When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy, and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshiped him.
Photo on the top of this page was taken from the article “Helping Rohingya families reunite and rebuild their lives” on the European Commission website
Advent Prayer
Walter Brueggemann
In our secret yearnings
we wait for your coming,
and in our grinding despair
we doubt that you will.
And in this privileged place
we are surrounded by witnesses who yearn more than do we
and by those who despair more deeply than do we.
Look upon your church and its pastors
in this season of hope
which runs so quickly to fatigue
and this season of yearning
which becomes so easily quarrelsome.
Give us the grace and the impatience
to wait for your coming to the bottom of our toes,
to the edge of our finger tips.
We do not want our several worlds to end.
Come in your power
and come in your weakness
in any case,
and make all things new.
Amen.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love (and wonders of His love)
And wonders of His love (and wonders of His love)
And wonders, wonders of His love
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
7 Prayers for the Advent
By Reverend Henry Keys
FRIDAY
Lord Jesus, we are reminded at this season that You came to bring Your kingdom of peace
We pray for that kingdom of peace to become a reality in Your world and in our hearts.
We pray for those who live in countries which deny their people freedom; for those who find themselves in prison for no reason; for others who are exploited and oppressed, who live in fear and dare not speak out.
God of Justice May Your Kingdom come.
We pray for those who are dedicated to working for justice and peace within countries and between warring nations.
May they know Your power and protection.
Thank You for all of good heart and courage who strive and negotiate for good, fair and lasting outcomes.
Again, Lord, we cry out for Your power and blessing on the peace activists in the awfulness of the Ukraine conflict and the Middle East violence.
God of Peace, May Your kingdom of peace come.
Finally, we pray for peace in our own hearts.
Lord may Your Spirit help us to overcome hurts and injustices in our own lives so that we may live in peace with ourselves, our families and our communities.
Amen
If you want to bring the world closer to peace, be a peacemaker by creating peace whenever you can.
If you find yourself engaged in an argument that only stirs anger in the heart, quickly make peace and carry on.”
Suzy Kassem
Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem