December 10, 2023
Pastoral Prayer
Loving God, thank you for this 2nd Sunday of Advent to help us prepare for when love came down at Christmas. You not only offer us the light of hope around the Advent Wreath, but you also offer us the light of your love.
This morning, we lift up to you those on our prayer list as well as other joys and concerns that are on our hearts and our minds this day. We pray that the light of your love would shine brightly, especially for those who are facing uncertain times, in need of healing, feeling discouraged, and scarred by the pain and brokenness of this world. Remind them that you came down for them at Christmas. And you came down for us.
Whenever we lose our way and feel like we can’t see our way forward, shine your light of love on our path. Just as love came down at Christmas, may your love shine through each of our hearts in all that we say, think and do.
Your light of love shines brightly through the beautiful decorations of our Christmas tree; through the light of our first two Advent Candles; through our time of worship here in this sanctuary, and through the baptisms of the Wilson and Loveless children this morning. O God, as our prayer hymn says so beautifully, your love is all lovely and love divine.
In a world of so much fear, anxiety, and strife, shine your light of love through us so that all people will be drawn to the manger of Bethlehem where love was born.
We pray this in the name of the One who came down at Christmas, and who now teaches us to pray together…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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