O, the Power of the Baby! A 21st Century Africana Resource for the First Sunday in Advent, Year B

Invocation/Call to Worship

(Based on Isaiah 64:1-9)
Many Voices: Come Lord Jesus, Come!

One Voice:
Rip open the sky,
Make planes divert their flight paths,
Tell the mountains to duck,
And rush into this sanctuary.

Many Voices: Come Lord Jesus, Come!

One Voice:
Come and silence the violence,
Stop stray bullets that kill the innocent,
Expose dealers, who peddle addiction,
Make your enemies know you and tremble in your presence.

Many Voices: Come Lord Jesus, Come!

One Voice:
We may fail to notice your presence
In everyday living
In casual conversations
Or in blessings disguised as "coincidences"

Still we cry…

Many Voices: Come Lord Jesus, Come!

An Advent Prayer
(Based on Isaiah 64:1-9/Mark 13:24-37)
O, the power of the Baby! Such power can bring mama's White family and Daddy's Black family to understand that it's not about race, but about love.

O, the power of the Baby! Such power can melt the hardest heart. Let this be a "Kodak moment," reminding us of the impact of seemingly tiny gifts… like crooked clay ash trays, Popsicle crosses, stick-figure pictures, wilted dandelions.

O, the power of the Baby! Take this chip off our shoulder, help us forget the wrong done to us; make disappointment and rejection disappear; melt them like intense sun melts the snow. Take away the isolation of staying inside ourselves, separated from the world.

O, the power of the Baby! Take the anemic joy that we have today and light a fire under it so that we will boil over with unrestrained giving of ourselves!

O, the power of the Baby! Make us angels gathering up co-workers, train-workers, house-workers, yard-workers, body-workers, taxi-workers, garbage-workers, factory-workers, classroom-workers, building-workers, and food-workers to behold the miracle child who can take our spiritual thirst away forever.

God, open the heavens and send your Son down. Let your Star fall from heaven and show us the Way. Let Mary's Little Baby lead us. Let the mountains quake in his presence; and the persistent, impatient car horns fall silent in adoration. Send your Son through the clouds of our confusion and desperation and exhaustion. Let us experience his power.

O God, who works for those who wait on you, we're waiting. There are days when we think we've just missed the train to get us where we need to go or missed the opportunity to right a wrong. But God, keep us waiting on Jesus, the one who will make it right. Amen.

Prayers of Confession
(Based on Isaiah 64:1-9)
God when we think you're not looking, we sin. But you always see.
Our righteous deeds are like filthy clothes.
Take away the grimy soot of life that clings to us and clouds our vision.

We are clay; you are the potter. We are all the work of your hands.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember our sins forever.

We give thanks to you, O God, who has enriched our lives through Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Alternate)

Restore us Lord. Once we prayed, knowing our help came from the Lord. Once we defied injustice, knowing that the Lord was on our side. Once we prayed all night "'til our help came." Once we apologized for calling someone a fool. Once we believed it was important to please God. Restore us as people who follow God, even when no one is looking. Restore us, Lord.

Words of Assurance
Jesus Christ, who loved us enough to leave heaven and live among us, hears our prayers and forgives heartfelt confession. Live now as people restored by the Lord, empowered to live as children of God.

Pastoral Prayer
This year, the winds have come and ripped the skies. This year, the floods have come and swept away our homes. This year, the storms have shaken our cities and scattered our belongings across the land. Predictably, we are now very interested in learning about "the signs of the times." After all that has happened, we stand wondering how soon you will return. This Advent season, we look backward to remember the miracle of the first coming of Christ and lean forward in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. Help us to stay alert as we wait for your great and glorious return.

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Sherrie Dobbs Johnson is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Kwasi Kena is a former staff member of Discipleship Ministries

21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: "Worship Resources for The First Sunday in Advent, Year B" Copyright © 2005 Discipleship Ministries and The Rev. Sherrie Dobbs Johnson. Used with permission.