December 16, 2012

Third Sunday in Advent

(Congregation may be invited to be seated for prayer.)

With the prayer “Spirit of God” you are invited to respond…

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. Filled with expectation and withlonging, let us pray for the church, those inneed, and for all of God’s creation.

A brief silence.

  1. We pray for your church that it would indeed rejoice in the Lord always. We pray for our full communion partners; for our companion synods in this nation and around the globe; for congregations in our neighborhood, for this assembly, and for our sister congregations in the BC Synod: in particular we pray for Chetwynd Shared Ministry in Chetwynd and their pastor, Marlene Peck; and Christ Lutheran Church in Chilliwack and their pastor, Dean Andersen. In this busy Advent Seasons sustain and encourage our pastor, our Bishop and their families as together we pray, hear your Word, and sing our hymns of praise.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. We pray for all nations, that war, disaster and animosity cease; and for countries recovering from famines, floods or earthquakes, and for people whose human rights have been cruelly violated.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. We pray for those whose hands, hearts or minds have grown weak; we pray for the outcastes of society,for those weighed down with shame or regrets; for the dying and the sick especially those at this time we name aloud or quietly,

In this coming week help us to see opportunities to give the ministry of hope to those we meet.

Spirit of God

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. Loving God, continueto bless us with this Advent Season. We thank you for those who are celebrating special events during this season.

-we thank you for those who have the gift of another birthday or another anniversary

- we thank you for those in our life who have pointed us away from themselves to the Christ.

-Finally we thank you for those special blessings we name aloud at this time….

Continue to help us see your presence in our daily lives.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. We pray for the earth, that it be renewed with love and care; for old growth forests and polar ice caps; for lakes and rivers and for this place we call home.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. We remember those who have died and now rejoice in your glory. Give us voices to sing your praise in every time and place.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. Hear the prayers of your people, O God, and in your mercy grant us all we need, for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Isaiah 12:2-6

2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the LordGod* is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known* in all the earth.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal* Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

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Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice* in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.*5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Luke 3:7-18

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,*16John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree