Faithful, unchanging God,
You have always spoken to us.
Sometimes directly,
often through messengers.

As we celebrate this Advent season,
let our hearts be inclined,
ready to receive Your message
delivered by Your messenger,
however they may look to us.

Like John the Baptist,
let us also proclaim Your message.
Make us messengers of Your magnificence,
Couriers of Your compassion,
Proclaimers of Your peace.

Grant that we may go into the world
bearing Your reconciling love,
being of good courage,
holding fast to that which is Good,
rendering to no one evil for evil,
strengthening the faint-hearted,
supporting the weak,
helping the afflicted,
honoring all people,
and rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit
as we serve You.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Stable, co-laboring God,
who calls us to Holy work,
we pray that you would invigorate our faith
as we undertake the Kingdom work
You set before us.

Help us to accept Your calling,
wherever we may hear it.
We celebrate Your promise
that You welcome all
into the glory of Your eternal Kingdom.

The blind receive sight,
the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised to life,
and all hear the Gospel of life.

Overflow our love, Lord,
until it reaches every shore.
And strengthen our resolve
to carry You with us
into every sphere of our world,
So that we might serve You
without fear.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Steady, clarifying God,
who surprises us in unexpected ways,
We pray for the world which You so love,
for those who have not heard Your good news,
for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death.

We pray also for Your Church,
for this Sanctuary body,
the Church community in Tulsa,
and the Church around the world,
all our brothers and sisters in You.

We pray that
we may be freed from all evil and fear,
and may in pure joy
lift up the light of Your love
to a darkened world.

All this we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy.