Do Not Be Alarmed

Call to Worship

Children of God, when wars and rumors of wars circle all around, Jesus says:

Do not be alarmed. This is not the end.

When earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, famines, and floods produce chaos and destruction, Jesus says:

Do not be alarmed. This is not the end.

When misinformation and disinformation try to dismantle relationships of trust in our families, churches, cities, and nation, Jesus says:

Do not be alarmed. This is not the end.

Children of God, whatever leaves you feeling unsteady, insecure, scared, and confused today--do not be alarmed. This is not the end.

We come to worship God who inscribes our ending, our beginning, and everything in-between in Love. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2024.

Prayers of the People

When the skies grow dark, and buildings fall, then hear us:
have mercy on us, Lord.

When deceivers come, and the nations rise in anger, then hear us:
have mercy on us, Lord.

When famines begin,
and when the earth shakes to bring the future to birth, then hear us:
have mercy on us, Lord.

When we take our stand to witness to your truth,
when our people are arrested and betrayed, then hear us:
have mercy on us, Lord.

When the sun is darkened, and the moon fails to give us light,
and when the stars fall from the sky, then hear us:
have mercy on us, Lord.

When you come in your great power and glory with your angels from heaven:
Then, Lord,
gather us from the four winds—
from the ends of the earth,
to be with you for ever and ever. Amen.

Written by Michael Perry. Posted on the Jubilate Hymns website, http://www.jubilate.co.uk/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/11/advent-prayer-that-we-may-be-ready.html.

Prayer of Confession

Let us open our hearts and minds to the truth of our lives, and let us offer that truth to God.

O God who loves us, hear our prayer. So often we come to you at a loss – at a loss for the right words, the right deeds, the right feelings. We know all is not right, but we cannot say with certainty what is wrong. There are deep divisions between us and others. There are too many who live in poverty and fear. There are too many horrific stories, and not enough hopeful ones. So we pray to you, our Creator and Redeemer, to make things right, and to make us right with you and each other. Turn us around from that which destroys toward that which heals and brings joy. And hear us again, as we offer you our confession in silence.

Silent confession.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Friends, let us proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Let us go out into the world as people made new by God.
Amen.

Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, “Hold Fast to What Is Good.” Used with permission. Posted at https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/.

Benediction

May the Spirit that leads through fire and flood
The Spirit that baptizes with power
The Spirit of expectation and hope
Lead, strengthen, and guide you
This week and always. Amen.

Written by Valerie Bridgman in The Africana Worship Book, Year B (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2007), 221.