by Christine Sine
Several years ago I wrote a series of litanies for the weeks of Advent that were published in the book Waiting for the Light. I like to revisit these each year and thought I would adapt them for our current situation and repost them once again. (You can also purchase it through Godspacelight with our prayer cards) Enjoy!
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 the coming of Christ who broke down 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.
O Eternal One who abides in heaven, may your name be honored and your kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give all your people food for today, and forgive us the wrongs we have done, just as we forgive those who have wronged 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 O bringer of light,
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, O bringer of life,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into the homeless and the unemployed,
Into those who feel abandoned, Come, O bringer of abundance,
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, O bringer of health,
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, O bringer of justice,
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, O bringer of love,
Come down, come in, come among us and make us whole.
Into our joys and celebrations,
Into our work and our achievements, Come, O bringer of hope,
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 eternal world.
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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