who emancipates the speechless, who enriches the poor, who invigorates the dead; O come, faithful God, come and enable us, right now, to worship you, and work for your Kingdom, filled with your strength, your hope, your vision, your melody, your motivation, your Word, your inheritance, your Life! All this we pray, through him who came to be our Savior, who lives to be our Lord, who will return and fully make all things new; In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

        Yes, Lord, teach us to wait. You are eternal. In you we find freedom from the tyranny of time. You have given us the minutes and hours of our days not to enslave us, but to give order. Help us to use this hour wisely, to wait, and experience your nearness. Only in returning and rest are we saved, in quietness and trust are we strengthened. (pause)
        Yes, Lord, teach us to wait. Only then can we learn to fly with the eagles. Only then can we sing your song of freedom. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

        "Thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'" (Isaiah 30:15)
        For those turning toward home, You are Lord, leading every step of the way. For those needing rest in the wilderness, You are God, making all things new. For those seeking quiet amidst the storm, You are Holy, speaking in a whisper. For those still learning how to trust, You are One, drawing closer to your heart. Lord God, Holy One of Israel, Lead us, Renew us, Speak to us, Your will be done in us, Enough for today. Now. We pray to you as children to their Daddy, like Jesus taught us. In his name, Amen.

        O God, we are gathered here under the shelter of your wings, nurtured by your motherly love, and encouraged, then, to fly by faith on the wind of your spirit. You have spoken to us, saying "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Teach us how to wait, then, that we may learn how to fly. May this nest we call "family" be built with sturdy materials. Don't let us forget, though, that this nest was not created as a fortress behind which to hide, but as a perch from which to take off. And strengthen us with the assurance that we do not fly alone. This we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

(used with Exodus 15:11,13,17-18)
        Come, Holy Spirit of God, and blow open the waters of this congregation. Lead us forward this day, O Jesus, pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Plant us on your holy ground, O God of the burning bush, such that we cannot help but take off our shoes. We have come to worship you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

One: O God, you have planted in us a yearning for "home". With the psalmist we cry,
All: "Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion,"
One: knowing that this highway is not so much a line on a map, as a space within.
All: We are on a journey, Lord. Together we are traveling home. You beckon us onward.
One: You are not just out there, though. You are here, blessing us all along the Way.
All: Thanks for the green pastures and still waters of your hospitality, our Shepherd.
One: In the dark places through which we walk, facing various enemies, we are grateful:
All: for your direction, your protection, your hearty food, your welcoming hand.
One: As we journey home, give us the breath to sing our songs of Zion.
All: And help us to march to the beat of a different drummer. In Jesus name. Amen.

        There is no way that we can really bless you, O God, that we can truly become a blessing to others, without your blessing first becoming a part of us. Behind the scenes you are at work, O Lord, blessing this world. For the wrong, of which we are so often a part, we deserve your curse. But you bless us, instead. Thank you!
        We ask your blessing, your active presence in our midst today. Work in us and through us. Allow us to see the evidence of your involvement with us. O bless the Lord. May all that is within us bless your holy name. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

        O Lord, we are like workers in a field, reaping the harvest of your Word. Keep us faithful, today, to the work of worship. May your Spirit move in our midst, waking us up when we are tired, opening our eyes to the goodness you spread before us, strengthening our hand to cut through the stalk and get to the grain which provides our spiritual bread. In so doing, feed us. Remind us, though, that there are those who hunger who are not here. Move us to make space for them. For in reality, we are all poor. And yet, "blessed are the poor," you said in Jesus, "for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled..." In you, we are rich. Receive, now, the offering of our worship: the gifts we bring from your field, the songs we sing from your Spirit, the words we say from our heart. Increase the harvest, O Lord. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

        Immortal God, as we witness the stunning change in seasons, we realize that all of life reflects your creative power. Invisible God, as we search for your love in a violent world, we realize that you have shown us your silent power in grieving women, like Ruth and Naomi, in a baby born away from his home village, in today's humble believers in foreign lands. Wise God, as we listen for direction in our lives, we understand that you are present and speaking in this time of worship. Great  God, we praise your continued desire to lead your people to servant lives of joy and sharing - lives directed by the example of your Son, Jesus Christ, and works guided by the power of your Holy Spirit. O help us to see and feel this power this holy morning.        (written by Jean Sack. refers to hymn: "Immortal, invisible, God only wise")

        God, you have been at work in this world, from that first day of Creation up until today. So many lives, down through the centuries, have been shaped by your hand. People going beyond the possible, walking by faith and thus changing the course of history, in ways large or small. We call them saints. But it was you behind them all. You are an awesome God!
        We confess, O Lord, that we are tempted to place your saints into an unreachable box, so good and holy that their experience does not touch our own. If anything, we are full of holes rather than holy, and selfish motives accompany our acts of goodness. Still, you take our tattered and torn lives and sew together a holy people. You make us into saints.
        Thank you for the One in and through whom our lives become holy: your son, Jesus Christ. He is like fragrant oil which overflows its container, soothing and healing our wounds, and consecrating our lives to your impossible possiblities. Because of him, our hands are never empty. And because of him we are gathered here today, to worship you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

