Cycle C Advent 4

12/20/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Trust Sunday

Sermon Title: No; really, trust.

Previously:

Sunday Title: Love Sunday

Sermon Title: "A Nice Place to Be From"

Scripture Cuttings:

Micah 5:2-5a But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Luke 1:46-55 My soul magnifies the Lord

Psalm 80:1-7 Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Hebrews 10:5-10 [Christ] abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women…."

Confession:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  The Lord's righteousness is a witness against us,

    let us open our hearts and trust in his mercy.

        (repentance is trusting God's mercy in the face of judgment)

P:  Lord...

C: our faithfulness is weak,

we do not seek your strength

  in our relationship with you or each other.

We rely on our power and our pride in success.

  We overlook the lonely and the lowly,

Our hearts are too full of confidence in our faithfulness,

  to receive with joy your faithfulness.

Forgive us the sins we may see

Save us from the sins we refuse to see.

    (Pause for reflection)

P:  The ever faithful God, with promises of old, comes again and anew. We have been sanctified- made holy- through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ- once for all. Our sins are forgiven! Christ was born for this! Through the filling of the Holy Spirit we leap with joy as our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Glory to the Father and to the Son, + and to the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!