Luke: Chapter 1

Stories of Faith (Luke 1:26-38)

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We sit here in this holy place,
a place in which we hear stories of wonder.
In this season, we hear of a teenage girl
who will become the mother of your son,
and of an older woman who also will
give birth after many empty years.

We have stories of wonder in our own lives.
The birth of a child,
the recovery from an illness,
the brilliance of a sunrise over a field of snow,
the love we thought we would never find,
or the warmth of forgiveness after a quarrel.

We sit here in this holy place,
a place in which we hear stories of faith.
In this season, a teenage girl says let it be with me
according to your word.

Let it be with us, Lord,
according to your word.
Open our hearts to the possibilities within you.
Free our imagination to dream of what we could be
and what we should be.
Give us the faith to accept what you place before us.
Give us the wisdom to discern our purpose in your plan.

We sit here in this holy place,
every week.
Send us out into the world to share those stories of wonder,
those stories of faith.
Send us out into the world to fulfill your possibilities,
to actualize the dream of what we should be,
and to set your plan into motion.
Let it be with me, according to your word.

We sit here in this holy place,
looking at the faces of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are your children, Lord,
and we ask for your strength and healing grace for those among us who need you the most.
We name __
We have heard your stories of wonder and faith.
We have also heard how your son taught us to pray,
“Our Father…”

Turning Our World Upside Down (Luke 1:26-45, 56)

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Father, your love for us knows no bounds.
Your grace is freely given to us,
no matter our failings.
In your love, you sent the angel Gabriel
to an ordinary teenager living in the middle of nowhere.
Do not be afraid, said Gabriel.
Fear not, but I am going to turn your world upside down.

Father, today we are feeling like our world has been turned upside down.
In this Advent time of joy and preparation,
we are faced instead with events
that make us fearful,
that divide us, and
that cause us to question our very core.
We are a fearful people, at times.
We’ve heard your message: Fear not, for I am with you.
And yet, in the dark of the night, when all is quiet,
those worries and fears can echo loudly in our ears.
When we read the news and watch the pain and devastation in real-time,
we can allow our fear to overwhelm our sense of balance.
We let fear harden our hearts against those who need our help the very most.

Father, your love for us knows no bounds.
We are your children, each of us precious in your sight.
Each of us is deeply loved and uniquely cherished.
And in your love, you sent us your Son.
In this season of Advent, we wait and prepare,
for the gift that brings us closer to you.
As we wait, walk with us on our journey,
remind us that you are with us when our thoughts turn to worry,
unclench our hands when our fears make us anxious and angry,
open our eyes to the power of your love in our lives,
allow us to hear each other without judgment,
show us your truths,
and teach us to work together for the good of all your people.
As Mary said, Let it be with me according to your word,
open our hearts so that we also say, Let it be with me.

Father, your love for us knows no bounds.
In this season of Advent, help us to replace our fear with the joy of your love.
Let it be with us according to your word.
In this season of Advent, help us to show that love to others.
Let it be with us according to your word.
In this season of Advent, help us to teach your word to others.
Let it be with us according to your word.
In this season of Advent, help us to lift up those around us.
Let it be with us according to your word.

And, in this season of Advent, as we wait for the renewing celebration of the gift of your son,
we use the words he taught us,
“Our Father…”

You may have the congregation respond using the words in bold text.