Here’s a prayer from
Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy. It was inspired by Matthew 3: 1-12.
Advent
Prayer
(inspired
by Matthew 3: 1-12)
Prepare, for the day
of God's coming draws near!
We are here. What is there to prepare?
Prepare for peace.
Holy God, may the divisions between us be erased.
We are here. What is there to prepare?
Prepare for peace.
Holy God, may the divisions between us be erased.
May we, people of all backgrounds,
walk with one another;
listen to one
another;
bear one another's
burdens.
May we be peacemakers
in everything we say and do.
Prepare for hope.
Merciful God, when we look around,
Prepare for hope.
Merciful God, when we look around,
the promises of your
Kingdom seem so distant.
Grant us tenacity:
to bring light where
there is darkness;
peace where
there is strife,
comfort where there
is despair.
Let the light of your
presence shine in us,
so that all may know
that the darkness will not win.
Prepare for God.
Almighty God, you stripped yourself entirely to come into this world.
Weak, fragile, and dependent,
Prepare for God.
Almighty God, you stripped yourself entirely to come into this world.
Weak, fragile, and dependent,
you gave yourself
into the care of an unwed teenager.
In following you, may
we become as vulnerable.
May we strip away
all that protects us, all that we hide behind,
and let it burn like chaff.
May our actions bear
fruit that glorifies you,
eternal God, love incarnate.
Amen.
~ written by Eliza
Buchakjian-Tweedy, Pastor at First Church Congregational, Rochester,
NH. She blogs at http://sermonizing.wordpress.com/
