Holy One, we come before you, our hearts filled with the expectation of your presence. How blessed we are to be just to be here, and alive and together this morning. To be lighting these Advent candles and telling your story.

We give you gratitude, oh listening God, for the celebrations in our lives. For new jobs and college acceptance letters. For gatherings with family and safe travels as we begin this holiday season. For your presence with us as we turn toward a new season in our lives and holy calendar.

And yet our hearts carry wounds and longings, so we entrust them to you now. Lifting them to your listening ear. We need you, oh Christ, because of the promises you have made to us. You promise to teach us to love, as you loved. You promise new life in you, you promise that love conquers death, that grace and forgiveness are abundant in you. So be these forces of love, grace, new life, in all places and hearts and minds that need it today.

The days are short now, and the nights grow longer in these days of Advent’s candlelight. In this darkness, we light your candles as we await your birth. And Oh Lord, you know how we have waited in these days. Waited for new jobs, waited for good test results, waited for the yes we long to hear, waited for peace on earth, waited for healing.

Let us know that in these Advent days, our waiting leads us to you. That you desire to be with us through all we carry.

Lend us your patience now, to help us to go slowly. Help us trust we will get where we need to be, even at a slow pace. Help us to slow our breathing, still our rushing, quiet in us all that is driven by false urgency, so that we may be more present to you.

Lend us your abundant love through the pain, lend us your heart for the poor and the stranger, the outcast and the wounded. Where there are conflicts in family or between partners, lend us your eyes to see and your ears to hear. Where there are conflicts across borders or identity, lend us your heart to love, lend us your peace, help us have strength to reject all who abuse power.

We ask all these things, trusting in you. We lift together these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray.

Joining together our voices we pray together…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.