Monday December 2 Advent I

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1 Monday December 2 Advent I Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Will you not give us life again, that you people may rejoice in you? Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. The peace of God be always with you. go forth from this place. Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-18 A year to you is like a thousand years. And a thousand years as a day. You are not slow about your promises. The Holy One is patient with us. We find the mighty God in obscure and hidden places: infant cradled by hay in a stable; risen presence in an empty tomb. We entrust our prayers to this same God whose love, alive with us, still waits to be born.

2 Tuesday December 3 Advent I Come, Adonai, change us and we shall be changed Come, let us know your presence Come, strengthen our love for you Come, fill our hearts with holiness Come, awaken us to be ready and watchful for your coming Come, Holy One, change us and we shall be changed The peace of God be always with you. depart this place. Reading: Revelation 22:12-16 The Alpha and Omega is coming soon The first and the last, the beginning and the end The bright morning star comes The first and the last, the beginning and the end. God our deliverer, whose approaching birth still shakes the foundations of our world: may the promise of your advent soothe us with true hope, that we may breathe through our fear into the labour pangs of the new age, through Jesus Christ, Amen.

3 Wednesday December 4 Advent I My soul waits for you, O Lord; in your word is my hope. My soul waits for you, O Lord; in your word is my hope. Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. In your word is our hope. There is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared. In your word is our hope. My soul waits for the Lord, as we keep watch for the morning. In your word is our hope. O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy. In your word is our hope. Reading: Luke 11:29-32 Psalm 90: Holy Mystery, ever near, your coming is heralded with joy, your birth attended by silence. Shadow places open to welcome your messenger. Meet us now, where we show ourselves and where we hide. Lead us into your holy darkness with trust that, with your hand to guide us, we may behold the glow of your hope. Amen. depart this place. Show your servants your works and your splendour to their children. May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; * prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork

4 Yes, and we will continue to rejoice. Friday December 6 Advent I An Advent Night, from China: Voice 1: Bright moon, scattered stars; so solitary is creation. The universe God has created is especially silent these nights. The night waits for the Lord of Creation to return. The universe belongs to God, it is God s home. Voice 2: Silence reigns supreme. The fields glow gently in the moonlight. This night, the vast earth will await the homecoming of our Creator God. The vast earth and open fields belong to God, they are God s home. Voice 3: Bethlehem lies dreaming. In her gentle arms, the babe sleeps peacefully in the night. The City of David awaits the homecoming of David s descendent. The town of Bethlehem belongs to him, it is his home. We are each and all made by God s own hand. Together we await our Creator s return. My heart belongs to God, it is God s home; our hearts together behold God. Holy Spirit, mighty wind of God, inhabit our darkness, brood over our abyss and speak form to our chaos; that we may breathe with your life and share your creation in the power of Jesus Christ, Amen. depart this place. Reading: Philippians 1:18b-26 Christ will be exalted now as always in our bodies Yes, and we will continue to rejoice. Whether by life or by death, We will continue to rejoice. Living is Christ, dying is gain.

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6 Monday December 9 Advent II O Wisdom, breath from the mouth of the Most High; you embrace all beginnings and endings. Come and teach us true care. O Wisdom, you sweetly order all things: come and teach us the way of true care. O Wisdom, breathe upon us. Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 depart this place. A voice says, Cry out! What shall we cry? Get up on a high mountain and cry out! Here is our God! Fearless and bold shall we cry: Here is our God! God our healer, you envelop us in your mercy, and clothe us with your courage. Caress us with your judgment, and strengthen us with your tenderness; that we may claim our call as healers to the brokenness of the world, through Jesus Christ, Amen.

7 Tuesday December 10 Advent II O Adonai, you are leader of the House of Israel Come to us and redeem us In the burning bush you appeared to Moses Come to us and redeem us Author of law, deliverer of peace Come to us and redeem us Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-7 depart this place. God has called us by glory and goodness. Grace and peace in abundance In the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord Grace and peace in abundance May we share that grace and that peace to a hungry world Grace and peace in abundance God of hope, you free us from the alienation of injustice, and from exile of our own making, and call us to walk in your way of justice, healing and joy. Strengthen us to join you in your holy work, cherishing compassion, daring friendship and risking companionship, in service of your love for the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

8 Wednesday December 11 Advent II O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign among the peoples before you all rulers will be silent to you the nations will make their prayer Come and deliver us, and delay no longer Reading: Luke 7:18-23 depart this place. The blind receive their sight and the lame walk We shall not wait for another The lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear We shall not wait for another The dead are raised and the poor are brought good news Blessed are all who follow the One who brings healing. We shall not wait for another O Holy One of Israel, you embrace the world with mercy and righteousness, bringing forth joy and dignity for your people. Refashion us into your heralds and helpers, to make straight the paths that lead to you. Smooth the rough ways of our natures, that we might know the birth of your compassion in our midst. Amen.

