A Concord Pastor Comments: Lighting the Second Candle on the Advent Wreath

This weekend we enter the second week of Advent, a season of joyful expectation of Christmas, a season for renewing our hearts as a dwelling place for Christ who was born among us...

If you have an Advent Wreath at home,
   pray for faith this week as you light the first candle each day.

If you don't have an Advent Wreath
   - light any candle and pray for faith.

If you have no candle,
   simply stay right here with candle above and pray for faith...

You may offer this prayer
   each time you light the candles on the wreath this week...

As we light the second candle on the Advent wreath,
we pray for the gift of faith...

For the deepening of faith
   in those who have it...
for the gift of faith
   for those who seek it...
for the strengthening of faith
   in those who doubt...
for any whose faith
   is shaken or broken...
for faith to help us endure
   the most difficult days and nights...
for stronger faith
   that leads us to act...
for the wisdom of faith
   to help us choose and decide...
for the willingness and courage
   to share our faith with others...
for unity and harmony
   among people of all faiths...

God, give us:

the faith we need to help us live,
the faith we need to help us love,
the faith we need to help us believe,
the faith we need to give us hope,
the faith we need to act with justice...
the faith we need to speak your word of truth...

Give us faith that leads us:
to share what we have in serving the poor;
to work for a harvest of justice and peace;
to restore the beauty of your creation...

God, give us faith in you
and in our neighbors
and in ourselves...

Amen.