Seeds of Prayer: Extended Advent Resource Topical Prayers + Video Links for each week

Please Share/Adapt with Credit to Katy Stenta and Please contribute to my Doctorate of Ministry with a Donation  I have PayPal https://paypal.me/KatyStenta?locale.x=en_US Venmo www.venmo.com/Katy-Stenta or Google Pay to Katyandtheword at gmail

About Me: My Story & My Writing

I plan to raise $2,000 this year to offset tuition.

Nov. 22 God Amongst Us

Promises, promises

God you are the God of all promises,

I know you are there when promises are made and promises are broken. 

Sometimes we humans have to break promises to be safe, and sometimes the only safe thing for us to do is to keep our promises. 

But I also know, God that your promises are different—they are impermeable, your promises don’t change depending on the circumstances, because you know what you have signed up for.  

You are the eternal parent, the constant companion, the devoted friend. You do not check out when things are hard, nor do you ever give up on me…even when I give up on me.

Lord, you know that’s what I need a God who won’t give up on me. That’s why you are this way. You are exactly the God we humans need.

Thank you for never giving up. And for accepting me the moments I give up.

Thank you for renewing your promises to us: in every rainbow, in every star, in every grain of sand, in every baptism and in every communion. 

Remind me that there are so many ways to access your promises. 

And help me to think not of all my broken promises, but instead to rely upon your kept promises and covenants, I pray. 

Amen. 

Nov 29th Daniel’s Hope in God

Lions, and Tigers and Bears

Lord, sometimes we are like Dorothy in the woods. Repeating to ourselves all the dangers that are along the way.

Lions, and Tigers and Bears, Oh my. 

When we repeat the things that endanger us: illnesses, natural disasters and loneliness. 

Whatever they may be, please turn them into a prayer for help. 

Send your angels to comfort and defend. 

Help us to bravely face the dangers that are in front of us, like Daniel.

Shut the jaws of any and all who threaten us: dear God, we pray, because evil likes to slither like a snake and tell lies, and they roar their powerful roars to threaten us. 

Remind us that your angels are mighty balls of fire, with a zillion eyes and a million wings, and that they are so scary that even the bravest are told to “fear not” when we see them. 

Send your angels upon us we pray in your most Holy Name. Amen. 

Dec 6th 

Joel: God’s Promised Spirit

Poured Out

Lord God, you know that sometimes I feel completely poured out. 

I have given all I can, and I am “all out of nice.” 

I have trouble motivating myself to do more, and I feel empty, or lonely, or done. 

Is this what happens when you pour yours spirit onto the world? 

When the Holy Spirit comes and sparks visions and dreams, do you feel an emptiness?

It is a wonder how you continually make room for us! Guiding us carefully but never taking over us! 

You are not a clockmaker or video game God who simply sets everything up and leaves the room or grabs the controller turning us into God zombies. 

Instead your lead and you coax. You love and are patient. And when we have trouble hearing, seeing or feeling you—you empty yourself out to us. 

You embody our communion, so that we might taste and see you.

You splash into baptism, sealing your love for us in every droplet of water.

Thank you for pouring yourself out for us. Glory be to your Name. Amen. 

Dec 13

Paging the Holy Spirit 

Spirit of the Living God, 

Kneel, fly, Stoop, Nosedive, or even Fall on me. 

I know this is not a new prayer. But I need your Holy Spirit to come. 

I’m hungering for your Spirit, 

Bind the Broken hearted

Proclaim Liberty

Comfort Those who Mourn

Plant Oaks

Raise up the Devastated

Repair the Ruins.

Come as a dove, a duck or an angry goose. 

Do what you do Holy Spirit! And help me to do it too!

Spirit of the Lord, Come upon me! I pray. 

Dec 20th 

Justice Promised

God of Eternity: 

Whispering the promise of Justice to Mary

Telling the truth about just how unimportant powers and principalities are

Promising Mary, that justice will not be delayed

Filling the hungry with Good Things

Only you God, promise to fill the hungry with Good things

This is your promise to a mother who will have to somehow feed her baby

This is your promise to Cousin Elizabeth, who will be bearing Jesus’ forerunner, 

and perhaps best friend cousin, John the Baptist.

You bring your promises to life in Jesus Christ,

help us to magnify them, I pray. 

Amen. 

Dec. 24th

Christmas is Coming

Somehow God  in the midst of the to do lists, the worries and the imperfections. 

Christmas is going to come. 

The baby that has been promised,

will like a miracle, appear. 

A miracle born of long journeys, hard conversations and heart wrenching changes 

in both Mary and Joseph’s lives. 

Gabriel was just the beginning, 

of tumult, and angels, and ministry. 

But it was also the beginning of 

Glory to God in the highest. It was also the beginning of 

peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind. 

Are we ready for the Good news? 

Help us to be ready for the Good News of Christmas, 

this is our prayer.

Amen. 

Dec 25th

Christmas Prayer

Wonderful, awe-inspiring, scary but hopeful counselor of Truth

Mighty, powerful abundant and fully Fleshed God

Everlasting, Eternal and Faithful Parent, 

You are the forebearer, heir and conveyor of Peace. 

Whisper in our hearts.

Gift us with contemplation

Encourage us to embrace the mystery

Allow us to admit we do not understand. 

And teach us the true meaning of Christmas. 

Lord hear our prayer. 

Amen. 

Please Share/Adapt with Credit to Katy Stenta and Please contribute to my Doctorate of Ministry with a Donation  I have PayPal https://paypal.me/KatyStenta?locale.x=en_US Venmo www.venmo.com/Katy-Stenta or Google Pay to Katyandtheword at gmail

About Me: My Story & My Writing

I plan to raise $2,000 to offset Tuition