Faith & Worship"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)
In the lonely places,
The wilderness
Where we stand forlorn,
Windswept and alone,
Your voice calls out,
"Prepare a way for the Lord!"
In the dark places,
The shadows
Where we hide our fears,
Embrace our tears,
Your voice calls out ,
"Prepare a way for the Lord!"
For the desert places in which we walk,
The streets we roam,
The paths we cross,
Guide our feet,
Take us to places
Where you would go,
Give us words that you would use,
That in this Advent season
Of promise and preparation
We might point the way with John the Baptist
To the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Our paths may cross
in lonely desert spaces
or crowded city places,
on mountain steep
or urban street,
but our paths will cross,
and you will offer
to lighten our load,
walk our road,
ease the pain,
take the strain.
Our paths shall cross,
when you will call.
And shall we turn?
Can we learn
to hear your voice,
make the choice?
Our paths will cross…
Our gain or loss.
There were safer places,
more comfortable places,
palaces and wealthy places,
Yet you chose a daughter of the soil
Who would have otherwise
lived a good and honest life,
grown and harvested crops,
cooked and washed and cared for others,
and been forgotten,
to be your temporary home,
to be exalted for all time.
Who do we follow...
A teacher?
You were a good teacher,
Full of wisdom,
A moral compass,
Guidance
For the journey.
Who do we follow...
A prophet?
You were indeed a prophet,
Bringing God's word
Of love, justice,
And freedom
For the journey.
Who do we follow...
A friend?
You were certainly friend
To outcast and sinner,
Feeding the weak,
Lightening the load
For the journey.
Who do we follow...
All of these,
None of these.
For as this world's Saviour
You are all of these
And so much more,
As you take the very least of us,
And make the very most of us
Who do we follow?
Jesus Christ,
Our Saviour.
In the ordinary moments of our lives,
When thoughts, distractions
And busyness might keep us apart,
Open our hearts to let you in
When you stand before us
As angel or stranger,
And whisper softly to our soul,
Open our hearts in obedience to your will
Lord, we would grow with you,
New shoots reaching out,
Hands stretched upward
Like leaves newly formed,
Soaking up your light and warmth.
Lord, we would grow with you.
Lord, we would grow with you,
In sunshine and rain,
In darkness and light,
In cold days and summer days,
From Springtime to Winter.
Lord, we would grow with you.
Lord, we would grow with you,
And bring forth fruit,
That is pleasing to you,
Fed by your living water,
Giving sustainance to others.
Lord, we would grow with you.
Advent God,
you enter time and lives
and transform both
to the glory of your name,
and the benefit of all people.
On this particular day
we praise your name
for Angel voices,
and obedient hearts.
Amen,
For your embracing love,
a Father's love,
a Mother's love,
The love that sees our failings
and forgives us,
The love that sees our joys
and embraces us,
The love that knows no ending
or beginning,
The love that could die for us,
and did,
We bless you.
All: WE BLESS YOU
Did I hear your voice
in the beat of a butterfly’s wing,
the melody in a blackbird’s song?
Did I feel your presence
in the warmth of a summer breeze,
the coolness of a mountain stream?
Did I sense your touch
in the smile on a young child’s face,
the shoulder I can lean upon?
You speak to us
in many ways,
reveal yourself
in many ways,
if our ears can hear,
our heart can feel,
our mind can know,
and our hands are open
to your touch.
The majesty of God
Cannot be measured
By human instruments,
Cannot be constrained
Within human boundaries,
Cannot be contained
Within human vessels,
Cannot be explained
By human thought,
Cannot be dismissed
By argument or reason.
The majesty of God
Is beyond human comprehension,
Yet can be known,
And touched,
Understood ,
And received,
In the simple act
Of worship
God of renewal,
of life and death,
rebirth,
All: Renew our hearts and minds
God of promise,
of all beginnings,
and all endings,
All: Renew our hearts and minds
God of hope,
of new growth,
and harvest.
All: Renew our hearts and minds
©John Birch · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship. If reproduced elsewhere please acknowledge author/website
Privacy Policy · Links · Author · Donate
