Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

Opening Prayer

God of steadfast love,

As we draw near to the celebration of Christ’s birth,

fill us with the warmth of your mercy and the wideness of your welcome.

Help us to love as you have loved us—

not in word only, but in action, in patience, in truth.

Make room in our hearts for your Son,

and shape our lives around his coming.

Amen.

Call to Worship

Leader: The love of God draws near—

People: Not in might, but in mercy.

Leader: The waiting is almost over.

People: Our hearts make room for the Christ-child.

Leader: God’s promise is sure.

People: Love will come and dwell among us.

Leader: Let us worship the Lord with hope, peace, joy—

People: And above all, with love.

Call to Confession

The love of God is not earned or deserved—it is freely given.

Let us come honestly before the One whose love never fails,

confessing our shortcomings and our longing to be made whole.

Prayer of Confession

Loving God,

You have shown us what love looks like in Jesus Christ,

yet we confess how often we fail to reflect that love.

We choose comfort over compassion, judgment over mercy.

We withhold forgiveness and close our hearts to others.

Forgive us, Lord. Soften what is hard in us.

Shape us into people who love generously,

as you have first loved us.

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Romans 8:38–39 –

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life… nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Friends, hear and believe the good news:

In Jesus Christ, we are loved, forgiven, and made new.

Suggested Scriptures for Advent Week 4 – Love

• Isaiah 7:10–16 – The sign of Immanuel, God with us

• Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 – Restore us, O God

• Romans 1:1–7 – The gospel of God’s love in Christ

• Matthew 1:18–25 – Joseph receives the promise of Emmanuel

• 1 John 4:7–12 – “Let us love one another, because love is from God”