advent - peace

Advent – Week Two 

Peace

Peace is one of the most beautiful parts of Christmas. This advent season always comes in the darkest time of year physically, and often the darkest in other ways as well. But Christmas is the reminder that God keeps His promises and that Shalom is coming, wholeness and fullness of relationship with people, with God, and with creation. I caught a glimpse of that peace on the faces of two of my best friends today: Claire, babysitting with me, and holding Remi contentedly in her lap. When we don't want or need time to move on. When for a moment we are content, despite everything. I'll be looking for more of those glimpses that remind us that full Shalom is coming. 

Advent is the holy season that precedes Christmas. From the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival,” it is a time of hope and expectancy, when Christians prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ. Each of the four weeks of advent encompass a theme; this week’s theme is Peace, Repentance, and Justice. Use these prayers and Scriptures to prepare your heart for the celebration of Christ’s birth.


Advent Collect (Book of Common Prayer)
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Select Prayer (Revised Common Lectionary)
Laboring God, with axe and winnowing fork you clear a holy space where hurt and destruction have no place, and a little child holds sway. Clear our lives of hatred and despair, sow seeds of joy and peace, that shoots of hope may spring forth and we may live in harmony with one another. Amen.


Scripture
Hebrew Bible         Psalm           New Testament          Gospel
Isaiah 11:1-10        Psalm 72      Romans 15:4-13        Matthew 3:1-12

The wrong shall fail, The right prevail 

With Peace on earth, Goodwill to men