Prayers for the First Sunday in Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on
the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son
Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he
shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)

Almighty and most merciful Father, we come to the season of Advent with
the brokenness of the world in our eyes, the cries of our fellow human
beings in our ears and our own sinfulness in our hearts. We come to
Bethlehem, as those who need a Savior. We come to the light because the
darkness has almost overwhelmed us, but the darkness can never
overcome You. We come to Bethlehem as invited guests; to see, to wonder
and to be changed by the Child Messiah who is Jesus. For his sake, and by
his grace, forgive our sins. Give us hope and eternal life. Help us to move
through a worldly holiday of excess to a worshipful Advent and Christmas.
For Jesus’ sake, and through Jesus we pray. Amen. (Michael Spencer)

~ by Michael on November 26, 2005.