Dear Lord Jesus,

As we come to worship you this morning, we have thoughts of waiting for advent in our hearts. The Israelites waited so long for their Messiah to come– and then you came. We have waited so long for you to come again, and still we wait.

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So much of our lives are spent waiting for one thing or another. Yet, how we choose to wait shapes the contours of our lives. It’s as if the “waiting” is a chisel that can either sculpt us into the image of your son, or deform us into the reflection of those who wait without hope.

We pray that you help us to wait, sustained by the power of your peace, and clinging to your holiness as answers linger.

As your children, we-never-have-to-wait-alone. While we wait for you, we have the comfort and serenity of waiting with you.

You are always there… only a breath away; the breath of a prayer.

Like those on our prayer sheet Lord, many of us are waiting to hear from you about the important things in our lives.

We pray for those who are waiting for a breakthrough healing, like Brian, Jean, Doris, Omega, and Kristi’s friend.

We pray for all those, who like Lisa are waiting for good test results. We lift up people like Kelly and Helen who are in a period of waiting for the security and peace of a new home, whether here on earth or with you in heaven.

We pray for those who are waiting for pain to subside: pain from surgeries, like Betsy; from searing grief, like the Gebreth’s. Please be with all those who are experience any kind of pain.

Thank you for answered prayers this week. Thank you for your guidance and your love. Be with us this morning and throughout the week as we wait for you and with you. Amen

Oh Lord of hosts, who hears our prayers, restore us according to your glory.

As we begin the journey of Advent, help us to grow in our faith.

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We pray for people everywhere that you will help those who believe to believe even more, that you will help those who do not believe to consider the possibility of your love.

We pray for our church, that you would use us to accomplish your will, so you will be glorified here and that your people here would be blessed.

Look at us closely God, if there are any areas in our hearts that have been darkened by doubt or disappointment, illuminate those corners with your light, restoring our hearts to greater capacity for faith.

If there are areas in our lives diminished by brokenness or pain, heal us that we might be resorted to greater love, if there are areas in our relationships where we have shrunk back because of fear, restore us again that we might know selfless courage, if our vision has been clouded by bitter resentment, restore us in forgiveness that we might see more clearly your activity in others.

May your hand upon us increase our passion in prayer as we lift up those who like the psalmist have known the bread of tears.

We pray for Fran and her family during this time of grief, comfort them with your nearness and grace.

We pray for those who would cry out to you, “Lord, how long?”

Make your face to shine on those who are fighting illness, working at physical therapy and other recoveries.

Heal us God, come to our rescue.  Ride on the wings of the wind, for you are strong to save, our great deliverer, in mighty name we pray.  Amen.

Lord Jesus,

We come before you with thankful hearts because we have the confidence in knowing that when we call on You, You listen. You hear the cries of your children and care about our hurts, desires, and dreams.

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For some of us we may be seeking clarity, guidance, and direction and we pray for the discernment and understanding that was granted Joseph. In the meantime may we have patience and faith in knowing that You are taking care of us.

We lift up our brothers and sisters who are suffering loss, for those whose hearts are grieving and aching we ask that Your mighty presence be with them.

For those who are sick and weak we ask that their bodies be restored and made well.

For those who may be silently suffering and it may be that You are the only one who knows it, may they know that they are not alone.

We are never alone.

Thank you Father for hearing our prayers. It is in the healing power of Jesus that we pray, AMEN.

Today we come before you, Lord, to give thanks for your creation and your love for us. Just as you gave life to Adam and Eve, you have given life to each and every one of us. We praise you name because you allowed us to be a part of your amazing creation.

Just as Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to care for the garden, you have called us to do the same in our own age.

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By coming to you this Sunday morning in prayer, we admit our sins, our failure to maintain a world in the condition you envisioned. Instead, we live in a world which is fallen. We live in a world which have corrupted and distorted through sin. It is our selfish and fearful behaviors which cause tainting of our environment and divisions between nations, cultures, and individuals.

Lastly, we are here today because we repent, because by giving your son, Jesus, to the Cross, you have given us the opportunity to try again. As you forgive our wrong-doings, we ask for your strength. We ask for your Holy Spirit to cleanse our hearts and focus our minds on living gracefully in accordance with your law.

That means alleviating injustices. We must give to the poor, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty, and visit the imprisoned.

This also means loving our neighbors, both near and far. May we learn to be slow to anger, leave judgement in your hands, and instead may we practice patience, tolerance, and understanding.

Thank you Jesus for giving us a second birth.

We lift our voice and praise you God, our Lord from whom all blessings flow.

We join the symphony of creation in singing your praise. All honor and glory belong to you our exalted king.

God we offer you our love and pray that you will be blessed by our songs of devotion and our acts of worship.

Help us to long for your righteousness and to grow in our faith and our understanding of your ways.

Help us to be able to trust you and relax and be patient while you work… especially when things don’t seem to make sense.

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Help us to remember to worship you even more in those times and let our hearts remind us that you are mighty to save, our strong God… Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.