Month: December 2021

Jesus, Light of the World, we celebrate your birth! We share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the wisdom of the magi. “Gloria in the highest and peace to all on earth” our hearts sing out. Lord Jesus, by being born one of us, and lying humbly in a manger, you came to show us how to live and how to love. Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts, in our homes, in our land, and in your world.

God of peace, we pray for the world’s nations and their governments. We ask for peace and understanding between all nations. We pray for the churches of the world, leaders and congregations, as we enjoy freedom to worship. May we be a light in our communities, pointing toward your presence, your goodness, your grace.

Generous God, in this season of giving and receiving we can so easily overlook your gifts to us. Thank you for so many reasons to celebrate including family and friends near and far and your beautiful creation. Teach us to take care of our family relationships, friendships, and your world which you love and sustain.

Gracious God, we thank you for being with us in life’s trials. Draw us close and teach us to trust you more each day. Be especially near to all those who stand in need of healing, hope, or wholeness.  Surround our loved ones in long-term care.

We also pray for our Households of Faith…..  May each experience a special blessing this Christmas season. Keep each safe and well. We pray for safe travels.

We pray for all those suffering the effects of Covid, those ill at home or in hospital and those isolated, frightened, or alone. We pray for all who work in emergency and essential services who keep us safe and leaders charged with decision-making. Grant strength, deep compassion, and encouragement.

God of Comfort, be near the grieving who experience the loss of their loved ones even more deeply amidst the festivities and feasting.

Amidst this joyous season, grant us deep sensitivity for one another, as many carry pain that is unspoken. We give thanks that your son Jesus’ radiance filled a lowly manger and that through his suffering, death, and resurrection, you offer the gift of new life, hope, and resurrection new life.

Jesus Christ, a star guided the magi to your birth. Guide us as we continue to celebrate through this season of Christmas. Be present with us as we continue to celebrate your holy birth, as we experience the deeper meaning of your birth, as we return to fields and flocks, and as we treasure and ponder your coming. We offer all of our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Listening God,

as we continue on our Advent journey,

we acknowledge many ways we already filled up with waiting.

Waiting to hear the next report of bad news;

another mass shooting, another refugee crisis,

another famine, another environmental disaster,

another Covid outbreak, another variant.

The news is a litany of things to fear

that fills our heads with dread.

We wait for your help.

Remind us of Mary and Joseph,

ordinary people living in a country

under the boot of an oppressive regime,

who believed in your salvation,

holding on to hope against hope.

We hold on to you believing in your ability

to be born again even in times like these.

Give us eyes to see your arriving,

as we do the hard work of being kind and generous

in the rough and tumble of family life.

Give us ears to hear your arriving as we hear prophets proclaim good news

that the powerful will be brought down

and those who live in poverty will rejoice

We long to touch the hem of your garment

so that those we know who are sick

could be healed…………

Be present with loved ones in long-term care.

We pray for our Households of Faith.

May your love be born anew in each heart. May your blessing be poured out upon each.

We pray for all who are grieving. May your comfort hold them.

We long to taste your good news!

In this season of growing darkness,

keep our eyes fixed on the pinpoints of light

that shine and shine

because nothing can put them out.

In the name of Jesus, our hope we pray. Amen

This Sunday we will listen to the ancient prophecy of Micah in 5: 2-5a.
We will also listen to an intimate encounter between Mary and Elizabeth and Mary’s song of joy, the Magnificat as recorded in Luke 1: 39-55.
May these days of waiting, anticipating, and expectation, be filled with unexpected encounters with Emmanuel, God-with-us.
As you re-read these familiar stories, pay attention to words and phrases that the Spirit of God brings to your attention.
Sit with your questions, your wonderings and listen for God. Pay attention to images or an invitation that may arise.
May your prayers with scripture both inspire and uphold you amidst the deep needs we carry and the deep needs of the world.

