Pastoral Prayer (Dec. 3/Advent) Athens First UMC

[It's beginning to look a lot like Advent at Athens First UMC! We had a wonderful day of worship as we opened the first of five Christmas presents. For this 1st Sunday of Advent, we opened the gift of "expectation." Click here for the sermon. The gift of expectation helps us to be open to the new thing that God wants to do in and through each one of us.]

Come thou long expected Jesus.  May this be our earnest prayer during this Advent Season. Come thou long expected Jesus.

As we open the gift of expectation and the new way that you want to be at work in our lives, remove our barriers of pride, cynicism, apathy, and distractions that would prevent us from receiving all that you have in mind for us. Thank you for Mary who was willing to open the gift of expectation and may we do the same on this first Sunday of Advent.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present in our chapel this Tuesday for those who will be attending our Blue Christmas service. May those who have heavy hearts this holiday season be comforted in having that needed space to express their deepest longings to you.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present at Monday lunch tomorrow as people gather in expectation for a hot meal and table fellowship.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present with the Angel Tree children and family members who gather tomorrow evening for our Worship U service to worship with us and receive the many presents that were donated by people in our congregation.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present with those who are in the hospital, in nursing homes, who are home-bound, and who are not able to be with us in worship today.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present with the women of Kappa Phi who are preparing a potato bar meal for our congregation today.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present with our college students as we open our church during finals week so they can have a quiet and safe place to study and enjoy free meals and refreshments.

Come thou long expected Jesus and be present with each person here today or who may be listening on the radio even as we join together in praying the words he taught us to pray... “Our Father, who art in heaven…”