All In

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation. ADVENT 1: Wisdom — Marylee Thomsen As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs — and remember God’s promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. — Genesis 1:1-5

Liturgist — Marylee Thomsen Let us pray …

ALL: Eternal God, your Word of wisdom goes forth and does not return empty: Grant us such knowledge and love of you that we may perceive your presence in all creation and every creature; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, now and forever. Amen.

Loving God, you never leave us alone, nor fail to watch out for our well-being, restoring us and providing for us. Because you are faithful, we come to you now to make our petitions known to you.

We pray for the church and its leaders; may we continue to be living witnesses for you.

We pray for the global community; enable us to serve those in need and work for peace.

We pray for all those who are cheated and abused; help us be advocates for the powerless, that we might enact godly justice.

We pray for those who suffer; make us agents of your restoration and healing.

We pray for your creation; make us good stewards, that many generations will know the goodness of your gifts.

We remember those who have come to their eternal rest; help us to comfort those who grieve their loss.

We lift up to you the prayers we hold secretly, for we know that you know all things.

All these things we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, startle us with your Word, O God, and awaken us to your love for your creation. Amen.

³⁸As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ³⁹and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! ⁴⁰They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” ⁴¹He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. ⁴³Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. ⁴⁴For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Where has doubt gotten the better of you? Where has God needed your confidence to go all in with God’s love in a particular situation? How might you sense that moment sooner next time and make the choice to go all in?

The Lord has blessed us richly. Let us give cheerfully what we have for the upkeep and uplift of God’s kin-dom. Amen.

Almighty God, whether we have given from abundance or from little, we humbly offer these gifts to you and for the glory of your name, through your son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May the abundant goodness of God, the generous mercy of Christ, and the sustaining power of the Spirit be with you today and every day until the end of days. Amen.