O God, as the three Advent candles shine brightly for us this morning, may your light of hope and anticipation also shine brightly in each of our hearts. May it shine so brightly, that we become lost in wonder, love, and praise as one hymn writer so beautifully expresses. Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Like Mary who was lost in wonder, love, and praise at the good news that you were about to do something new and redemptive through her, may we be lost in wonder as well. During this Advent season, we join Mary in wondering about how the coming of Christ will make a difference in our lives, in our families, in our relationships, in our church, in our community, and in our world.
We especially lift up to you anyone who may be experiencing the holiday blues during this time of year, those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, those who are in need of healing, those who are struggling to make ends meet, those who are feeling discouraged, those who see no way forward and are in need of some hope. May our Advent candles shine brightly upon each of these persons and particular needs, O God, our Emmanuel.
We also continue to lift up to you all of those who are on our church’s prayer list as well as those we have shared with each other this morning. We pray that your Advent light would shine brightly for them this day.
And as we join Mary in wondering about what child is this, may we all be open to the new possibilities and the new dreams that you have in mind for us. Just as we are awaiting the joy of Christ’s birth during this holy season, remind us that you are also awaiting the joy of how we will respond to your coming into the world.
In this Advent season, we turn to this prayer of wonder that Jesus taught 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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