Why have you come today?

Leader: Christians, why have you come today?

People: We have come to worship God.

L: Where is this God you worship? I cannot see anything.

P: We don’t yet see clearly, we’re just squinting through a fog, but still we worship.

L: How do you know that it is real? How do you know that God is there?

P: We have felt God’s Spirit move through our lives like the wind.

L: And is this a good God that you worship?

P: We trust our God with our whole lives. His goodness, his love and his mercy make Him most worthy of praise!

Be strong and very courageous...

Leader: From where we stand, we can see the Promised Land.

People: Be strong and very courageous.

L: It has taken great faith and great leadership to bring us here.

P: Be strong and very courageous.

L: Who knows what lies before us? Who knows what can keep us from wandering?

P: Be strong and very courageous.

L: Oh how deeply we yearn to be at home in God’s presence.

P: Be strong and very courageous.

How lovely is your dwelling place...

Leader: How lovely is the dwelling place of God!

People: Our souls long for the courts of the Lord.

Leader: In God’s loving presence, all will find rest and peace.

People: In God’s care, all will find a home forever.

Leader: Place your lives in God’s compassionate care.

People: Open our hearts and our spirits, to receive the joys you offer, O Lord.

Called to hope and service...

L: God has called all God’s people to lives of hope and service.
P: We want to serve God, but sometimes life gets to be too difficult for us.
L: When we try it on our own, it seems impossible.
P: But with God, all things are possible.
L: Place your trust in God’s power and love.
P: God understands our needs, our sorrows, and our joys.
L: Come, let us worship God who is with us always.
P: Praise God for God’s eternal presence.

Calm your spirits...

L: It's Christmas Sunday! How quickly this time has come upon us!
P: We are breathless. Still so much to be done.
L: Calm your spirits. Take time to hear the wondrous news.
P: Open our ears to hear Mary's Story
L: Believe in the good news!
P: We believe and rejoice! God's love is here with us!

God is with us

Leader: Sisters and brothers, rejoice. We live sustained by God's presence and love.

People: Thanks be to God.

Leader: As we mourn the wounds of God's children,

People: God weeps with us.

Leader: As we struggle for justice,

People: God struggles with us.

Leader: As we strive for peace,

People: God strives with us.

Leader: As we work to build the beloved community,

People: God works with us.

Leader: As we offer our gifts to all,

People: God blesses us.

Leader: Sisters and brothers, rejoice.

People: Sustained by God's presence and love we worship God.