Advent 2 Year 1

Color: Blue
Closest RCL Sunday(s): N/A
Readings: Esther Sermon text – Esther 4:1-17 Companion text – Matthew 5:13-16
Prayer of the Day (WorkingPreacher): God of justice, you sent your servant Esther into a life of privilege so that those without would be taken care of. In our privilege, show us how to advocate for those who have less, so that your world might be peaceful and just. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #245. Creator of the Stars of Night
ELW #705. God of Grace and God of Glory
ELW #244. Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
LBW #461. Fight the Good Fight
Various Hymnals Approach, my soul, the mercy seat by John Newton
Various Hymnals For Such a Time As This by Thomas A. Jackson
Various Hymnals It Is God Who Holds the Nations by Fred Green
Various Hymnals Sisters Let Us Walk Together by Judith Snowdon
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Suggested hymns based on the companion text(s):

ELW #728. Blest Are They
ELW #715. Christ, Be Our Light
ELW #532. Gather Us In
ELW #574. Here I Am, Lord
ELW #712. Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
ELW #397. Loving Spirit
ELW #677. This Little Light of Mine
ELW #720. We Are Called
WOV #753. You Are the Seed
W&P #22. Bring Forth the Kingdom
DATH #64. Brighter than the Sun
Various Hymnals As a Fire Is Meant for Burning by Ruth Duck
Various Hymnals Jesus Bids Us Shine by Susan Warner
Various Hymnals We are the light of the world by Jean Anthony Greif
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Light Of The World” By Matt Redman.
“Shine Jesus Shine” By Graham Kendrick.
“We Are” By Chuck Butler, Ed Cash, et al.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

We seek the mighty God in the most unlikely places as a child in a stable, and in an empty tomb. May God hear these prayers, which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.

A brief silence.

O God of the church, grant us your light that we might bear it to a world of darkness. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of all creation, grant healing and renewal to the earth that its splendors inspire our joy and praise. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God above all nations, grant the world wise and compassionate leaders that all people know your justice and peace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of light, grant hope to the hopeless and peace to the anxious as we await the coming of Christ. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of healing, grant wholeness to the broken and comfort to those in pain that the suffering of the world be eased. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God of this place and time, grant us boldness in our witness to your light and love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

O God of all time, grant us the assurance of eternal life that the example of the saints before us live on in our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us ears to hear, O God, and eyes to watch, that we may know your presence in our midst during this holy season of joy as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.