Sing Praises

L: Friends we’ve been given voices to sing
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God has written a tune in our hearts
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God loves us even better than our fathers and mothers
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God has called us to be one body in Christ
P: Sing praises to God

L: Even when storms of life cause a change to our plans
P: Sing praises to God

How Great is Our God!

Leader: How great is our God!

People: There is none like our God!

L: Where else can we find a god who loves and accepts broken people like us?

P: Who else has a God who listens to our every need?

L: Who else is worthy of our worship?

P: There is none like our God!

L: If we don’t devote ourselves to God, we’ll end up giving our lives to something vastly inferior.

P: So let’s give ourselves to our wonderful God.

L: Come Christians, sing out to your God!

P: How great is our God!

L: Come Christians, break bread as the People of God!

P: How great is our God!

L: And Christians, as we leave, let us worship God with our lives!

P: How great is our God!

Seeking the Kingdom...

People: We have come seeking the Kingdom of God.

Leader: God’s Kingdom has no borders and no specific location.

P: Where then can we find it?

L: Search for the King, and you will find the Kingdom.

P: Where can we find the King?

L: The King resides in the edges of this world’s kingdoms, at those places where this world does not meet the needs of its people.

P: Then we will look into our own suffering and the suffering of those around us.

L: Let us be blessed in the search.

P: Let us remember that the King said, “Seek and you will find.”

The table has been set...

Leader: As we approach our Master in worship this morning,

People: The table has been set and a feast has been prepared.

L: Who will sit and partake in this spiritual feast?

P: All who are hungry, all who long to be with their Master.

L: Many have been invited, but not all have come.

P: Who can we find to fill these empty seats?

L: Let us bring in everyone – rich and poor, sick and well, young and old, free and oppressed.

P: Let us join together in the Great Feast prepared by our God.

Kingdoms all around us...

Leader: We see kingdoms all around us.

People: Kingdoms of power and authority. Kingdoms of fear and greed.

L: These kingdoms leave us feeling helpless and unfulfilled.

P: We seek a better kingdom. We seek a greater kingdom.

L: Take heart, for the God of the universe wants to be your king.

P: We seek a kingdom of justice and righteousness.

L: God opens the doors of his kingdom to all who wish to enter.

P: We worship you, O God, our King, and are here that we may serve you.

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!

First things first...

Leader: God has lavished us with so many wonderful gifts,

People: He has given us our time, our talents and our daily bread.

L: Meanwhile we chase after petty gadgets and gizmos

P: And the grass that always looks greener on the other side.

L: But today we have come to set first things first.

P: We have come to recognize that God provides all things.

L: So let us worship God, let us chase after Him alone.

P: May we use our gifts to worship Him always.

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.

Help us with our unbelief!

Leader: Faith is a fleeting thing.

People: We believe in you, God, help us with our unbelief!

Leader: But do not fear, faith is not having all the answers.

People: O God, there is so much about you that we do not know.

Leader: Do not fear, faith does not require perfection.

People: Thank you God, there is so much work left to be done.

Leader: Faith is this: trusting God when all other lights go out.

People: O God, we are here today to put all our hope and trust in you.

We have come to be filled

Leader: God, the one who Created you, is here today to provide all you need.

People: We find emptiness all around us, and we have come to be filled.

Leader: If you drink from the well of Jesus Christ, you will never again go thirsty.

People: How can we earn this living water?

Leader: It is not for sale, it is a gift freely given by God. Come and drink.

People: We have an awesome God! Let us fill ourselves with the good life God provides.

How shall we prepare this house...

Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of God's Royal Son?

People: With branches of cedar, the tree of royalty.

Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of our Savior?

People: With wreaths of holly and ivy, telling of his passion, death, and resurrection.

Leader: How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Son of God?

People: By hearing of Israel's waiting for the Messiah, and feeling our own sense of yearning.

The Savior is near...

Leader: The Savior is near.

People: It is time to prepare the way of the Lord.

Leader: Our waiting, our yearning is almost over.

People: Let us make room in our lives for the coming Savior.

Leader: He is coming to bring light even to the darkest places of our lives.

People: All people from every nation will be saved by our God.

All: Glory to God in the highest!

A Different Road

Leader: When the wise men returned home, they had to find a different road.

People: So we too after Christmas have found a new way to live.

Leader: With the Christ child in our midst, we know that anything is possible.

People: We know without a doubt that God loves us.

Leader: Rejoice and give thanks.

People: We will say it again: rejoice!

Leader: How will the world see the light of Christ?

People: We will be the light.

After Christmas

Leader: After Christmas, we have so much.

People: Our closets and bellies are full.

Leader: There is so little that we need in life.

People: But yet so much that we need to truly live.

Leader: God doesn't want all your new Christmas stuff.

People: He just wants us to need him.

Leader: God, I need you in my life.

People: God, we need you in our lives.

Many gifts...

Leader: We each have many gifts to offer in service to God.

People: Some will be teachers; others preachers;

Leader: Some will be those who have visions of all possibilities; others will find ways to make those visions a reality;

People: Some will be capable leaders, others will be skillful workers;

Leader: Some will develop ministries of peace and justice; others will seek to change unjust systems.

People: Each person here has been blessed by God.

Leader: And we need every gift that has been given by God

People: Lord, help us to use those blessings to help others.

Love the Lord your God

Leader: Love the Lord your God.

People: Lord, we love you with all we have.

Leader: And love your neighbor as yourself.

People: Lord, give us the strength to those we find it the hardest to love.

Leader: This is how God showed us what love is...

People: While we were still sinners, Christ came to us and died for us.

Leader: That is your strength to love your neighbor as yourself.

People: Lord, we love you with all we have.

Here I Am, Lord.

Leader: Who will feed the starving mouths of your neighbors around the world?

People: Here I am, Lord. Send me.

Leader: Who will comfort the daughter who lost her father and the mother who lost her son?

People: Here I am, Lord. Use me.

Leader: Who will guide the lonely and the empty into a rich life of wholeness?

People: Here I am, Lord. Guide me.

Leader: For even now, God is calling you by name, calling you to come, follow Jesus.

People: Here we are, Lord. We will follow you.

Who do you say that I am?

Leader: Jesus asks: who does the world say that I am?

People: Some say a great teacher, some say a healer.

Leader: Who do they say that I am?

People: Some say you are a prophet who has never been understood.

Leader: But what about you, who do you say that I am?

People: You are the Messiah, the Son of God, and our personal Lord and Savior.

Leader: Then let us all praise the God who would send a Savior.

People: And let us live to tell others about him.

We are looking for Jesus...

Leader: Why have you come here today?

People: We are looking for Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Leader: And why can I see the sadness written on your faces?

People: Because he has been crucified and is now dead and buried.

Leader: But look: the stone has been rolled away, and the tomb is empty!

People: Can it be true? Where is he?

Leader: He is not here! He has risen! He has gone ahead of you and you will find him.

People: Our hearts burn to see our risen Savior.

Christ Hymn

Leader: When we come to this place, whether we come to worship or work,

People: Our attitude should be like that of Jesus.

Leader: He was God in his very nature, but didn't act like it.

People: Instead he came to us as a servant.

Leader: He humbled himself, and died for us --

People: Even dying on a cross!

Leader: Therefore let us love one another,

People: For Christ has loved us so completely.