SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: MARY THE MODEL OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE INTRODUCTION

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1 1 SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: MARY THE MODEL OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE INTRODUCTION Today we gather to celebrate the Advent season. During this season, we prepare ourselves for Christmas where we remember the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Of course, Jesus did not come among us just once. He is present with us when we pray, when we care for each other, even when we suffer. We take this time during the season of Advent to practice being ready to receive Jesus in the many ways he comes into our lives every day of the year. INVITATION TO PRAYER Leader: May the Lord s peace be with us all. All: The Lord is our faith and our life. Leader: May his love shine in our hearts. All: Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. OPENING PRAYER Let us pray that we my experience fully the peace of Christ. Father in heaven, the day draws near when the birth of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May his quiet coming fill us with true inner peace. Amen. ADVENT WREATH Reader: With the Advent wreath, we keep watch for the God who descends from on high. The wreath is the evergreen crown of God s holy people. Soon the wreth will grow bright and scatter the darkness. Around this shining wreath, we shall keep watch for Jesus, who comes to comfort our fears and to make new this waiting world. Leader: The Spirit of the Lord moved over the darkness of earth and there was light and life. May the burning of these candles remind us of the Lord's coming. All: Come, Lord, come to save us.

2 2 {Two purple candles are lit}. Leader: God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All: Amen OLD TESTAMENT READING A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

3 3 CHORAL READING Side A: Lord Jesus, hope for the entire world Side B: Keep us safe and make us your messengers. Side A: Lord Jesus, prince of peace Side B: Free us from hatred and unite all people. Side A: Lord Jesus, joy of the nations Side B: Make us joyful in faith and shine your light upon us. Side A: Lord Jesus, source of endless love Side B: Keep us watchful in prayer. GOSPEL A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ.

4 4 MEDITATION What enabled Mary to grow in faith and to persevere in hope in the face of obstacles and trials? The Gospel of Luke reveals the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in Mary's life. When Elizabeth and Mary greeted one another they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promise to give a Savior. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Mary accepted her mission with uncompromising faith and obedience. She acted with unwavering trust and faith because she believed that God would fulfill the word he had spoken. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Reader: The response to our petitions is Lord Hear our Prayer. 1. That Mary the mother of our church, whose Immaculate Conception we celebrate this week, may pray for us during the Advent season for peace and joy, and for a spirit of sensitivity, cooperation, and respect for each other. We pray to the Lord. 2. That each of us here, who are under the protection of Mary our model of service, will follow her example and be open to serving others this Advent season. We pray to the Lord. 3. That we may join our hearts and hands to help one another prepare for the coming of Christ and that we may always be mindful of who it is that we are waiting for. We pray to the Lord. 4. For the intentions we hold in our hearts (pause). We pray to the Lord.

5 5 CLOSING PRAYER O Lord, stir up our hearts and our minds that we may prepare for your Only Begotten Son, so that when He comes we may be ready to serve him with pure minds and hearts. SIGN OF PEACE Leader: This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. You are my friends if you do the things I command you. All: God is love and those who live in love, live in God and God in them. Leader: My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the light. All: God is love and those who live in love, live in God and God in them. Leader: And as we take our leave of this place, let us offer each other a sign of peace.