TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF ADVENT

Fourth week of Advent—Peace and Sacrifice
Sunday, December 20, 2009

Engage in a time of Worship:


Gather around your Advent wreath.
Light the first, second, third, and fourth candles.
Gaze into the light the candles give.
Listen to the peace of your house.


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 John the Baptist who called us to repent and to prepare,
with the daughters of Zion who joyously proclaimed that God is in our midst.

With those of old
we tell the good news of the child of Bethlehem,
who comes again and again
to bring peace and to rule in justice.

Read Micah 5: 2-5a
Know in your whole being that the time for the coming of the promised One is near. Imagine the peace this One brings.

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, verse 4
(sing or read)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

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

Almighty God we pray:
How amazing you are; how different your ways from the ways we have created for the world. The least you choose; your ruler comes when it is time. How wonderful is your promise; peace is your way. Send the One soon. Amen.

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

Blow out the candles.