Matthew 24:36-44
Let us pray …
God, our hope, as we look toward this period of Advent, this period of anticipation and celebration of the birth of your son, our Savior, help us to reflect on your love and the blessings that we receive each and every day.
On this first day of Advent, we pray for HOPE! Hope in the future of your kingdom on earth. For a world where all humankind work together to bring a sense of community and togetherness to this place. A world where all persons are treated with respect and dignity, where mistrust and despair are replaced with honesty and joy, where violence amongst neighbors is replaced with friendship and where the ugliness of exclusion is replaced with the embrace of inclusion. May this prayer for hope be wrapped in the knowledge that this is not our hope – but this is your hope – your hope that the forgiveness that you so freely give through the birth of your son – is the cornerstone of our future. May we give as freely to bring forgiveness, love and grace to all of our relationships so that the power of your hope spreads through the world.
In that hope, we thank you for the multitude of blessings you provide, in the freedom to worship and glorify your name and we rejoice and prepare for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
And, all God’s children say:
AMEN