Alternate Prayers for the Season of Advent

© 2018 – Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.com)

These alternate prayers are provided for those who would like to use liturgical petitions and responses specific to the season of Advent. Permission is granted to active SOWeR subscribers to reproduce for local congregational use.

Confession and Forgiveness
P: 	The days are coming, says the Lord, when God’s promises to Israel and Judah will be fulfilled. Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship, in the name of the Father, the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. 
(Jeremiah 33:14)
C: 	Amen.
P: 	The Lord proclaimed, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” Let us take this time to examine ourselves, asking for forgiveness for the things which we have done that are not pleasing to the Lord and the things which we have neglected. (Malachi 3:1)
(Silence for self-reflection and examination)
P: 	God of grace, 
C: 	we confess that we have not been attentive to the urgent call to prepare for the coming of your Son. Prepare our hearts to follow Jesus in doing your holy will. Forgive us, we pray, and shape our lives according to the cross of Christ who has called us to walk in his ways. Restore us to a right relationship with you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
P: 	In the name of Jesus, God’s only Son who came to do the will of his Father, you are forgiven. By Christ’s holy sacrifice your sins are wiped clean and you are made right with our heavenly Father. Rejoice in this free gift and take it to heart. 
C: Thanks be to God. Amen.

Greeting
P: 	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for whom we wait, the love of the Father who will never let us go, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
C: 	And also with you.

Offertory Prayer
P: 	Loving God, we give you thanks for the generous gifts you have first given us. May that which we offer to you, come joyfully from our hearts and be pleasing in your sight. 
C: 	Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer
P: 	God of new beginnings, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us for the journey of faith as we wait and watch for the Lord’s Messiah to break into our world in ever amazing ways. 
C: 	Amen.

Blessing & Dismissal
P: 	As you go from this place, remember that with God, nothing is impossible. May God the Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit go before you, beside you, and with you wherever you go. (Luke 1:37)
C: 	Amen.
P: 	Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord! 
C: 	Thanks be to God.