The Watchword for the Week:
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Luke 3:8
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the paths for your Only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve you
with hearts purified by His coming.
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say on that day: Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name; make known his deeds among
the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy O royal Zion,
For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Invitation to Confession
Preparing for the coming Savior means that we need to acknowledge our need for one. Let us prepare the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ by confessing our sins:
Forgive us loving God for the winding path upon which you have to travel to find us. As we bend to the selfish influences of our culture we lose sight of your intended will for us. Too often we live by fear rather than by faith because we underestimate your power to heal the parts of us that are broken, and to correct the parts of us that have drifted from your influence. We confess that we have separated ourselves from you and our spirit, soul, and body have been used to meet our own needs rather than seeking the purity of your will. Bring us back to you so that we might respond to your grace by sharing it with others. Give us the courage to give you unhindered access to all of who we are and in so doing find ourselves blameless at your coming.
Comfort, comfort my people says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Take time now to read the Daily Text for today. As you do so pause at words or phrases that speak most especially to your preparation for the Christmas season that is now fast approaching.
Then take time to pray for your needs, the needs of your family and friends, and the needs of the world. When you have finnished that, continue with the prayer as follows:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.
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 tresspasses 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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.
As we continue in this Advent season enable us to more faithfully seek your presence in our daily lives.
Come Lord Jesus, come.
Come and mold us, change us, use us.
We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.
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