Liturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B, Mark
Introduction
The second week of Advent sends us into the wilderness, but not to be left there. A tender word of comfort meets a rough-edged prophet by the river, and both point toward a peace that is on its way.
This complete liturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B, follows the Revised Common Lectionary and holds together comfort and preparation, the gentle voice and the voice that cries out. It includes a lighting of the Advent candle, a call to worship, opening prayer, prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, prayer for Illumination, and benediction. Every Advent order of worship is gathered in the Advent Liturgy hub, and if you would like an email from me a few times a month, join my newsletter.
Lectionary readings for this Sunday
Isaiah 40:1-11: God speaks comfort to a people worn down by exile, a voice calls for a highway in the desert, and the Lord comes like a shepherd carrying the lambs. Learn how long the Israelites were in Babylon and what the Word of God means.
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13: A prayer for restoration in which steadfast love and faithfulness meet, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. See what shalom means and what hesed means.
2 Peter 3:8-15a: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and God's patience is an invitation to repentance while we wait for new heavens and a new earth. Read about the Day of the Lord and the new heaven and new earth.
Mark 1:1-8: Mark's Gospel begins in the wilderness with John the Baptist, calling people to repentance and pointing to one more powerful who is coming. Read who John the Baptist was and what baptism means in the Bible.
Liturgy for this Sunday
Lighting of the Advent Candle: Peace
One: We light the candle of hope, and now a second candle for peace.
All: Peace the world cannot give and cannot take away.
One: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet.
All: Come, Prince of Peace. Make your home among us.
Call to Worship
One: A voice cries out where the pavement ends and the scrub oak takes over.
All: Prepare the way of the Lord.
One: Lift up every valley, and bring every mountain low.
All: Make a straight road in the wilderness for our God.
One: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
All: We come to hear a word of comfort and to worship the Lord.
Opening Prayer
God of comfort, you spoke tenderly to a people worn down by exile and told them their hard service was over. You sent John into the wilderness with a plain word and a river to wade into. Speak tenderly to us now. Where our lives are crooked, make them straight. Where we have wandered far, carry us home the way a shepherd carries the lambs. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Patient God, we confess that we have mistaken your patience for absence. We have let the rough places in our lives stay rough and called it who we are. We have kept the peace by keeping quiet, and we have not made peace where it was needed. Forgive us. Turn us around, and prepare in us a way for Christ. Amen.
More Advent Prayers of Confession
Assurance of Pardon
"You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin." (Psalm 85:2)
Hear the good news: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven, and God speaks peace to us. Thanks be to God!
More on the Assurance of Pardon
Prayer for Illumination
Holy God, the grass withers and the flower fades, but your Word stands forever. As we hear it today, let it take root in us and stand. Amen.
More Advent Prayers for Illumination
Benediction
Go now into the wilderness places of your week. Lift the low places, level the rough ground, and make room for the One who is coming. Be at peace, and may the God of all comfort go with you. Amen.
More Benedictions and Blessings
See also
Advent Liturgy
Worship Resources
Calls to Worship
Opening Prayers
Advent Prayers of Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Advent Prayers for Illumination
Benedictions and Blessings
Planning next Sunday?
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