A Prayer Inspired by Malachi 3:1-4 & Luke 3:1-6
/A Prayer Inspired by Malachi 3:1-4 & Luke 3:1-6
Advent 2C
December 6th, 2015
A prayer for use in worship inspired by the lectionary texts for the 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year C), December 6th, 2015. Inspired by Malachi 3:1-4 & Luke 3:1-6
God of every valley,
we confess to you that many of us are in valleys,
valleys of chronic depression,
valleys of lost loved ones,
valleys of physical and mental illnesses,
valleys of divorce and domestic violence,
valleys of unemployment and underemployment,
valleys of racial oppression and ethnic warfare,
valleys of homelessness and ridiculous rates of incarceration.
We confess that there are many parts of our lives that need to be lifted up.
Your prophet Malachi reminded us of our need for purification,
our need for your aggressive attention to our shortcomings and brokenness.
Come, refining God, and mold us into a people willing to partner with you
to usher in your kingdom where the low and the mighty are brought together.
God of every mountain,
we also confess that many of us are on mountains,
mountains of racial privilege,
mountains of disproportionate financial wealth,
mountains of stigmatizing mental illness,
mountains of white privilege,
mountains of consumerism,
mountains of apathy, ignorance, and stubbornness.
We confess that there are many parts of our lives that need to be "taken down a notch."
Your prophet, John the Baptist, came from the wilderness
proclaiming a baptism with the repentance of sins.
Help us to listen to the voice of any prophet that turns us to you and away from our sinfulness.
Help us to welcome your leveling kingdom whether we are in valleys, mountains, or both.
Help us to realize that peace never happens on its own.
Give us wisdom to accept that the pursuit of your peace
requires that some things be brought up and others, brought down.
No matter the status of our lives, help us to welcome you to our lives
as we continue to wait for your Child, our Hope, and our Salvation.
Click here for other liturgies for the 2nd Sunday in Advent (Year C)
Click here for original hymns for the season of Advent (Year C)
- Lighting of the Advent Candle (Peace)
- Call to Worship
- Prayer of the Day
- Call to Confession
- Prayer of Confession
- Assurance of Pardon
- Prayer for Illumination
- Prayers of the People
- Eucharistic Prayer of Great Thanksgiving