Liturgy For The First Week In Advent
(inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians)
By T. J. Malinoski
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What does this mean?
All: This means that we are part of God’s creation, made in God’s image and our purpose is to love and to serve God.
One: We are entering into the season of Advent; a season to hope, a season for peace, a season to experience joy and a season to share God’s love.
All: In the season of Advent, we learn about God through the scriptures, through God’s people, through the church, in the events of nature and history but most clearly in the hope of Jesus Christ.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation. What does this hope mean?
All: We use these words and phrases to describe the hope of salvation: repentance, confession, saving faith, justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, growth in grace, preservation of believers, and Christian assurance. Jesus Christ is our hope! (Light the first candle)
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation; a hope that will deliver us. Where do we find this hope in our world?
All: We find this hope in God who is strong and wise, who speaks the truth and never changes, who does what is good and right and surrounds us always and everywhere.
One: What happens if our hope falters in the midst of hardship, struggles, difficulties and sin?
All: Our hope rests in God who is always faithful; even when we are not. God will fulfill the covenant of grace and bring us to eternal life.
One: In this new season of the Church, in this season of Advent we celebrate the hope God. What shall we say to others?
All: We are a people called by the name of Jesus Christ – Christians. We make up the Church. We are a people from every time and every place who put their trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The Catechism For Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 2, 5, 9, 55, 57.
Liturgy For The Second Week In Advent
(inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians)
By T. J. Malinoski
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What shall we do?
All: We will sing praises to God, confess our sin and receive God’s forgiveness. We will proclaim the good news, listen for God’s word, and celebrate the sacraments. We will pray for ourselves, for others and commit ourselves – our time, talent and money.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation. What does this hope mean?
All: We use these words and phrases to describe the hope of salvation: repentance, confession, saving faith, justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, growth in grace, preservation of believers, and Christian assurance. Jesus Christ is our hope! (Light the first candle)
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the peace that passes all understanding. Where do we find this peace in our world?
All: We are responsible to live out our faith at home and in the world by creatively using our skills and energies in every relationship. We are called to be good stewards of the earth’s resources for the good of all.
One: Will we face hardships, difficulties and conflict, even in times of peace?
All: Yes. God calls us to be loving and just in all our relationships, to stand up especially for those who are weak and oppressed. This witness puts us in conflict with those who do not seek the will of God. Jesus Christ is our peace! (Light the second candle)
One: In this new season of the Church, in this season of Advent we celebrate the hope and peace of God. What do we say?
All: The coming of the Christ Child gives us hope when we are at a loss for hope. His drawing near gives us the comfort of peace when peace is fleeting. Jesus gives us words when we are at a loss for words praying:
Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
On earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those
who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
The Catechism For Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 46, 60, 61, 81, 82.
Liturgy For The Third Week In Advent
(inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians)
By T. J. Malinoski
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What does this mean?
All: This means that we are in a relationship with God, calling us away from our brokenness. The coming of the Christ Child is our source hope. (Light the first candle)
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of peace. (Light the second candle).
One: What does a relationship with God look like?
All: We call our relationship with God a covenant. God began this covenant long ago and fulfills it in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a promise of grace.
One: How do we know that this grace is for us?
All: The season of Advent reminds us that God is always faithful, even our sins do not prevent us from being adopted into God’s family.
One: What does God promise to do?
All: God promises to bless us and to make us a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. We become a blessing as God uses us to share the knowledge and promises of God with others.
One: In the coming of the Christ Child comes the love of God. What does the love of God look like in the person of Jesus Christ?
All: Jesus calls people to turn from sin. He prays for others. He heals the sick. He feeds the hungry. He forgives sinners. He welcomes all people. He teaches about God’s grace. Jesus Christ is the very essence of love! (Light the third candle)
One: How do we share the love of God in Jesus Christ?
All: We share the love of God in Jesus Christ by telling others the good news about Jesus and by helping those who suffer and are oppressed. We care for others because all are created in God’s image and Christ gives his life for all.
The Catechism For Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 2, 5, 6, 32, 78, 79.
Liturgy For The Fourth Week In Advent
(inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians)
By T. J. Malinoski
One: We have good news, good news! God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child. What shall we say?
All: We rejoice in the one whose name is Jesus which means Savior. We rejoice in the one whose title is Christ which means the Messiah, the anointed one chosen by God.
One: What does the coming of the Christ Child mean to us?
All: The coming of the Christ Child is our source hope. (Light the first candle)
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of peace. (Light the second candle).
The coming of the Christ Child is our source of love. (Light the third candle)
One: The season of Advent reminds us that our hope, peace and love come from God.
All: The season of Advent reminds us that our joy is in Jesus who brings us God’s grace.
One: How do we know that grace is for us?
All: Grace is the gift of God to all people. It is God’s decision to create us, to care for us and to claim us as children; giving all of us the freedom to respond to God’s grace.
One: And how will we respond?
All: We respond by acknowledging our need of God. That we will trust and obey; joyfully giving thanks for all the wonderful things God has done and is doing. Jesus Christ is our joy! (Light the fourth candle)
One: What will we do with this news of great joy?
All: We will share the hope, peace, love and joy that comes from living with God. We will share that God starts over with us, renewing the relationship with us, not counting our sins against us.
One: Are we ready for the coming of the Christ Child?
All: We are ready and rejoice in the one whose name is Jesus which means Savior. We are ready and rejoice in the one whose title is Christ which means the Messiah, the anointed one chosen by God.
The Catechism For Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 7, 12, 13, 20, 29, 30.
Liturgy For The First Sunday In Christmas
(inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians)
By T. J. Malinoski
One: We have good news, good news! God has drawn near in the birth of Jesus Christ!
All: In the birth of the Christ Child comes the hope of salvation. (Light the first candle)
All: In the birth of the Christ Child comes the peace that passes all understanding. (Light the second candle)
All: In the birth of the Christ Child comes the very essence of love. (Light the third candle)
All: In the birth of the Christ Child comes the joy for all the wonderful things that God has done and is doing. (Light the fourth candle)
One: The season of Christmas is here announcing the gift of grace coming in the form of an infant.
All: The Christ Child reminds us that nothing will separate us from God for Jesus is our hope, peace, love and joy! (Light the Christ candle)
One: What will happen as we share this good news?
All: As we share the good news of Jesus Christ, others will come to believe in him and want to become a part of God’s covenant family. We will do all we can to welcome new believers as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Catechism For Cumberland Presbyterians. Cordova (Memphis): Cumberland Presbyterian Resources, 2012. Questions 39, 80.
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