Daily Prayer/Reflection and other Online Advent Resources
Note: Because our visitors come from many different time zones, we put put up each entry a day in advance.
Note: Because our visitors come from many different time zones, we put put up each entry a day in advance.
5th December: Monday in Advent Week Two
Lord God, we adore you because you have come to us in the past.
You have spoken to us in the Law of Israel.
You have challenged us in the words of the prophets.
You have shown us in Jesus what you are really like.
Lord God, we adore you because you still come to us now.
You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us.
You come to us through men and women who need our help.
You come to us as we worship you with your people.
Lord God, we adore you because you will come to us at the end.
You will be with us at the hour of death.
You will still reign supreme when all human institutions fail.
You will still be God when our history has run its course.
We welcome you, the God who comes.
Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Caryl Micklem, "Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship"
You have spoken to us in the Law of Israel.
You have challenged us in the words of the prophets.
You have shown us in Jesus what you are really like.
Lord God, we adore you because you still come to us now.
You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us.
You come to us through men and women who need our help.
You come to us as we worship you with your people.
Lord God, we adore you because you will come to us at the end.
You will be with us at the hour of death.
You will still reign supreme when all human institutions fail.
You will still be God when our history has run its course.
We welcome you, the God who comes.
Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Caryl Micklem, "Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship"
4th December: Wednesday in Advent Week One
Almighty God, fulfill our desire and kindle our hearts by your Spirit, that being filled with the oil of your grace, we may shine as bright lights at the coming of your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
This short Advent preface is from the 8th century Gelasian Sacramentary, the 2nd oldest liturgical text in the Western world.
Source of this version: modified from A Century of Collects, selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
This short Advent preface is from the 8th century Gelasian Sacramentary, the 2nd oldest liturgical text in the Western world.
Source of this version: modified from A Century of Collects, selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
3rd December: Tuesday in Advent Week One
Reflection by St Cyril of Jerusalem
We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom. At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising its shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. We look then beyond the first coming and await the second. At his first coming we said: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Prayer
Let us pray that we make take Christ’s coming seriously.
All-powerful God,
increase our strength of will for doing good
that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming
and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom. At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising its shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. We look then beyond the first coming and await the second. At his first coming we said: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Prayer
Let us pray that we make take Christ’s coming seriously.
All-powerful God,
increase our strength of will for doing good
that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming
and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Monday of Advent Week One
December 2nd
December 2nd
In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in unity,
that our praise and worship
might echo in these walls
and also through our lives.
In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in mission,
that the hope within
might be the song we sing,
and the melody of our lives.
In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in service,
that the path we follow
might lead us from a stable
to a glimpse of eternity.
From the Faith & Worship website.
draw us together in unity,
that our praise and worship
might echo in these walls
and also through our lives.
In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in mission,
that the hope within
might be the song we sing,
and the melody of our lives.
In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in service,
that the path we follow
might lead us from a stable
to a glimpse of eternity.
From the Faith & Worship website.
Ist Sunday in Advent
December 1st
"Exclusive reliance upon contemplative prayer in times like these leaves us almost too vulnerable now, too boundaryless, perhaps too shapeless. We need inspired words."
Fr Richard Rohr, renowned Fransiscan theologian, author and teacher, has identified seven psalms of lamentation that deeply spoke to his present experience of troubled times, and offers them to a wider audience.
"Start reciting and praying at least one psalm a day, or as many as it takes," he advises. "It might reconvince you that the Bible is indeed inspired and that we are not exhausted from our resources."
Click here to access this valuable resource.
December 1st
"Exclusive reliance upon contemplative prayer in times like these leaves us almost too vulnerable now, too boundaryless, perhaps too shapeless. We need inspired words."
Fr Richard Rohr, renowned Fransiscan theologian, author and teacher, has identified seven psalms of lamentation that deeply spoke to his present experience of troubled times, and offers them to a wider audience.
"Start reciting and praying at least one psalm a day, or as many as it takes," he advises. "It might reconvince you that the Bible is indeed inspired and that we are not exhausted from our resources."
Click here to access this valuable resource.