A Litany for the First Week of Advent

by Christine Sine

I was looking back through my Advent posts from last year and realized that somehow the litany for the first week of Advent never got posted. I realize this is a little late but for those who are looking for something for a midweek service it might be useful. Links for coming weeks of Advent are at the end. These all come from Waiting for the Light 

Litany for the First Week of Advent

The advent of the Lord is near.

New light dawning where there has been darkness.

The advent of the Lord is near.

New hope reigning where there has been death and despair.

The advent of the Lord is near.

New light, new hope, new life for all creation. 

Pause for lighting of the Advent candle

This is a season of preparation,

We prepare for Christ who broke the barriers between us and God, each other and God’s creation, 

We wait with repentant hearts to prepare the way of the Lord,

This is a season of watchfulness, 

We watch for the One who heard our cries and shared the suffering of our world, 

We wait in anticipation for God’s light to penetrate the darkness and shine within us,

This is a season of promise, 

We wait for the promised coming of Emmanuel, God with us, God for us, God in us.

We wait in hope for our Redeemer to bring God’s love into our broken world,

This is a season of reflection, 

We expect to be transformed so that we can serve in God’s kingdom as bearers of light.

We wait expectantly for God’s Savior to come and dwell in our midst,

This is a season of fulfillment,

We await the promise of God’s kingdom: wholeness, reconciliation and plenty for all.

We wait for God’s covenant to be fulfilled, for God’s kingdom to come in its fullness,

This is a season of joyful anticipation,

We anticipate the day when God’s glory will be revealed to all people together.

We wait expectantly attentive to all the signs of Christ’s coming.

Read scriptures for the day from daily lectionary 

Lord whose light shines in the darkness,

Have mercy upon us,

Christ whose birth gives hope to all creation 

Have mercy upon us,

Lord whose advent brings joy and love, 

Grant us peace.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Into our troubles and weaknesses, 

Into the barren places of our souls, Come Lord,

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into the war torn and the refugee,  

Into those who live in conflict, Come Lord,

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into the homeless and the unemployed, 

Into those who feel abandoned, Come Lord, 

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into the sick and the disabled, 

Into those with COVID and cancer and depression, Come, Lord

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into the poor and the starving, 

Into those who are oppressed or abused, Come Lord

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into the lives of loved ones, 

Into those from whom we are estranged, Come Lord,

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Into our joys and celebrations, 

Into our work and our achievements, Come, Lord

Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.

Pause for participants to offer specific prayers and thanksgivings to God

Lord we long for your coming. Hasten the day when those who seek you in every nation will sit at you table. Hasten the day when suffering, pain, sickness, oppression and death will be overcome forever. Hasten the day when we will be resurrected as a multicultural family and live in peace, harmony, joy and love together in your kingdom.

Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;

Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;

Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;

Touch us to know the presence of Christ;

Anoint us to bear the life of Christ.  AMEN

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Advent Litany for the Second Week of Advent

Advent Litany for the Third Week of Advent

Advent Litany for the Fourth Week of Advent