Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and intercession for the fourth Sunday of Advent. It was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Advent Prayer
Loving God, our spirits do rejoice in all your gracious acts towards us, most of all, the event we so look forward to—the wonderful and precious gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks for the willingness of Mary to believe that the impossible could and would happen. Help us to have a like faith. Open our hearts and minds to believe that your promises can come to surprising fulfillment. Show us how we can best serve you with mercy and in humility, empowering people to live lives of dignity and worth.
As we look at our television screens and read accounts of people throughout the world who are being made powerless because of the greed and violence of others, remind us of the great possibility of prayer to effect changes for good. To bring down the powerful and to lift up the lowly; to fill those who are hungry and to drive away those who profit by the weakness and ignorance of others. Be with all those who feel that life holds no hope and help them and each of us truly to believe O God, that with you, nothing is impossible. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
— Copyright © Moira Laidlaw, posted on her Liturgies Online website. Visit that site for other great lectionary-based resources.
