Second Sunday in Advent
Gathering and Praise
Focus your mind on worshiping God.
With the words of this Psalm, God calls you to worship him. A young child could read these words:
Psalm 63:1-4 (NIrV)
God, you are my God.
I greatly long for you.
With all my heart I thirst for you
in this dry desert
where there isn’t any water.
I have seen you in the sacred tent.
There I have seen your power and your glory.
Your love is better than life.
I will bring glory to you with my lips.
I will praise you as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands when I pray to you.
Pray this prayer:
Faithful God, we wait for you to come.
We know that you will
because you already have
and because you promised to return.
While we wait, send your Spirit
so that we may grow in grace.
Prepare us for your coming, Lord. Amen.
Praise God with the words of this Advent song:
Confession and Assurance
Pray this prayer of confession:
God in heaven,
If we look at our own lives,
we must confess the mixture of giving and selfishness.
Our waiting for Jesus turned to an endless rush.
Our patience became impatience.
Lord, forgive our frantic ways, our forgetfulness,
our short-term thinking, and our earthly thinking.
Help us to trust in you, our God,
who still brings us salvation,
who still supplies us strength,
who hears our songs of longing,
and who gives us peace.
God gives you hope with these words:
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
SerMon
Give thanks to God with this song, and then listen as God teaches you from Matthew 25:1-13:
Sending
Share Prayer Requests
- Name three people who are going through a difficult time and need God's peace so that they can persevere.
- Name two people who still need to hear the good news about Jesus and believe it so they are ready for his return.
- Name one person who is eager to meet their Savior face to face and join in that heavenly banquet with those who have gone before us.
Pray for these people.
Offering:
You can contribute to the ministry of the church and this month's special offering
- online: Give Now
- or by mailing a check to PO Box 9339, Fresno, CA, 93791.
Praise God with this song, which Zechariah sang upon learning that his son, John the Baptist, would prepare the way for the Savior: