An Advent Prayer for the Longest Night
A Longest Night (aka Blue Christmas) Service is offered at All Saints on December 18. It is especially for those who are hurting during the holidays. Perhaps you are mourning the death of a loved one, or you are far from home. Maybe you are battling illness, addiction, or loneliness. Maybe you are hurting for financial reasons, or are in conflict with another individual. Maybe you feel the great pain and need in the world and it makes it hard to feel joyful. There are many reasons to not feel merry at Christmas. Be strong. Trust God. Light will come.
Merciful God,
In this season of rejoicing, we come to you weary and grieving
In this season of feasting, we hunger for healing and relief
In this season of light, our hearts are veiled in sorrow and shadow
Will this season ever end?
“Yes.” We hear your, “Yes.”
Those who are weary will find rest
Those who mourn will be comforted
Those who hunger will be filled
The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness will not overcome it.
Amen.
© 2016 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Prayer for the Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Gracious and loving God,
On this Gaudete Sunday, fill our hearts with gladness
as we await the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Strengthen us with Your peace
and guide us to share Your love with all we meet.
On this Gaudete Sunday,
as we rejoice in the hope and promise of Your coming,
we acknowledge that for some, joy feels far away.
Comfort those whose hearts are heavy,
those who long for peace, healing, or hope.
On this Gaudete Sunday,
keep in each of our minds and hearts this truth:
that Your joy is not fleeting nor dependent on our circumstances,
but a deep wellspring of love and grace,
offered freely to all who seek You.
On this Gaudete Sunday,
Help us to carry one another’s burdens,
to be light in the darkness, and to find joy in Your promises.
May our lives reflect the light of Christ,
and may we prepare a place for Him to dwell within us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer and our Joy. Amen.
—anonymous
Prayer for the Second Sunday in Advent
God of Peace,
It is so hard to find peace,
in our hearts, in our communities, and in our world.
We ache for it.
We know this is not how you would want us to be.
May your will be done. May your peace prevail.
May our longing for peace lead us on a new journey
to your sacred peace.
Amen.
—an Advent prayer by the Rev. Won Hur, originally written for Advent Unwrapped
Prayer for the First Sunday in Advent
God of hope
be with us in our Advent journey
to the stable and beyond,
be with us in our meeting
and in our travelling together,
be with us in our worship
and our praying together,
be with us in our Advent journey
to the stable and beyond,
our God of hope. Amen.
-from Faith and Worship ©John Birch
God of light and salvation, our refuge and our strength,
We pray for the people of Israel and Palestine amid the escalating violence.
We pray for those killed and injured by rockets from Gaza in southern Israel.
May your rod and staff comfort them.
We pray for those who are grieving. May they know your ever-present help.
We pray for the protection of those who have been taken hostage by Hamas.
As they walk through this dark valley, may they fear no evil.
We pray for the civilians of Gaza.
May they know that their help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth.
And we pray for those in leadership in Gaza and Israel.
May you guide them along the right paths.
We ask all this in union with Christ and trusting in the power of your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
—from The Association of English Cathedrals (AEC)
A Prayer for Ukraine
Lord God,
We ask you to hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart.
Protect them, we pray;
from violence,
from political gamesmanship,
from being used and abused.
Give, we pray,
the nations of the world the courage
and the wisdom
to stand up for justice
and the courage too,
to dare to care―generously.
Lord, in your mercy,
take from us all
the tendencies in us
that seek to lord it over others:
take from us those traits
that see us pursuing our own needs and wants
before those of others.
Teach us how to live in love
and dignity
and respect―following your example.
In your name and for your sake,
Amen
―Issued by Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Very Rev. Dr. Susan Brown, convener of the Faith Impact Forum, Church of Scotland