child 1 - Welcome to God's House!
child 2 - Today is a very special day.
child 1 - Isn't every day supposed to be special?
child 2 - Yes, but this is God's day, and we've all come here to worship him.
child 1 - I know something else special about today.
child 2 - Go ahead, make my day.
child 1 - There's only ___ days until Christmas.
child 2 - I knew that.
child 1 - It's also the second Sunday in Advent.
child 2 - I knew that.
child 1 - And we get to light the second candle on the Advent wreath.
child 2 - I knew that.
child 1 - OK, I know something you don't.
child 2 - Really? What is it?
child 1 - Do you know what the second candle stands for?
child 2 - Sure. It stands for....uh....um....It means.... All right, tell me.
child 1 - It stands for........I forget... Mom?
mother - It stands for faith. Last week's candle stood for hope. Today we focus on faith.
father - Faith is important as we journey toward Christmas.
mother - Faith means following God even when we can't see very far ahead.
father - We keep on walking, trusting that God will guide our steps.
mother - For Christmas is more than presents and pretty lights. It's about God sending
                    his Son to walk with us, to save us, and to lead us home.
child 2 - That reminds me about what we just studied in Sunday School. How God sent
                    Moses to save his people from Pharaoh and lead them to the promised land.
child 1 - Yeah, God protected them along the way. Us kids are going to sing about it this morning.
father - Well, then, let's get ready.
mother - Prepare the way of the Lord!
father - Make a space for God here and now.
mother - Invite Jesus to be with us.
child 2 - And light the candles.
child 1 - Especially today's candle, the one that stands for faith.
mother - Shall we stand and sing together: "Come, thou long-expected Jesus"
                    [wait until the people start singing, and then light the first 2 candles on the Advent wreath]

(advent)
        Come, Lord Jesus. We are expecting you to be here. Even so, surprise us. Move among us through your Holy Spirit today in such a way that makes it clear you are near. Confront the Pharoah in each one of us. Passover our sin, because of your promise. Part the waters of our indifference. Lead us through the wilderness of our daily experience, toward your promised land. Speak to us this hour from your mountain. For like Moses, we stand on holy ground. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

child 1 - Today is the last Sunday before Christmas. We have been lighting a new candle each week.
mother - With each candle we remember a different aspect of what Advent is all about. The first one stands for the HOPE we have that God is faithful to his promise;
father - The second represents the journey of FAITH, which prepares us for, and leads us on toward God's coming Kingdom.
mother - The third is for the JOY we find in the Peace of Christ.
child 1 - Today we light the candle of LOVE.
child 2 - God loves us.
mother - Would you stand with us as we read together of God's steadfast LOVE, from which come HOPE, FAITH, and JOY in Jesus Christ.

child 1 - I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;
All - with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
father - I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
All - your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
mother - You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: 'I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"
All - Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.

child 1 - God, do your angels in heaven sing when we sing?
mother - Have I been listening to hear the "Glory" around me?
father - Have I been asking "Why this Jubilee?" and waiting for your answer?
child 2 - We love you God.
mother - We want this worship, and our lives, to reflect your love in us.
father - Light a candle under us, Lord, that we might sing out, as well as listen, seek as well as proclaim.
child 1 - God, help us to hear your angels sing. And help us to sing right along with them.
mother - Glory to God in the highest!
father - Amen.

        It's a brand new year! A page in life never before written upon! That's a great thought. It's also a bit frightening. As there are a multitude of ways in which we can make _____ a better year, there are also many ways we can blow it. Maybe that's why we're here this morning, to seek the One who gives us this new year, and to find in him the paths we should follow. As he did for the wise men so long ago, God sets before us a star of guidance... ...if only we bother to look for it. Please pray with me.
        Eternal God, this is the day which you have made. Help us to rejoice and be glad in it. Help us not to blow it. Shine your light upon our way, that we may follow you. Today. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
        Would you stand with me and sing, "How beautiful the march of days"

(follows Psalm 62:5-8 &  "Praise, I will praise you, Lord")
        With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we all praise you, Lord. But this is only possible with your presence in us, by your grace. Otherwise, we are easily distracted, diverted away from where you wish us to be, distanced from your calling. Forgive us our lack of attention to your Word. Help us to repent, to turn in the right direction, that we may fulfill your commandment to love you with all that we are, and to love our neighbor as ourself. May we worship today with all our heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Call to Worship
(The worship leader (#1) reads from the lecturn. The others join in from the pews in turn.)

(for a Sunday leading up to a Presidential or other election)
        We come to you, Lord God, with praise and confession. Thank you for the goodness that we can see, and empower us, by faith, to be thankful for that which we cannot. In your justice and peace thru Jesus Christ we live. May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. We confess, O Lord, the ways in which we either work against you, or are, at best, lukewarm in seeking first your kingdom, and your righteousness. Enlarge our vision of your work in this world, that narrow mindedness might give way to future sightedness. Stoke the embers of our faith, and our will-power, that passivity might give way to passion.
        On this day, amidst the contention and confusion of an election campaign, we profess that you are the ruler of heaven and earth, greater than all political parties and governments, just or unjust. It is to you, and you alone, that we owe our highest allegiance. That is why we are here this morning. May our words and thoughts be pleasing to you. We offer them in Jesus' name. Amen.

©2000, Peter L. Haynes

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