PRAYERS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Psalm 80
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We worked hard on it
Choosing just the right words
Make it eloquent and thoughtful
We hear so much gibberish
Mangled words and jumbled phrases
Strung together
without cadence or harmony
Doggerel mushed into lines
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We included everyone on the list
All the sick and shut-ins
The grieving and the mournful
There is a lot to pray for
This war and that uprising
So many poor and homeless
Refugees just stumbling all about
Empty pantries and overflowing shelters
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We tried not to ask for too much
Just health and happiness
Safety and success
It's a cold world out there
Everything going to hell in a hand basket
We just want to hold on
Have you bless and protect us
Keep us from the devil at our doorstep
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Forgive us Loving God
when we place more importance on
our words not on your Word
embodied in your Son
Jesus the Christ
Forgive us loving God
when we raise up in prayer
getting lost the liturgy
and forgetting the meaning
and privilege of your presence
Forgive us Loving God
for relying on our our strength
calling attention to ourselves
and not waiting or willing
for the Spirit to interceded for us
Forgive us Loving God
and teach us to pray
with humble hearts
quiet listening
and patience to hear
Amen
NT
Matthew 1:23-25
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;and he named him Jesus.
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Messy and miserable
Confused and chaotic
Not knowing where to go
nor what to do
You come
to give us direction
to show us the way
from the wilderness
to cross the Jordan
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Scarred and stumped
Abused and torn from the anchor
tossed upon the storms
with no light from the shore
You come
to steer us straight
show the way
amidst the tempest
to safe harbor
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
as we seek shelter
from the violence
running from bomb and bullet
death and destruction
You come
To bring us Shalom
peace between nations
praying for enemies
restoring us with your salvation
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
in our loneliest moments
times of grief
and great loss
bereft of solace or contentment
You come
to bear our burdens
dry our tears
comfort us
in our hour of need
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
Hallelujah
Amen
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We worked hard on it
Choosing just the right words
Make it eloquent and thoughtful
We hear so much gibberish
Mangled words and jumbled phrases
Strung together
without cadence or harmony
Doggerel mushed into lines
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We included everyone on the list
All the sick and shut-ins
The grieving and the mournful
There is a lot to pray for
This war and that uprising
So many poor and homeless
Refugees just stumbling all about
Empty pantries and overflowing shelters
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We tried not to ask for too much
Just health and happiness
Safety and success
It's a cold world out there
Everything going to hell in a hand basket
We just want to hold on
Have you bless and protect us
Keep us from the devil at our doorstep
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Forgive us Loving God
when we place more importance on
our words not on your Word
embodied in your Son
Jesus the Christ
Forgive us loving God
when we raise up in prayer
getting lost the liturgy
and forgetting the meaning
and privilege of your presence
Forgive us Loving God
for relying on our our strength
calling attention to ourselves
and not waiting or willing
for the Spirit to interceded for us
Forgive us Loving God
and teach us to pray
with humble hearts
quiet listening
and patience to hear
Amen
NT
Matthew 1:23-25
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;and he named him Jesus.
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Messy and miserable
Confused and chaotic
Not knowing where to go
nor what to do
You come
to give us direction
to show us the way
from the wilderness
to cross the Jordan
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Scarred and stumped
Abused and torn from the anchor
tossed upon the storms
with no light from the shore
You come
to steer us straight
show the way
amidst the tempest
to safe harbor
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
as we seek shelter
from the violence
running from bomb and bullet
death and destruction
You come
To bring us Shalom
peace between nations
praying for enemies
restoring us with your salvation
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
in our loneliest moments
times of grief
and great loss
bereft of solace or contentment
You come
to bear our burdens
dry our tears
comfort us
in our hour of need
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
Hallelujah
Amen
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We worked hard on it
Choosing just the right words
Make it eloquent and thoughtful
We hear so much gibberish
Mangled words and jumbled phrases
Strung together
without cadence or harmony
Doggerel mushed into lines
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We included everyone on the list
All the sick and shut-ins
The grieving and the mournful
There is a lot to pray for
This war and that uprising
So many poor and homeless
Refugees just stumbling all about
Empty pantries and overflowing shelters
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Didn't you hear our prayer
O God
We tried not to ask for too much
Just health and happiness
Safety and success
It's a cold world out there
Everything going to hell in a hand basket
We just want to hold on
Have you bless and protect us
Keep us from the devil at our doorstep
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
Forgive us Loving God
when we place more importance on
our words not on your Word
embodied in your Son
Jesus the Christ
Forgive us loving God
when we raise up in prayer
getting lost the liturgy
and forgetting the meaning
and privilege of your presence
Forgive us Loving God
for relying on our our strength
calling attention to ourselves
and not waiting or willing
for the Spirit to interceded for us
Forgive us Loving God
and teach us to pray
with humble hearts
quiet listening
and patience to hear
Amen
NT
Matthew 1:23-25
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;and he named him Jesus.
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Messy and miserable
Confused and chaotic
Not knowing where to go
nor what to do
You come
to give us direction
to show us the way
from the wilderness
to cross the Jordan
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
Scarred and stumped
Abused and torn from the anchor
tossed upon the storms
with no light from the shore
You come
to steer us straight
show the way
amidst the tempest
to safe harbor
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
as we seek shelter
from the violence
running from bomb and bullet
death and destruction
You come
To bring us Shalom
peace between nations
praying for enemies
restoring us with your salvation
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
You come into our lives
in our loneliest moments
times of grief
and great loss
bereft of solace or contentment
You come
to bear our burdens
dry our tears
comfort us
in our hour of need
You have come
Emmanuel
God with us
Hallelujah
Amen
