2nd Sunday of Advent (NL314)

Color: Blue
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Ash Wednesday A/B/C, Proper 25(30)C
Gospel Text: Luke 11:13
Sermon Text: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29 (Joel: God’s Promised Spirit)
Other Text Suggestions: Psalm 65, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Prayer of the Day (WP): Loving Lord, when we have strayed, you have called us to come home to you. “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.” With all our hearts we return to you, and gratefully accept your gentle love, for the sake of the one whose spirit lives in us, Jesus Christ our loving savior. Amen.

Helpful Resources: re:Worship,  revgalblog, TextWeek,  Word&World, BibleHub

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #641. All Are Welcome
ELW #793. Be Thou My Vision
ELW #283. O Come, All Ye Faithful*
ELW #256. Comfort, Comfort Now My People*
ELW #402. Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ
ELW #605. Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
ELW #740. God of the Sparrow
ELW #734. God, Whose Farm Is All Creation
ELW #398. Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
ELW #620. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
ELW #658. O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
ELW #754. Jesus, the Very Thought of You
ELW #876. Let the Whole Creation Cry
ELW #752. Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
ELW #745. Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright
ELW #243. Lost in the Night*
ELW #397. Loving Spirit
ELW #864/5. Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven
ELW #310. Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
ELW #396. Spirit of Gentleness
ELW #800. Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
ELW #889. The Right Hand of God
ELW #742. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
ELW #680/1. We Plow the Fields and Scatter (Aramos nuestros campos)
LBW #488. Breathe on Me, Breath of God
LBW #462. God the Omnipotent!
WOV #615. Return to the Lord
WOV #783. Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Various Hymnals Come, Holy Spirit, Descend on us (1995) by John Bell
Various Hymnals Led by the Spirit (1996) by Bob Hurd
Various Hymnals Return to God (1991) by Marty Haugen
Various Hymnals Sing a New Church (1991) by Delores Dufner OSB
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)
* Advent Hymns

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Come Let Us Return” By Matt Redman.
“Come Let Us Worship” By Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves.
“Love Has Come” By Brown Bannister, Mark Schultz, et al.
“You Never Let Go” By Beth Redman, Matt Redman.
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.

Pour your spirit upon the church, O Lord, grant us patience as we await your coming again and strengthen our trust in your eternal promises. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour your spirit upon creation, O Lord, renew the waters and the earth and move us to nurture all that you have made. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour your spirit upon the nations, O Lord, bring wholeness and healing to our broken systems of justice and power. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour your spirit upon all peoples, O Lord, help us to find joy and blessing in the great diversity you have given to the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour your spirit upon those in pain, O Lord, grant healing, comfort, and hope to those suffering from disease of any sort. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour your spirit upon this assembly, O Lord, comfort those who are alone or grieving in this season and use us to surround one another with your love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

You poured your spirit upon the saints, O Lord, we pray that their example strengthen our work and our lives of faith. 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.