This Advent, let us wait in hope for Christ to come again!

While that act of prayer continues to be a mystery. While not all prayers are answered the way that we desire. While the answering of prayer is not reflective of one’s devotion or faithfulness. Hannah’s trust in God to make all things new through the Holy Spirit is an example for us. When things are bleak, when we are facing despair, grief and sorrow, when worry and concern are overwhelming, we can turn to God. When we shift our focus from placing our trust in ourselves to our trust in an active and moving God we open ourselves to the possibilities only God can imagine. When we turn to God through earnest prayer, we open ourselves to the possibilities of the Holy Spirit. We make room for the work of God through the movement in the Holy Spirit. When we shift our desire for control of our future to the act of prayer and faith in the Spirit to move, we open ourselves to the new.

God calls us to live into our own truth, to own our own actions, to speak our own truth. It is not always easy, but truthfulness will build our character and increase the quality of our lives. If we only agreed to do things that we actually want to do. How nice it would be if we could trust everyone in what they say. How wonderful if we knew that all people would atleast try to live up to their word (we all fall short sometimes). What a testament to our character if we strive to let our yes be yes and our no be no in all that we do and to let our actions reflect our hearts and works. It could set us free and those around us. Truth and trust, hand in hand, helping us to live a better life in Christ.

We come to worship

Broken and less than

We come to worship

With heavy burdens and heavy hearts

We come to worship

Seeking and hoping

We come to worship

To worship a risen Lord

For everything there is a season, O God, to every harvest, you have a plan.

Help us to open ourselves to the planting of seeds within us and around us.

Clap your hands, all you peoples; Shout to God with loud songs of joy. For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, A great king over all the earth.

God of all love and compassion

We come to you this morning from all different place.

Some of us are here with joy and praise at all that is marvelous in our lives,

Others come full of confusion, seeking direction, hope and a return of joy.

Yet other come broken hearted, seeking comfort and strength.

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”