Today Begins the Holy Season of Advent

Call to Worship
One: Today begins the holy season of Advent.

Many: Lord, we come asking you to help us focus our attention on the things that really matter.

One: Today begins a holy time of preparation.

Many: Lord, we come away from the distractions of commercials, lists, and a world that seems to have forgotten the reason for the season.

One: Today offers us a new opportunity to remember how truly special you thought we were. You gave us the most precious gift anyone could imagine.

Many: Lord, we come to your house to remember, to re-commit, and to offer our thanks for the gift of your Son for our salvation.

Opening Prayer
Loving God, today we start the journey toward Bethlehem, a stable, and remembering the day your Son came into the world to save us from our sins. As we await his Second Coming to redeem the world for eternity, open our hearts so that as we move through this Advent season, the joy of knowing the love of God through Jesus Christ overshadows everything else we experience. For it is in his name, we pray. Amen.

Offering Prayer
Thank you, God, for the gift of Jesus. As we present our tithes and offerings today, we realize how much we need you. We cannot begin to understand what it meant for you to give up your only Son for us and our sins. We ask your blessings for the work of ministry you have entrusted to us that it might bear fruit worthy of your kingdom. Amen.

The Rev. Dr. LaGretta Bjorn is the pastor of the United Methodist Church of Spring Valley in Spring Valley, New York, and is a clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.