Joyce Borger

[The first lines of the call to worship and the text from Psalm 146:5–10 NRSVUE are in regular font and could be read by the same person. The text in brown font is from Luke 1:46b–55 NRSVUE and should be read by a different reader, ideally a teenage girl. The final “Praise the Lord” in bold font can be spoken by both readers together, the congregation, or omitted. This litany could be used as part of the opening of worship with or without the candle lighting. If used with the candle lighting, the first and second candle should be lit before the service begins.]Call to WorshipGod calls us to come and worship with joy.Listen to these words from the psalmist and Mary, the mother of Jesus who proclaimed: “My soul magnifies the Lord,    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me,    and holy is his name;Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,    whose hope is in the Lord their God,who made heaven and earth,    the sea, and all that is in them;who keeps faith forever;Indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him    from generation to generation.Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,    whose hope is in the Lord their God,    who executes justice for the oppressed;He has shown strength with his arm;    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones    and lifted up the lowly;Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,   who gives food to the hungry.He has filled the hungry with good things    and sent the rich away empty.The Lord sets the prisoners free;    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;    the Lord loves the righteous.The Lord watches over the strangers;    he upholds the orphan and the widow,    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.He has come to the aid of his child Israel,    in remembrance of his mercy,according to the promise he made to our ancestors,    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.The Lord will reign forever,    your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord! Advent Candle LightingToday we light the candle of joy.  As we await the coming of the Messiah, we do so as a people who journey with joy from darkness to light, towards justice and peace. We journey with joy, for Christ is coming to set the world a-right. [Lighting of the third Advent candle.]Sung Response“My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout” Luke 1:46-55, Cooneyor“Hope Is a Candle” (st. 1–2, 4) LeachPsalms in Worship: Advent and Christmas Psalms with Candle LightingAdvent 1—Psalm 122Advent 2—Psalm 72Advent 4—Psalm 80Christmas 1—Psalm 96Christmas 2—Psalm 97Christmas 3—Psalm 98

[The text in the brown font is from Psalm 72: 1–7, 18–19, NRSVUE and that, along with the regular font text, should be read by one voice while the congregation responds with the words of John the Baptist from Matthew 3 NRSVUE which appears in bold. This litany could be used as part of the opening of worship with or without the candle lighting. If used with the candle lighting, the first candle should be lit before the service begins.]Call to WorshipGod calls us to come and worshipthe King of peace. Prepare the way of the Lord;  make his paths straight. —Matthew 3:3Give the king your justice, O God,    and your righteousness to a king’s son.Prepare the way of the Lord;  make his paths straight. —Matthew 3:3May he judge your people with righteousness    and your poor with justice.May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,    and the hills, in righteousness.May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,     give deliverance to the needy,    and crush the oppressor.May he live while the sun endures    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,    like showers that water the earth.Prepare the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight. —Matthew 3:3 In his days may righteousness flourish    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.Advent Candle LightingToday we light the candle of peace. As we await the coming of the Messiah, we do so as a people on a journey, from darkness to light, towards justice and peace. We journey with peace, for Christ is coming to set the world a-right.  [Lighting of the second Advent candle.]Sung Response“Hark, the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes” Doddridgeor“Hope Is a Candle” (st. 1–2) LeachPsalms in Worship: Advent Psalms with Candle LightingAdvent 1—Psalm 122Advent 3—Psalm 146Advent 4—Psalm 80Christmas 1—Psalm 96Christmas 2—Psalm 97Christmas 3—Psalm 98

A Lord's Supper service written to accompany the "Grounded and Growing—Advent and Christmas" series, but it could be used as a stand alone service.

This litany on Psalm 122—with optional candle lighting—reflects our journey towards Christ, a pilgrimage from darkness to light. As we come closer to Christ our desire for justice and peace grows. This is why Christ came into this world. This is the Advent journey of hope.

This service is part of a larger Grounded and Growing series that began with Advent and Christmas. You can learn more about the Advent and Christmas series here.

In response to all the fear, insecurity, and chaos that fills our lives God says, “Be still, and now that I am God!”. Regardless of what it may look like from our vantage point, God is in control; Christ sits on the throne. No human can compare. This litany on Psalm 46 is interspersed with passages from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C.

In the face of difficulties let us not lose heart; let us not grow weary of fighting for justice; let us not stop working to build God’s kingdom; let us not lose hope. It is hope that gives us the resilience we need, the strength to continue the work God has called us to do, and the joy to testify to God’s goodness. A great psalm to turn to as an act of resistance to the fear that may be growing around us is Psalm 98. This post includes the psalm adapted from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, and divided between a number of speakers as part of a conversation.

These opening words and a confession and assurance sequence based on Psalm 145 provide us with a helpful balance between two extremes: The first is a myopic view of the world that is only thinking about the here and how, the second is being too concerned about the distant future.

One way to understand Psalm 119:137–144 is to think of it being spoken by Zacchaeus (Luke 19). Zacchaeus was considered less because of his size and occupation, and society as a whole expected nothing good from him. Even religious people considered him too much of a sinner to be seen with him. But Zacchaeus, after encountering Jesus, embraced the law, willing to participate in restorative justice and a spirit of generosity. What about us? How will we respond when we encounter Jesus and the rule of life Christ represents?

Psalm 65 paints a picture of a renewed earth when all that is wrong with the world is set to right. But that vision can only be achieved through prayer and the gift of God’s grace.