Several weeks ago I came across this wonderful poem by poet, J. Barrie Shepherd:
“Late Tidings”
After more than eighty of such purple seasons,
you might think there would be nothing
left to look toward, get ready for.
And to be sure, there breathes
an air of fond familiarity over much
that we get up to in these leaning forward
weeks of early winter.
All those lists, addresses, recipes,
festive greens and candles, special services
bazaars and concerts, sip-and-dip occasions
frequented by a dwindling clan
of usual suspects, all swapping tales
of medical misadventures
and prodigy grandchildren.
“And it came to pass, in those days … ”
even so and yet, it all begins again, spell-binding,
simplest words, sweet lingering syllables
that resonate within, beyond the weary ear
into the heart of all our hoping, with a melody
that sings through fear and brings glad news
of an eternal comforting that echoes fondly
from the past and yet is ever new.
May we all hear that “glad news … that echoes fondly from the past, and yet is ever new.”
Have a blessed Christmas everyone!
Elizabeth
A Prayer of Joy for the Third Sunday of Advent
O God of Advent hope and peace and joy, you call the dry and barren parts of our lives to life and new life flourishes. You straighten the winding ways of our journey and smooth our paths. You bring justice and set things right. You give songs of joy to fill our hearts with good tidings of great joy - for this we give you thanks and praise.
Come, Lord Jesus, into communities suffering from recent storms. As they gather at church buildings reduced to piles of rubble this Lord’s Day, strengthen their spirits as they remember that deep truth our children sing about – “the church is not a building … the church is the people.” Scripture reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” – even in these difficult moments may that truth strengthen their hearts. Move our hearts to acts of loving service as we bear this burden with them.
Come, Lord Jesus into our families. Strengthen our homes and our relationships with one another. Open lines of communication, strengthen commitments, deepen trust, and make us willing and able to do the hard work of loving each other day after day. Protect those in situations of domestic violence and lead them to new beginnings. Be with those who are alone, homeless and forgotten. Open our eye to the needs around us and move our hearts to respond..
Come, Lord Jesus into our faith community and show us how to share the good news of great joy with each other and with our neighbors in ways that make life better for all.
May we sing your songs of great joy from generation to generation, as the powerful are brought down and the lowly lifted up, as the hungry are filled with good things. May we be a part of setting things right, until all of creation rings with the sound of peace on earth and good will among all people; until all is accomplished, and your kingdom come in its fullness, and we are filled with the joy that is ours in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
May we receive the gifts of hope, peace and joy on this year’s Advent journey.
Elizabeth
A Prayer of Peace for the Second Sunday of Advent
O God of hope and peace, you sent your messenger to preach repentance. Give us grace to heed the warning, so that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ. Bring us to points of turning in our individual lives and in all of life. Heal what is broken, save what is lost, make what is old and tarnished fresh and new.
O God of Advent hope and peace, comfort us, challenge us and prepare the way.
Save us from trying to fix what you want to heal, and free us from what has been, to embrace what is yet to be. As you straighten the winding ways of our journey and smooth our pathways, keep us on the way to Bethlehem. Awaken our sense of wonder, open us to the mystery of your coming.
O God of Advent hope and peace, comfort us, challenge us and prepare the way.
In your mercy, hear our prayers for others. Where there is sorrow, bring healing and joy; where there is conflict, bring understanding and peace; where there is sickness, come as the gentle comforter and work in each situation for good. We pray for the hungry and the homeless, the lonely and poor, and the weak and powerless of all nations – that all may find food and shelter and dignity. Lead those in power and authority to dedicate themselves to work for peace and justice and dignity in all of creation.
O God of Advent hope and peace, comfort us, challenge us and prepare the way.
We pray for peace on earth – that you would hasten the day when the lion and the lamb will lie down together and none will hurt or destroy in all the earth. Do the needed work of grace in each of our lives, that we might welcome the Prince of Peace and dedicate our lives to the things that make for peace. We pray for those who so desperately need to hear the good news of great joy of which the angels sang – and to know that this good news is for all people.
O God of Advent hope and peace, comfort us, challenge us, and prepare the way.
We pray for your church, that we may be in truth the Body of Christ. Give us vision and purpose, and keep us faithful. Help us to move beyond the convenient boundaries of our individual lives to touch the lives of those around us. Help us to listen in love, to work for peace and justice, and to be sources of encouragement to one another, because of your wondrous love.
O God of Advent hope and peace, comfort us, challenge us, and prepare the way.
We make our prayer in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
May we receive the gifts of hope and peace on this year’s Advent Journey.
Elizabeth