December 3, 2023
1st Sunday of Advent
Come, thou long-expected Jesus and set us free from our fears and sins. We confess that we often hold on to our fears and sins, not realizing that true freedom is found in you. Thank you for the Advent candle of hope that reminds us that with you, we can be made new again, we can be born again.
In this Advent Season, may your candle of hope shine brightly upon those on our church’s prayer list as well as with those we lift up to you this morning of worship. Surround them with you healing, your guiding, your protecting, your empowering, and your redeeming love.
May your candle of hope shine brightly upon the people of Israel and Gaza and other parts of the world where there is violence and war so that peace and justice would prevail. May your candle of hope shine brightly upon the United Methodist Committee on Relief as they offer aid and resources to people in need.
May your candle of hope shine brightly upon couples and families who are experiencing relational conflict and hardships and upon the people we see during a walk who are carrying heavy burdens. Open us up to those opportunities where we can be your candle of hope for those we encounter in our everyday lives. Lead us in this holy season to not only go to church but to be your church.
And Lord, as we begin this 1st week of Advent, lead us to reflect on the many ways that you have been the light of hope in our lives. May these times when your hope helped us through a difficult time lead us to praise you, and remind us that with you, there is always a back nine yet to be played, a new beginning, a new start.
Come, thou long-expected Jesus even as we pray this prayer of hope that you taught us to pray together,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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