AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR ADVENT ** written by Amanda Burr
God is the true beginning, having created from nothingness all that is, moves, breathes and has life. God moves through time and space, ever faithful, ever vigilant, ever present, and ever becoming.
God gave birth to hope in the prince of peace, who arrived without fanfare to heal a hurting and broken world. Jesus lived out the commandment to love, sacrificing himself for our sakes, because he valued us more than his own life.
We believe the promise of life beyond life, because true to his word, and again, without fanfare, God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe that God’s Grace is further manifested by the Holy Spirit who desires to warm our hearts and revive our spirits with hope, peace, joy and love.
God makes all things new again and again and again. Thanks be to God!
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF HOPE
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God, how wonderful it is to be able to gather together to sing praises to your name and to give you thanks for the blessings you bestow upon us. We confess a feeling of ambivalence as we enter what we call the holiday season and the season of lights. When we acknowledge that, indeed, it is upon us, we have a tendency to feel its weight rather than its light. For many it is a season of regrets and sorrow, a season of stress and disappointment rather than a season of wonder and spiritual reflection. Fill us, dearest Lord, with a sense of wide-eyed wonderment, like we had as children awaiting the morning of gifts. Remind us that your gift will come to us as your promise fulfilled. We wait in HOPE and give you thanks in advance praying always in the name of the Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING Desert Hot Springs Church
What if God decided on a 5 day work week instead of 6 days. According to the book of Genesis taking that 6th day off would have meant that the fish, sea monsters and birds would have dominion over the earth. We like to think that God saved his best work for the 6th day of creation, believing that humans would live not purely by instinct, but could be creative, could learn, gather knowledge and share it in all sorts of ways. On the 6th day God designed creatures who would be linked heart, soul, body and mind with God; who were the image of God, the reflection of God upon the earth. This truth should humble us and at the same time fill us with HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE.
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