9 Friday December 13 Advent II O Key of David you are the sceptre of the House of Israel you open and no one can shut you shut and no one can open. Come and free the prisoners you open and no one can shut those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death will see light and life you open and no one can shut Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 depart this place God will supply seed to the sower and food for our nourishment Gift too wonderful for words Our generosity is our thanksgiving Gratitude overflows The needs of the saints are fulfilled to overflowing Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift! God of joy and delight, you strengthen what is weak, enriching the poor and giving hope to those who live in fear. Life our hearts in gratitude and keep us faithful in your service until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives for ever and ever. Amen.

10 Monday December 16 Advent III O Morning Star, you are splendour of light eternal Sun of righteousness, embrace us! Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Sun of righteousness, embrace us! Reading: Isaiah 11:1-9 The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Holy One Our delight is in the fear of the Lord The spirit of wisdom and understanding will be born in the Christ Our delight is in the fear of the Lord They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain Our delight is in the fear of the Lord depart this place O God of the exiles and the lost you promise restoration and wholeness through the power of Jesus Christ. Give us faith to live joyfully, sustained by your promises as we await the day of their fulfilment for all the world to see, through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

11 Tuesday December 17 Advent III O King of the nations you are our desire, Come and save your beloved creation. You are the cornerstone making both one Come and save your beloved creation. You fashioned each and all of us from clay Come and save your beloved creation. depart this place Reading: Acts 28: May we listen and understand May we look and also perceive May we open our eyes and our ears May we listen and also take in We behold the witness of the prophets May we attend with our hearts, turn, and be healed. Holy God, hear our prayer that we may serve you in holiness and faith and give voice to your presence among us until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen

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13 Wednesday December 18 Advent III O Emmanuel, you are our sovereign and our lawgiver, Come and save us, O Lord our God. the hope of the nations and their Saviour Come and save us, O Lord our God. Reading: Micah 4:6-10 depart this place Cry aloud, daughter of Jerusalem You shall be rescued and redeemed I will gather those who have been driven away You shall be rescued and redeemed Those who were cast off find a true home You shall be rescued and redeemed Come, Lord, fill our lives with your light and love. Work away the callous surfaces of our lives that, alert and sensitive to the despairs, needs and hopes of those around us we may with true compassion reflect your presence and your glory. Lord, show us your way, And teach us your paths. Amen.

14 Thursday December 19 Advent III O Wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, you reign over all things to the ends of the earth: come and teach us how to live. Jesus, come soon! O Adonai, head of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and you gave the law on Sinai: come with outstretched arm and ransom us. Jesus, come soon! O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations, all rulers will keep silence before you and all peoples will summon you to their aid: come, set us free and delay no more. Jesus, come soon! O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison. Jesus, come soon! O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness: come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. Jesus, come soon! O Sovereign of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one: come and save the creature you fashioned from clay. Jesus, come soon! O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, Lord our God. Jesus, come soon! Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 I will make a new covenant with Israel, says the Lord. God has written love in our hearts. We shall know the Lord God has written love in our hearts The law is written on our hearts God has written love in our hearts Holy and Mighty God, we long for your love. Fill us with your grace and goodness that we may grow in holiness and in hospitality, that we may reach out with light and love, Adonai, show us your way. And teach us your paths. Amen. that we may increase and abound in love. The peace of the Lord be always with you.

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16 Additional Prayers (Litany) which might be used Voice 1: We wait in the darkness, expectantly, longingly, anxiously, thoughtfully. Voice 2: The darkness is our friend. In the darkness of the womb, we have all been nurtured and protected. In the darkness of the womb, the Christ-child was made ready for the journey into light. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. Voice 1: It is only in the darkness that we can see the splendour of the universe blankets of stars, the solitary glowing of distant planets. It was the darkness that allowed the Magi to find the star that guided them to where the Christ-child lay. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. Voice 1: In the darkness of the night, desert peoples find relief from the relentless heat of the sun. Voice 2: In the blessed desert darkness, Mary and Joseph were able to flee with the infant Jesus to safety in Egypt. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. Voice 1: In the darkness of sleep, dreams rise up. God spoke to Jacob and Joseph through dreams. God is speaking still. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. Voice 1: In the solitude of darkness, we sometimes remember those who need God s presence in a special way the sick, the unemployed, the bereaved, the persecuted, the homeless; those who are demoralized and discouraged, those whose fear has turned to cynicism, those whole vulnerability has become bitterness. Voice 2: Sometimes in the darkness, we remember those who are near to our hearts. We thank God for their presence and ask God to bless and protect them in all that they do. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. Voice 1: Sometimes, in the solitude of darkness, our fears and concerns, our hopes and our visions rise to the surface. We come face to face with ourselves and with the road that lies ahead of us. And in that same darkness, we find companionship for the journey. Voice 2: In that same darkness, we sometimes allow ourselves to wonder and worry. You are with us, O God, in darkness and in light. We know you are with us, O God, yet we still await your coming.

17 In the darkness that contains both our hopelessness and our expectancy, We watch for a sign of God s Hope.