Restore us, O God, that we might see Jesus.
Restore us, O God, that we might hear his call.
Restore us, O God, that Jesus' choices would be our choices.
Restore us, O God. Amen.
1: O that you would tear open the
heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence-
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil-
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
2: When you did awesome deeds that
we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your
presence.
3: From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
4: You meet those who gladly do
right,
those who remember you in your ways.
1: But you were angry, and we
sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
2: We have all become like one who
is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
3: We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
4: There is no one who calls on
your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
1: Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
For
Children "Alexander
and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by
Judith Viorst
prayer afterward:
O God, help us to reach out to you every day, not just on
special days when everything is going great, but also on
“terrible, horrible, no good, very bad” days. Because “some days
are like that, even in Australia.” Amen.
Returning
our Tithes and Offerings
October wasn’t even over when we began to hear Christmas music
heralding us into the holiday shopping season. Today, however,
marks our entrance into that season spiritually, but it begins
quietly, without much fanfare. If we are looking for a big
parade to precede the coming of Christ to our town, we may miss
the Advent of our Lord. “Keep awake,” scripture says. “Keep
awake.”
Ushers, please pass the
plates, that we might pay attention to our giving.
Dedication
During this season of waiting and anticipation, we are reminded to
stay awake for the coming of your Son. Jesus’ love often comes into
our lives in quiet, unexpected ways. Today, we generously respond
to this compassion and commit ourselves to living in a manner worthy
of your love. In anticipation of the coming of Jesus, the Savior,
we pray. Amen.
The Lord bless you
and keep you; the Lord
make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you; the Lord
lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
International Lesson: Adult
Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement"
under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)