"The King Has Come"

Call to Worship (Micah 5, Luke 1)

God has done great things for us! God’s love is heralded in the promise of Christ. Holy is God’s name! God’s promises are fulfilled in the coming of Christ. God’s mercy extends from generation to generation. God’s salvation is offered in the gift of Christ.

Opening Prayer (Micah 5, Luke 1)

Holy God, your prophet Micah foretold with faith that a new ruler would come forth from Bethlehem— today we celebrate the fulfillment of your promise; your daughter Elizabeth proclaimed with faith that her cousin was to be the mother of her Lord— today we celebrate the fulfillment of your promise; your servant Mary proclaimed with faith that she would be called blessed by all generations— today we celebrate the fulfillment of your promise. Make us bold enough to proclaim with faith— the coming of your kingdom, the coming of your justice, the coming of your peace. May we sing out the good news of your salvation, trusting in fulfillment of your promises. All this we pray in the name of the one who comes. Amen.

Invitation to the Offering

In response to the news that she would bear God’s Son, Mary offered herself as God’s servant, and then sang a song celebrating her selection to help bring God’s realm on earth. We have been chosen to continue to build up the kingdom of God, so we, too, have reason to celebrate. Having praised God through song and scripture, let us now offer our tangible signs of gratitude, confident that God’s promises will be fulfilled through the ministries supported by our gifts.

Offering Prayer

Dear God, you blessed Mary by making her the mother of your only Son, Jesus Christ. You have blessed us, as well, with the gift of your Son, and indeed, with the gift of life itself. Out of all these blessings, we give you back these offerings this day. Knowing that your promises will be fulfilled, we pledge our lives to you in anticipation of the coming of the one who brings us peace. Amen.

Micah 5:2-5 New International Version 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,

Benediction

Go with the love of God, who extends mercy from generation to generation. Go with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, who prepares us for the coming of our Lord. Go with the peace of the Christ child, who comes to partner with us to bring the kingdom that will never end. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.