We believe in the Holy Spirit,
Who continues to work among us now.
We believe in one church, and Her saints,
And we believe that Jesus will raise us too.

Amen!

Submitted by Rev. Cat Clyburn, Jonesboro United Methodist Church, Sanford NC

submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, Fulton FCC

First Sunday in Advent

The days are coming where people from around the world will stream to God’s presence.
People from every part of the earth will travel to learn God’s ways.
Wars between nations will end, disputes will be settled.
Weapons of violence will be turned into farm and garden tools.
Today we light the candle of hope (light one purple candle), for we will not live in dark valleys, but on God’s high mountain.
In hope, we wait for the Light of the World.

Second Sunday in Advent

God speaks of a time when the world will be led by one on whom the Holy Spirit rests.
Wisdom and understanding, planning and strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord—these will guide him.
The world he leads won’t look the same: wolf and lamb living together, leopard and goat napping together, calf and lion cub eating together.
And a little child will lead it all.
Today we light the candle of peace (light two purple candles), for the world God envisions is one free of harm and destruction.
In peace, we wait for our coming King.

Third Sunday in Advent

Our world can be bleak. We can feel unsteady. Grief comes too easily.
But we need not panic, for our God is on his way to save us.
In the Wilderness of our lives, God will make a highway leading us to God’s city.
No one will get lost on this road and happiness will surround us completely.
Today we light the candle of joy (light two purple candles and the pink candle), for we will join in singing as we see God’s majesty.
In joy, we wait for the One who makes all things new.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Into the world’s tiresome, weary, and impatient ways, God will give us a sign.
A miracle is about to break forth, a sign as deep as the grave and as high as heaven.
A young woman will give birth to a son and name him Immanuel, God with us.
He will learn to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, reject evil and choose good.
Today we light the candle of love (light all but the white candle), for God’s love is soon to be born.
In love, we wait for God-With-Us.

Christmas Eve

Tonight, we who have traveled through the shadows of the world have seen a great light.
Into a never-ending night, dawn has begun to shine.
With authority and power on his shoulders, a son is given to us this night.
He will establish and sustain God’s Kingdom with justice and goodness forever.
Tonight we light the Christ candle (light all the candles), for Jesus has been born to us.
We no longer have to wait because our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace has been born to us. Thanks be to God!

Submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, First Christian Church, Fulton MO

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:5-7)

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’”  (Nehemiah 1:8-9)

Lord, give us the same humility that Nehemiah demonstrates. A humility that causes us to recognize our own sin, our own wickedness. You have called us, as Your Church, to be salt and light in the world and we have too often abdicated our role. We have prioritized ministry that focuses on our internal wants and needs, at the expense of those outside. Lord, forgive us. We repent for allowing fear and greed to prevent us from living as we ought.  

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9)

Turn our hearts back to You, and may we find our confidence in You and Your way. We know that our salvation does not come from political parties, earthly power or worldly institutions. Give us the conviction of the Psalmist.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7) 

Lord, give us eyes to see our world and our nation through your eyes. Remind us that the people we see are not the source of the battles we face. Lift our eyes beyond what and who we see physically, and help us to see spiritually.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  (Ephesians 6:12)

We pray that You would unite us. That You would keep us mindful of our frame, mindful of our limitations; cause each of us to be conscious of our inability to see any situation in its entirety. Reinforce in us the recognition that we need each other, even in our disagreement, to see the full picture. Remind us that each brother and sister is a gift from You.

Father, from Creation, you have established the uniqueness of mankind and the value of each human life. Father, you have also taught us through Your Son how we are to treat each person.  Remind us of His words.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “(Matthew 5:43-45)

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

In Leviticus 19:33-34,  You instruct us, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”  Father, empower us to reflect Your heart for the marginalized. Align our words, thoughts, and actions to be consistent with Jesus’ call for love, even with our enemies. Remind us of Your words about Your mission.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Father, help us to see You and Your Son when we see the least of these. Cause not only our hearts to be moved, but also our hands and feet to take action to relieve the suffering.

Allow us to be those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, show hospitality to the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the prisoner. And each time we do, help us to see You even more clearly. Amen

Submitted by Reginald White, and written by Reginald White and Eleanor Tracey of Church on the Way, Longwood, FL.

God and Spirit and Life are One.

With joy, the Wind became a messenger.

With holy curiosity, the Spirit searched out everything the earth might be.

