December 25, 2022
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit.
Call to Worship – Prayer of Confession
(Prayers are adapted and used with permission from Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed, sanctifiedart.org)
Holy God, too often we feel as if change is hopeless. The problems of this world feel
too big, the path forward is unclear, and we are not confident that we can truly make a
difference. We give up hope.
(Extinguishing the candle of hope)
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing hope.
Holy God, too often we believe that peace is a thing of fairy tales. Our spirits are anxious. Our
bodies are weary. Our world is fractured. Instead of praying for peace—both in ourselves
and in our society—we assume that peace is no longer on the table. We give it up.
(Extinguishing the candle of peace)
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing peace.
Holy God, too often we paint joy as naive—a luxury reserved for children and pets. We
forget that you ate with friends, that you went to weddings, that you laughed and rested
and hiked mountains. We forget that you knew joy, and that you want joy for us in this
fractured world. Forgive us for turning away from your light.
(Extinguishing the candle of joy)
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing joy.
Holy God, too often we treat love like a vending machine. We put some coins in and
assume that we’ll get something back. However, in our wiser moments, we know that love
is not meant for keeping score. Love is meant to overflow, to spill out to our neighbors, to
transform our world. Forgive us for holding love so tightly.
(Extinguishing the candle of love)
Together we pray:
Forgive us for extinguishing love.
Family of faith, sin separates us from things like hope, peace, and joy. Sin wiggles its way
between us and love, both love of neighbor and love of self.
Fortunately for us, God had something else in mind. God sent God’s only son to this world
so that we could see another way. So friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel:
no matter how many times we turn our back on hope, or extinguish peace, or snuff out
joy—no matter how many times we let love burn out—God continues to light our way.
(Relighting Candles of hope, peace, joy, and love from the Christ candle)
We are forgiven. We are seen. We are loved.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Liturgy for Christmas. Pg. 59-60.
Prayers of the People
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer
Scripture “A Counterpoint Reading: Genesis 1 and John 1” Josh Follweiler and Cheryl Ferrich
Message “This Little Light of Mine”
Liturgy for Christmas pg. 61-64
Benediction
Calvary Moravian Church 