EIGHTH DAY OF ADVENT

Second week of Advent— Preparation and Repentance
Sunday, December 6, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:

Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first and second candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to the emotions of your place.

Say:
We bear witness with the faithful of every time and place
to the coming again of our Lord,
the light of the world, the savior of humankind,
the prince of peace.

We wait
with the prophets of Israel who announced God’s promise
and our hope.

With God’s messengers, calling from the wilderness, we cry: "Prepare for the coming of the Lord! Repent, for the Lord’s kingdom is just.”

Read Malachi 3: 1- 4
Hear truly these words of prophesy. How are you preparing for Christmas Day?

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” vs. 2
(read or sing)

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Christ we pray:
We await your coming Lord, but we hear your warning. Prepare for the day of righteousness we would, but how? Show us the way; open our eyes to the changes we need to make. Give us the courage to look deeply, honestly, at ourselves and our society. Enable our repentance. Help us prepare to live in your kingdom. Amen.

The blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be on us all, now and always.

Blow out the candles.