Tag: Comfort and Joy

Comfort Advent Candle Prayer

God, for those of us who haven’t felt like putting up a tree,

or hanging garlands–those of us who have only half heartedly decorated

Or not decorated at all–

It’s ok. We can blue, and sad.

You don’t need any festooning.

You don’t need any bells or whistles.

You are God.

Present in the very midst of Sorrow–

Isn’t that why we light the candles? Because sometime we need the reminders

that you are present, especially when we cannot see Hope, Peace, Joy or Love in the World?

That’s why today we are lighting an extra candle in our hearts. The candle of Comfort. For you–Wonderful Counselor, promise that with Christ too.

Comfort us this year, we pray.

Amen.

Please feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

More Advent Resources for NL Year 4

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Prayer

Lord God, this is the first year I’ve been able to write Christmas cards to the Congregation.

You know that I just don’t have the mental acuity to do it usually, too many details.

And God, you know that sometimes I lose the details. Especially in Advent and Christmas.

Usually my mind is boggled with Pageants and Parites and Decorations and Huge Lists of traditions, so I lose track.

I wonder if Mary and Joseph felt that way. If in planning their trip to Bethlehem, they weren’t able to think everything through.

Or if they ended up staying longer than they thought they would, and she reached the “fullness of her time.” then.

Or God, I wonder if baby Jesus came early! Anxious to be a part of the world he came at 8 months!

I remember being pregnant, God. I would not be surprised if Jesus coming was a surprise or not, because even with a scheduled C-section, birth continues to be a surprise.

I often think that Mary and Joseph might not have been the type to write Chrsitmas cards most years too.

Each and every card was a prayer, like this one, I put my whole heart into the card

I listed

Safety and Protection, calling upon the angels to come down

I encouraged comfort: and tried to say both comfort in cozy PJ’s with tea, and comfort like the warm hug one needs when the stress or hurt or anxiety overwhelms

and I prayed for some measure of joy.

And God, I resisted the temptation to just write “tidings of comfort and joy” and assume everyone knew what that meant.

I confess, I don’t know what that means. When we say have a merry, little Christmas, what do we mean by this?

Can any Christmas be Little? Is Christmas really about being merry?
Or is joy more serious than that!

Did the shepherds dance and the magi sing? Did Joseph cry in wonder? How fierce did Mary feel when she was giving birth?

God I’m still praying for some measure of joy.

Whatever that means

I’m praying for safety and protection, and all the kinds of comfort, and some measure of joy.

I’m praying it over and over again. Holy Spirit grant this to us all, I pray.

Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

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