by Christine Sine
This year the Fourth week of Advent is very short, so instead of posting a liturgy for the fourth week of Advent I am posting one for the Christmas season.
God of joy and celebration,
God of love and mercy,
God of peace and righteousness.
We sing aloud and dance with the angels.
The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation,
Jesus Christ has entered our world.
Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,
Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,
He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.
In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels,
We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence,
We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love.
Pause to light the Advent & Christmas Candle
Alleluia, the waiting is over, Jesus Christ has come.
The promised One of Christmas in now present in our midst.
May we let the chaos settle and turn from our distractions,
May we notice the places that shimmer with his presence.
Alleluia, love comes down at Christmas,
Beloved son of God, Saviour of the world we welcome your coming.
A child born as one of us to make all things new,
A Saviour birthed to bring righteousness and justice for all.
Watch for the signs and listen for the messengers,
Stand on tiptoe, shout for joy and trumpet the good news,
God’s miracle has come down from heaven,
Alleluia the Christ child has come.
May this child of Christmas come to us and give us hope,
May he grow in us and show us life, may he speak to us and teach us love,
Alleluia something new is emerging something new is being birthed,
Jesus has come and we open our hearts to be his home.
Pause to Reflect on the coming of Christ and what it means for you.
Love and faithfulness meet together,
Righteousness and peace kiss each other,
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come.
The redeemer of all creation has come to earth,
And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear,
That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance,
That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven.
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love,
May we become bearers of God’s light,
And go out to transform our troubled world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept every promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary
The whole earth shouts with joy to God
The world declares God’s praise.
Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,
Who sent the son to dwell among us.
Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind.
Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life,
Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth.
Praise to the Three in One,
Praise to the One in Three,
Praise to God on high.
A time of Prayer
Jesus you come,
In the voice of the poor,
In the hurting of the sick,
In the anguish of the oppressed.
Open our eyes that we may see you.
Jesus you come,
In the weakness of the vulnerable,
In the questions of the doubting,
In the fears of the dying.
Open our ears that we might hear you,
Jesus you come,
In the celebration of the saints,
In the generosity of the faithful,
In the compassion of the caring,
Open our hearts that we might embrace you.
Come into our hearts,
Come into our lives,
Come into our world.
Fill the world with your light and love and beauty.
Amen