Note:
This liturgy for the second Sunday in Advent follows on from the order for the first Sunday.

Resources for the service:

• Attach the rainbow and the star from the first Sunday to the wall as a background.
• A path is laid out, drawn out on paper or made up of cloth, and along it stones are placed forming obstacles. During "Assurance and a symbolic gesture of peace", the stones are rearranged tidily along the edge of the path. The path should lead up to a point just beneath the star.

Prelude

(Any vocal or instrumental music, preferably one on the theme of following a path.)

Welcome

Welcome to this second Sunday in Advent when we celebrate one more step along the way to peace. How many of you have done what you were asked to do last Sunday? Have you identified any signs of peace in the course of this past week? During our service we shall be sharing our discoveries and we will reflect on the obstacles which no doubt you have found along the way to peace.

The Lord invites us today to journey towards peace. God calls us to celebrate God's kingdom of peace which is among us.

Invocation

We rejoice at the presence of the God who journeys with us,
who does not forget God's people,
who has sent Jesus Christ, God's Son, to give us peace,
and has given us the certainty that the Spirit of Jesus is among us.

• Song: En camino sigamos (On a journey we're going)

Confession

On our journey we inevitably come up against obstacles. The road is not always smooth. The surface is uneven, there are potholes and rocks like those we find on country roads. It is the same on our journey towards peace.

Let us reflect for a moment and ask ourselves
what are the obstacles that stand in the way of peace
in ourselves?
in our families?
in our community?
in the world?

Silence

Assurance and a symbolic gesture of peace

Let us remember the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Moved by the Holy Spirit let us turn these stones that stand in the way of life
into living stones that help us to build peace.

(Participants are invited to take a stone and place it along the edge of the path laid out on the floor. They are helped by someone standing by the path. As they do so, they are invited to sing. They then share the peace with one another.)

• Song: La paz de Dios sea contigo (The peace of God be always with you)

Gospel reading

• Song: Aleluya (Alleluia)

John 14: 25-31

I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you." If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

• Song: Aleluya (Alleluia)

Sermon

Prayers of intercession

• Song: Señor renueva tu paz en medio de tu pueblo (O God replenish your peace in the midst of all your people)

Lord, we pray for
Peace for those who weep in silence
Peace for those who cannot speak
Peace when all hope seems to disappear.

• Song: Señor renueva tu paz en medio de tu pueblo (O God replenish your peace in the midst of all your people)

In the midst of rage, of violence and disappointment,
In the midst of wars and destruction of the earth,
Lord, show us your light in the darkness.

• Song: Señor renueva tu paz en medio de tu pueblo (O God replenish your peace in the midst of all your people)

Lord, we pray for
Peace for those who raise their voices to demand it,
Peace when there are many who do not wish to hear of it,
Peace as we find the way to justice.

• Song: Señor renueva tu paz en medio de tu pueblo (O God replenish your peace in the midst of all your people)

Offering

• Song: Nuestra ofrenda (Our offering)

Blessing and dismissal

Let us go with Jesus, the light who guides us on our way.
May our hope be that the Sun of Justice will rise one morning on all humankind.
May the God of Peace, our constant companion,
lead us along paths of solidarity and hope,
and give us the joy of being united in God's love.
Amen.

• Song: Envío (Sending)