4th Sunday of Advent

On the 4th Sunday of Advent and as we get closer to Christmas, know that I celebrate the gift of Jesus and am thankful for the gifts and joys that I have in my life. Each and everyone one of you and your children touch my heart and my life in such meaningful ways. Thank you for the 'gift' of your child to my classroom and to our school. May we all be continued to be blessed by each other's love and learning!

4th Sunday Advent Prayer
Let us pray as Advent draws to a close, that Christ will truly come into our hearts.

Oh, God who loves me with such tenderness, I beg you for moments of quiet in this day and in the days ahead.

I long to savor this joy, this anticipation of the great gift you give us.

I ask for the peace and joy of "watchful hope."
Give me the grace to carry in my heart the soul-lifting awareness of Emmanuel - God With Us.

What joy, what a gift.

The Advent song comes to me and fills my heart:
"Emmanuel , Emmanuel.

Who are we that you should love us so well?"

I want to walk in gratitude in these last days of Advent and place myself in the service of your plan for me.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Amen.

3rd Week of Advent

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy
that comes from knowing our Lord's coming to us is near.
In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping
in the background of our everyday lives.

His mission is for each of us who ask, “What must we do?”
He tells us to give away our coats, our security.
He asks that we not bully people but be content with our lives.

We can smile today as we imagine the freedom he has won for us
and how liberating it will be to live it, with him, for others.
It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6-7

 

Prayer for the 3rd week of Advent:

 

I lift my heart up to you, Lord,
to thank you for the blessings
you shower on me each day.

You are the 'joy of my soul.'
I know that in your great love,
I am held and protected by you.

I pray and listen to the good news you send;
I ask and feel the healing.
I am freed by you
from the things in this world
that let me hide from you.

I rejoice, I rejoice, down to my soul.
Help me to prepare my heart
to be open and able to receive your immense love.

2nd Week of Advent...sorry it's late!

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: HOPE
We light a second purple candle on the second Sunday of Advent to represent the hope of Christ coming to the world.

The word "hope" has two meanings in the Bible. The first, tiqvah, contains the sense of eager anticipation or waiting. The second, elpis. depicts a sense of confident expectation based on certainty. Biblical hope is secured by God's faithfulness to His promises. For the Old Testament leaders, their hope was in the Messiah's arrival. For us, it is the hope of the Messiah's return.
God's plan for humanity unfolded in the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Messiah, joyously fulfilling a long-awaited promise. Today we confidently wait for the Messiah's triumphant return.

Dear Lord,
Through the darkness, I look for your wisdom.
I want my heart to be open to you.
But sometimes in these days, it seems that
so many things come between us.

Help me to be awake and aware
of the radiance you bring to my life.
Help me to be grateful each day
for the blessings of family and friends.
Let me be a peacemaker
in my own life, and in the world.
Let me pray especially for this difficult world
and those who are so in need of an end to violence.
My heart begs for this as my Advent prayer today.