Looking into the lectionary - Prayers you need for Thanksgiving and Advent 🧡

Matthew 3:1-12 Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2025 “In those days, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what constitutes a good apology. Maybe this is because I keep stepping in it. This fall, I seem to have acquired the unfortunate superpower of unintentionally making people angry. My beloved seminary Hebrew professor Carson Brisson used to tell us the longest he’d ever gone without making a mistake was 14 seconds. These days, I’m pretty impressed by his record. Not sure the last time I went longer than 10. Maybe this is because we all keep stepping in it. We’ve recently emerged from the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, yet none of us feel like enough progress has been made that we won’t land there again. We are a people polarized, traumatized, and exhausted — and it shows. Our whole society is on edge, quick to criticize and slow to reconcile. Add to that the pressure of the holiday season, when expectations and emotions run high…well, let’s just say I think the precise theological description of the world right now might be “a dumpster fire.” Into our holy dumpster fire of an Advent Season, John the Baptist speaks a word about repentance. Most of what I know about apologies, I have learned in the rooms of a Twelve Step Program. The twelve steps talk not about apologies, but about amends. This is perhaps a better word than apology because making amends implies not just claiming mea culpa but also taking restorative action to fix – mend – the situation and relationship. This is the territory of repair and restoration. ... Thanks to this week's writer, Ginna Bairby. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for November 30, 2025? You can find them here. Order of worship — December 7, 2025 by Ginna Bairby PC(USA) backs landmark statement affirming trans, nonbinary and intersex people by UUA A prayer of Thanksgiving for the God who knows us by Caroline Garcia Clergy response to border patrol in Charlotte by Patrice Gaines A free Advent candle liturgy by Shardaé Henry and Shea Watts Longest night service: A liturgy of light and hope by Rae Watson IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Oz was always political — ‘Wicked’ simply makes it clear Long before "Wicked" soared across stage and screen, L. Frank Baum’s world carried a political pulse. The new film reminds us that Oz’s magic has always included questions of power, propaganda, and resistance, writes Michael Parker. The Rev. David Black’s ICE protest arises from his Chicago church’s long tradition ‘I’m seeing almost a revival of Christianity through what’s happening at Broadview in Chicago,’ PC(USA) pastor David Black said. —  Jack Jenkins Chicago Presbytery issues call to action in face of ICE raids The presbytery seeks "creative action and stubborn hope" and vows to follow the lead of those bearing the brunt of the violence. — Chicago Presbytery Convent Wisdom: How Sixteenth-Century Nuns Could Save Your Twenty-First Century Life Witty, dramatic, and unexpectedly relatable — "Convent Wisdom" shows how sixteenth-century nuns faced money stress, messy relationships, and big spiritual questions… just like us. Caroline Barnett offers a review. GloRilla: Thankful for God’s favor Chris Burton digs into the gospel roots, gratitude, controversy and God-consciousness woven through GloRilla’s music. Bob Dylan: A reluctant voice of a generation Bob Dylan wanted to keep things simple. His fans wanted more. — Luke Esteban At least seven faith leaders arrested at Broadview ICE facility protest 'I've got bruises all over my body,' the Rev. Michael Woolf, who was thrown to the ground and arrested by police, told RNS. —  Jack Jenkins Advent is this Sunday — are you ready?