From the Silence

Another Advent Confession and Assurance (2a) using “O Come, O come Immanuel”

Stanzas below should be sung by the choir or a soloist or small group.

The bold portions will be said by the congregation, and everyone will sing the refrain after the assurance.

It may be helpful and/or aesthetically pleasing to keep a low “E” pedal point playing all through the prayer

Advent 1

The prayer begins with the choir singing:

O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come, O Wisdom from on high,

and ransom captive Israel who orders all things mightily;

that mourns in lowly exile here to us the path of knowledge show,

until the Son of God appear. and teach us in her ways to go.

We are captive, exiled, O God,

because we have, each in our own way,

chosen our own path, away from you.

We are hungry for Wisdom and knowledge,

because we have, too often, substituted our judgment for yours.

We are lost, in need of guidance.

Silent prayer

Come, Lord Jesus; forgive us and restore us.

Come, Lord Jesus; guide us and deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus; teach us and renew us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Assurance of Pardon

God, our kind and loving Savior God, has stepped in and saved us.

God gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people,

washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.

Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.

God's gift has restored our relationship with God and given us back our lives.

And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! _{from Titus 3:4-7}

Advent 2

The prayer begins with the choir singing:

O come, O come, Great God of might, O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem,

who to your tribes on Sinai’s height from every foe deliver them

in ancient times once gave the Law that trust your mighty power to save,

in cloud, and majesty, and awe. and give them victory o’er the grave.

We need you to speak to us, O God,

because we have, each in our own way,

forgotten your Law, forgotten your love for us.

We are in need of your deliverance,

because we have, too often,

given ourselves to powers and practices that would destroy us.

We are lost, in need of rescue.

Silent prayer

Come, Lord Jesus; forgive us and restore us.

Come, Lord Jesus; guide us and deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus; teach us and renew us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Assurance of Pardon

God, our kind and loving Savior God, has stepped in and saved us.

God gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people,

washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.

Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.

God's gift has restored our relationship with God and given us back our lives.

And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! _{from Titus 3:4-7}

Advent 3

The prayer begins with the choir singing:

O come, O Key of David, come, O come, O Dayspring, from on high,

and open wide our heavenly home; and cheer us by your drawing nigh;

make safe the way that leads on high, disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and close the path to misery. and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

We have locked ourselves out, O God:

each of us, in our own ways, have locked ourselves out of relationships,

have locked ourselves out of opportunities,

have locked ourselves out of our true home,

because we are too arrogant, or too stubborn, or simply too human.

We have filled our lives and our world with darkness and death,

because we have, all too often, put our own judgment and desires over yours.

We are lost, in need of light and hope and joy.

Silent prayer

Come, Lord Jesus; forgive us and restore us.

Come, Lord Jesus; guide us and deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus; teach us and renew us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Assurance of Pardon

God, our kind and loving Savior God, has stepped in and saved us.

God gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people,

washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.

Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.

God's gift has restored our relationship with God and given us back our lives.

And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! _{from Titus 3:4-7}

Advent 4

The prayer begins with the choir singing:

O come, Desire of nations, bind O come, O come, Emmanuel,

all peoples in one heart and mind; and ransom captive Israel

O bid our sad divisions cease, that mourns in lowly exile here

and be for us the Prince of Peace. until the Son of God appear.

We are coming unraveled, O God, pulled apart from every angle,

because we have each chosen our own way,

forgetting the common good, the universal good, your true good.

We are in need of a way back from the messes we make for ourselves,

because we have, too often,

rejected your way to true peace, true wholeness.

We are lost, and we need Christ to come quickly.

Silent prayer

Come, Lord Jesus; forgive us and restore us.

Come, Lord Jesus; guide us and deliver us.

Come, Lord Jesus; teach us and renew us.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Assurance of Pardon

God, our kind and loving Savior God, has stepped in and saved us.

God gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people,

washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.

Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.

God's gift has restored our relationship with God and given us back our lives.

And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! _{from Titus 3:4-7}