In the Word, first spoken, God’s Breath brought light to all creation.

And that light was life, but for God it wasn’t enough.

More and more, the Word told stories: Water and planets, rocks and trees tumbled into being.

The dust and water could be more.

God’s own hands stretched and smoothed something new.

A breath from God, the Spirit of God, carried the blessing of Life.

The first soul stretched out in that simple creature.

He breathed because God Breathes Life.

And still today, when God’s Spirit comes down:

We are created. We are renewed. We meet the Author of Life. Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise the Lord!

Submitted by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bixby, OK

a time of silent prayer and reflection

Beloved of God, hear this Good News: The Spirit of Truth is not distant or demanding, but near, gentle, and steadfast.

By the Spirit’s grace, we are forgiven, renewed, and never alone. Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Lucus Levy Keppel, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bixby OK

This I believe: God has called me, not according to my own goodness, but according to the Divine purpose. 

Submitted by Diane Ludington, CLP, Church by the River, PC(USA), Keokuk, IA

Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines IA

You will always have a place at this table. Always.  No matter how far away you travel.  No matter what you do or why you do it.  God will always welcome you home. And everyone else, too. 

The Pharisees and scribes (and many of us) just can’t understand this.  They (and many of us) are forever dividing the world – who is in and who is out. What’s the right way and the wrong way.  A good way and a bad way.  Our way and their way.  “Us” and  “them.” And the Pharisees and scribes (and many of us) feel certain in the knowledge of who is doing right and who is doing wrong. 

How dare Jesus welcome those sinners to eat at table with him? It’s so intimate! How could he possibly associate with those people? 

Nearly two thousand years later and we are still dividing the world between us and them.  We still have not fully embraced the truth that God. Loves. Everyone.  No exceptions. 

Jesus uses the parable of the Prodigal to try to help the Pharisees and the scribes think differently about who God is and how God loves; to see that God loves with a wide open heart. Free of judgment. 

This story is so rich that there are endless sermons that could be preached. Often much is made of the son who goes off and recklessly spends his inheritance, then seems to repent and be forgiven. 

But, the eyes that Jesus is trying to open, the hearts that Jesus is trying to expand belong to the Pharisees and scribes who judge him for eating with sinners.  

Friends, we need this message today.  We need to find ways to come together around the table with people we may judge as different than ourselves – whether the difference is religious, cultural, racial, economic, political or any other category we use to make distinctions.  Our families, our communities, our country, our world will never heal unless we are willing to receive God’s embrace, drop our judgments, and join together in celebration. 

I’d like to ask you – if you are in the building – to take a risk with me –  to stand up, if you can, so that we can gather as one family,  all warmly welcomed by our God just as we are to the table.

(Please listen carefully,  follow my prompts, and keep your bulletin with you.)

If, like the younger brother you have ever left home for a distant place (for college, a job, or travel), please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the younger brother, you were given resources (perhaps money, or an education, or an opportunity) that you did not use as wisely as you could have, please take two steps towards God’s table. 

If, like the younger brother, you have ever in your life had more to drink than was healthy, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the younger brother, you – or someone in your family – were in need – without enough money, food, or an adequate place to live, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the younger brother, at any time in your life you took a job that turned out to be miserable in some way for you, please take two steps towards God’s table. 

If, like the younger brother, you or someone in your family had to return to living with parents because things didn’t work out as hoped, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the older brother, you ever felt jealous of a family member, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the older brother, for even an instant, you were angry with one of your parents because you thought you were slighted or treated unfairly, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the older brother, you were ever reluctant to attend a family gathering or party because you were unhappy with someone who was going to be there, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the older brother, there is something you have desired for yourself but you struggled or have been unable to ask for it, please take two steps towards God’s table.

If, like the older brother, you have jumped to conclusions about the behavior of someone in your family, please take two steps towards God’s table. 

If, like the older brother, you have ever felt judgmental of others, please take two steps towards God’s table. 

Friends…rejoice! No matter where you’ve been or what you have done or failed to do; no matter the choices you have made, you are beloved of God just as you are! 

Submitted by Rev. Sue Koehler-Arsenault, Annisquam Village Church, Gloucester, MA

From the Cross we hear those last words, “It is completed.”
We will not recoil or look away, for what happens tonight is good.

The One who promises us life and hope and joy and forgiveness and grace is reliable.
So, we draw near with genuine hearts thankful for the gift.

Submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, First Christian Church, Fulton MO