Call to Worship

(Jeremiah 23, Luke 1)

It is done.
God has always been in charge—
yesterday and today.
Even when things seem out of control,
God’s reign is on its way.
Let us prepare the way for God.

Hans Holznagel, Ministry Matters, https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/4410/worship-elements-november-24-2019.

Prayer for the Day

Blessed are you, Lord God, for you have visited and redeemed your people. Your Savior has conquered death and is exalted above every power in heaven and earth where he reigns. We sing our thanksgiving and offer our praise to your majestic name.

Yet in our stubborn ways we have defiled the very things which you brought into being. We say we follow Christ as our head, but we have fractured the unity of his body, the Church. By schism, we are torn apart and claim labels of superiority over one another. We close our minds and deny the faith of those who should be our brothers and sisters. For our foolishness, for our prejudice, for the damage we have done, we ask forgiveness of our sins that we might share in the inheritance of the saints of light.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, knit together once more your Church. Grant that your Church might honor you with a united purpose of proclaiming grace and freedom to all the world. Make us prophets of the Most High.

In this day we exalt Christ as our King, we remember the many who are lifted up in other ways. We have named for one another and for you those about whom we are most concerned. Look with mercy on those who are nailed to crosses of pain and suffering, from those forces which destroy the body, affect the mind and drain the spirit. Give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Remember all these, and us, in your realm of light.

Execute righteousness and justice in the land and save us, your children, for we pray in the name of Christ our King. Amen.

And Also With You, Year C, Timothy J. Crouch, OSL; Nancy B. Crouch, OSL; Chris E. Visminas; Mark R. Babb, OSL, (OSL Publications, 199)4, 149.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross,
that all people might come within the reach of your saving embrace.
Clothe us in your Spirit, that we,
stretching out our hands in loving service for others,
may bring those who do not know you to an awareness and love of you;
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign,
One God forever! Amen!

C.H.Brent (1862-1929 AD), posted https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/02/prayer-saving-love.html.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Jeremiah 23: 1-6)

We have sinned against both Shepherd and flock,
even at times not knowing
that we were blocking the work of divine love.
Forgive us for driving others away from the land
of justice and safety.

We have sinned against both Shepherd and flock,
even at times not knowing
that we were blocking the work of divine love.
Forgive us for not attending to the needs of others.

We have sinned against both Shepherd and flock,
even at times not knowing
that we were blocking the work of divine love.
Forgive us for not bringing back to the fold
those who are fearful,
and have gone missing from community.

Assurance of Pardon

(inspired by Luke 23: 33-43, Colossians 1:20-22)

Like the bandits who were crucified next to Jesus,
we too are forgiven—
no matter how much we may have scoffed at the Shepherd’s love,
no matter that sometimes we may not have known what we were doing.
For in the Shepherd, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through the Shepherd, God was pleased to reconcile to God all things,
whether on earth or in the heaven,
by making peace through the blood of the cross.
The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has remembered us and forgiven us---
the gates of Paradise have been unlocked;
we are free to enter where the Shepherd reigns forever and ever!
Thanks be to God!

Written by James E. Janecek, in The Shepherd Reigns. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/10/prayer-of-confession-proper-29c.html.

Benediction

Though the days increase in their darkness, the Lord of light and love reigns supreme. May the power of God’s love be in your hearts and reflected in your lives now and always. Go in peace and may God’s peace be with you. AMEN.

Nancy Townley, Ministry Matters, https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/4411/worship-connection-november-24-2019.