At sundown today we begin to celebrate the Second Sunday in Advent: a season to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas and for the day when Christ will come again at the end of our lives and in the fullness of time...
Last week we prayed for peace, this week we pray for faith...
If you have an Advent Wreath at home, light the second and first candles each night this week. If you don't have an Advent Wreath, light any candle you have. And if you have no candle, use the virtual candle above and join us all in prayer...
As we light the second candle on the Advent wreath,
we pray for the gift of faith...
- for the deepening of faith
in the hearts of all believers...
- for deeper personal faith
in trying, troubling times...
- for the gift of faith
for all those who seek it...
- for the strengthening of faith
when in we're in doubt...
- for faith to sustain us
in worry and fear,
in anxiety and grief...
- for the faith we need just to make it
from day to day
and through the night...
- for any whose faith
is tenuous, shaken or broken...
- for faith to help us survive
unexpected crises and changes...
- for faith to embolden our words and deeds
with courage and zeal...
- for the prudence of faith to help us discern
with clarity and compassion...
- for the wisdom of faith to anoint our thoughts
with reason, vision and truth...
- for faith that leads us to love one another
with integrity, justice and honor..
- for the faith we need to share our faith
with humility and conviction,
with freedom and joy...
- for faith that seeks to live in peace
with people of other beliefs and faiths,
with people of other beliefs and faiths,
We pray for faith to lead us, Lord,
to respect and revere the whole of creation,
to work for a harvest of justice and peace,
to share from our want when serving the poor...
Give us deep faith in you and your love,
faith in your mercy, your word and your truth,
faith in our neighbors, near and far,
and faith in ourselves to do what you ask...
Protect us, Lord while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
We Walk By Faith by Marty Haugen
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We walk by faith and not by sight
No gracious words we hear
Of him who spoke as none e'er spoke
Yet we believe him near
No gracious words we hear
Of him who spoke as none e'er spoke
Yet we believe him near
We may not touch his hands and side
Or follow where he trod
Yet in his promise we rejoice
And cry "My Lord and God"
Help then, oh Lord, our unbelief
And may our faith abound
To call on you when you are near
And seek where you are found
That when our life of faith is done
In realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are
In full and endless sight
We walk by faith and not by sight
No gracious words we hear
Of him who spoke as none e'er spoke
Yet we believe him near
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