God, who hears us,
as we continue on our Advent journey, we acknowledge we are already filled up with waiting.
Waiting to hear the next report of bad news;
another mass shooting, another refugee crisis,
another famine, another environmental disaster,
another Covid covid outbreak, another Covid variant.
The news is a litany of things to fear
that fills our heads with dread.
We wait for your help.
Remind us of Mary and Joseph,
ordinary people living in a country
under the boot of an oppressive regime,
who believed in your salvation,
holding on to hope against hope.
We hold on to you believing in your ability
to be born again even in times like these.
Give us eyes to see your arriving,
as we do the hard work of being decent
in the rough and tumble of family life.
Give us ears to see your arriving as we hear prophets proclaim good news
that the powerful will be brought down
and those who live in poverty will rejoice
We long to touch the hem of your garment
so that those we know who are sick
could be healed,
those who are grieving could be comforted.
We long to taste your good news!
In this season of growing darkness,
keep our eyes fixed on the pinpoints of light
that shine and shine
because nothing can put them out.
In the name of Jesus, our hope we pray. Amen

God, giver of joy,
thank you for squirming of babies,
for the irrepressible giggles of toddlers,
for preschoolers with their boundless energy

and for each child who shared the Christmas story with us this year.
Thank you that we are made for joy
and that advent reminds us of this.
Help us wait in hopeful anticipation for this gift of joy–
Saviour of the world, the Prince of Peace

Jesus, give joy this week to those who are suffering:
joy in the midst of illness, through a keen sense of your presence,
joy in the midst of grief, through an awareness of love deeper than death,
joy in the midst of anxiety, through sudden fleeting moments of beauty.

We also pray for our Households of Faith.

Listening God, we are waiting for joy in a world that is often bleak and cheerless.

We can easily succumb to despair, discouragement.
Violence and consumerism abounds and it blights lives and communities.
And we help it flourish —
we confess our own selfishness, hoarding things for ourselves,
or our own racism, our own fear of the other, fear of the stranger.
Around the world you know the suffering we inflict on each other.
Thank you for that even in this barren earth,
you cause joy to bubble up.

In joy, help us lavish generosity at Christmas;
not just on those we love, but generosity to charities, and to those in need.
Help us lavish forgiveness on those who’ve hurt us.
We long for the joy of relationships renewed and restored
All this joy to the world is from you,
radiating out from a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
We join our hearts together this morning in joyful praise:
Glory to God in the Highest! Gloria! Amen

Good morning all,
Over these past weeks our Friday Prayer gathering has spent time praying with Isaiah 9: 1-7.
And this past Sunday, the congregation was invited to pray with verses from John 15 as we seek God’s wisdom and guidance.
May you continue to be nourished through the Word and experience the voice of God that breaks through the loud noise of the world.

The following in an Advent Prayer by Henri Nouwen

Lord Jesus,

Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!’

Amen.

In the lonely places
The wilderness
Where we stand forlorn
Windswept and alone
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord

In the dark places
The shadows
Where we hide our fears,

our insecurities, our doubts.
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

The dawn from on high will

break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1: 78-79)

Shine upon those who live in darkness, we pray
That all might know the joy of your salvation
the forgiveness of sins

and your great mercy.

For the desert places in which we walk
the streets we roam
the paths we cross
guide our feet.
Take us to places
where you would go.
Give us words that you would use
that in this Advent season
of promise and preparation
we might point the way with John the Baptist,
to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

As we journey this season of Advent toward Christmas

we pray for the light of your hope and peace to surround the sick,

the suffering, and those in need of wholeness.

Comfort all who grieve…  When Christmas cheer abounds, help us to be mindful of those who are struggling.

Be present with loved ones receiving care in hospital or long-term care including:

Restore the weary.

Strengthen caregivers.

Deepen our capacity for compassion.

Pour out your peace upon the troubled places of your world and our lives.

            We also pray for our households of faith:

Come among us O God and prepare our hearts for Christmas joy.

Hear us now as we pray as you taught us:

Our Father who art in heaven ………………….Amen

This week we began our Advent journey toward Bethlehem and Jesus’ birth. We lit the candle of hope.
Where do you see hope springing up? As daylight hours shorten and darkness deepens, I experience hope as God’s sustaining presence through changing seasons, including the seasons of our lives.
As you reflect upon hope, what rituals enrich your Advent journey? For years, I would light a candle each evening of Advent. In prayer I held before God places in the world that were in need of healing light. There has never been a shortage of situations for which to pray. Theologian Stanley Haueruas writes “Advent is patience. It’s how God has made us a people of promise in a world of impatience.”
May we continue lighting our candles, offering our prayers, and living in hope with patience amidst a world of impatience.

I would encourage you to check out an Advent resource as we journey to Christmas.
Scholar and author Kate Bowler offers a free 4-week Advent Devotional available at katebowler.com
Kate’s most recent book is “No Cure for Being Human and other truths I need to hear.” She is Canadian born and a gifted writer. .

Advent Blessings,

Pastor Kara